Food labels can be confusing, misleading, and sometimes deliberately vague. So let's just be straightforward: here is exactly what goes into East Van Jam, why each ingredient is there, and what you will never find in any jar we make.

What's IN East Van Jam

BC-sourced fruit is the foundation of everything we make. The quality of the fruit determines the quality of the jam — full stop. We source from BC farmers who care about their land and their produce, and it shows in the flavour of every jar. Using high-quality local fruit means the jam tastes like the real thing, not like a flavour approximation.

Organic cane sugar is our sweetener of choice. It's less processed than conventional refined white sugar and carries a slightly more complex, rounded sweetness. We use very little of it — at 3 grams of sugar per serving, East Van Jam has a fraction of the sugar content found in conventional spreads.

Our pectin is a specific, carefully selected type that sets the jam without requiring high sugar ratios. It contains no added sweeteners, no fillers, and no preservatives. This is the technical backbone that makes a low-sugar jam possible.

What's NOT in East Van Jam

No preservatives. Full stop. East Van Jam relies on proper small batch production practices, clean ingredients, and appropriate storage rather than chemical preservatives to maintain shelf life. This matters because preservatives can affect both flavour and how the product sits in your body.

No gluten. East Van Jam is fully gluten-free, making it safe for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. There are no hidden grain-derived ingredients anywhere in the recipe.

No artificial flavours, colours, or fillers. What you taste in East Van Jam is the actual fruit it was made with. There are no flavour enhancers, no colour additives, and no bulking agents to pad out the jar.

Why Ingredient Transparency Matters

People deserve to know what they're eating. For individuals managing food allergies, dietary restrictions, or chronic health conditions, vague ingredient lists aren't just frustrating — they can be genuinely harmful. East Van Jam is committed to complete transparency about what goes into every jar.

This is also just a reflection of how we think about food. If an ingredient doesn't make the jam better — better tasting, better for you, or better in some meaningful way — it doesn't belong in the jar.