Homemade Loquat Jam Recipe (2024)

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Posted on May 12, 2019March 17, 2022 by Brittany Bly

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In love with loquats?! You know I am! I’ve been gathering just enough to make this gorgeous everyday jam – Homemade Loquat Jam. It’s simple and makes the perfect gift. It’s made with a unique fruit, so you will never see this jam at the grocery store!

I’ve been talking about loquats a lot because they are so plentiful where I live. They’re everywhere. And since they are in season right now (late April and early May – a little late this season) I’m thinking of great ways to use them. Their season is really short so picking and processing them is important!

So here’s a simple jam recipe. It’s a great way to can them and keep them for a long time!

Where to Find Ripe Loquats

Loquats grow throughout the south and especially around Texas. They are common to green spaces, and backyards. You will rarely see them at grocery stores or even farmers markets because they have a short season and don’t travel well. So if you can pick them, use them! With any fruit that you are picking from a yard, be sure you know the history of the area! You will want to know what chemicals have been used nearby or if anything like paint or toxins has been dumped nearby. Only pick fruit from areas that you trust!

Loquats have a huge variation in taste and flavor depending on the quality of the soil. If a loquat tree is well taken care of the fruit will be so much more delicious!

Jam vs Jelly

Everyone always asks so let’s discuss! You can absolutely make loquats into jelly. I am a jam fan myself because it’s less work since you can allow the pulp to remain. The last thing I want to do is strain fruit. If you want less work – choose jam.

I prefer the loose, spreadable texture of jam and I prefer to not use as much pectin. Jelly will require more pectin to set properly.

Adding a Twist

This recipe is all about a simple, classic Homemade Loquat Jam. I used vanilla bean but nothing out of the box. If you want a twist, you could definitely dress this up! I think a touch of bourbon added near the end of the cooking process would add a remarkable flavor. I’ve also seen cardamom added to loquat jam too! Honey is always a great idea for a recipe like this.

About Sterilizing Jam Jars

This may be the most important step of making jam and jelly! Please don’t ever skip this. Before you add your jam to the jars wash the jars thoroughly with soap and water. Then add them to a large pot of boiling water. The water should be a rolling boil. Cook the jars for 15 minutes to sterilize them and prepare them for the jam. Add the jam to the jars while the jars are still hot.

Homemade Loquat Jam Recipe (6)

Homemade Loquat Jam Recipe

Brittany Bly

This simple jam is pure delicious! Make this homemade loquat jam with a little known fruit that is oh so tasty.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course condiments

Ingredients

  • 8 cups loquats
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean chopped
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon pectin

Instructions

  • Thoroughly wash the loquats. Then chop and de-seed them. Slice them into quarter pieces or smaller and place them in a stock pot.

  • Juice the lemon and toss the loquats in the juice.

  • Chop the vanilla bean in pieces and add to the stock pot with the fruit.

  • Add the sugar and pectin to the stock pot and bring to a boil stirring often.

  • Once the fruit begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Continue to stir occasionally.

  • After 45 minutes, or near the end of the cooking time, remove the vanilla bean.

  • After 1 hour remove the jam from the heat and add to the jam jars while still warm.

  • Be sure to follow the sterilization guide for the jam jars included in this post! Do not add the jam to unsterilized jars!

  • Store in the fridge for up to a year and to use spread across your favorite breads, muffins, or add to ice cream!

Keyword condiments, jam, jam recipe, jelly, loquat, loquat fruit

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Homemade Loquat Jam Recipe (11)

Brittany Bly

Hi. My name is Brittany and I'm the founder of Pop Shop America. I design most of the craft kits in our shop and just love to make stuff! I've been a maker my whole life and have made desserts, clothes, terrariums, zines, fine art, recipes, candles and so much more. I hope you stick around at Pop Shop America. 💖 Let's be friends.

Homemade Loquat Jam Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the fruit to sugar ratio for jam? ›

(2)Most jam recipes call for a 1:1 ratio of fruit to sugar. I usually use a 75 % ratio, or 1 ½ pounds of sugar to every 2 pounds of fruit, unless the fruit is not very sweet, in which case, I adjust accordingly.

What is the secret to making jam? ›

Use fresh, dry, slightly under-ripe fruit. Strawberries and raspberries are best layered with the sugar and left for a couple of hours before cooking. Plums, currants, gooseberries, cherries etc need to be lightly poached before sugar is added. Pectin, naturally found in fruit is vital to make your jam set.

Do loquats contain pectin? ›

Loquats can be eaten fresh but also make great preserves. They are naturally high in pectin which makes loquat jam a perfect choice if you find yourself with an abundance of this fruit.

What is the best thickener for jam? ›

Add pectin.

While this trick won't work for jam recipes that already call for pectin, adding pectin to a loose batch of jam while re-cooking it almost guarantees that the jam with set back up nicely. Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam.

What is the perfect jam ratio? ›

The ratio between fruit and sugar varies: with sweet fruits, it's about 2:1 (2 kilos of fruit, 1 of sugar), while with more bitter fruits like oranges, it should be more like 3:2. If uncertain, it's better to round up with the sugar. The other potential ingredients – lemon and pectin – are found in many jam recipes.

What happens if you use less sugar when making jam? ›

Less sugar may allow for greater bacterial growth. As a result, process times may be longer for these low-sugar or no-sugar jams and jellies. Some pectin products include preservatives to reduce bacterial growth, as well as to preserve color.

What not to do when making jam? ›

While making it is actually quite straightforward, it's important to avoid a few common mistakes in order to achieve success.
  1. Doubling the batch. ...
  2. Reducing the sugar. ...
  3. Not adding lemon. ...
  4. Completely fearing commercial pectin. ...
  5. Not cooking long enough.

What thickens jam without pectin? ›

Making apricot jam without pectin is possible by using a combination of sugar and lemon juice to help the jam thicken.

When making jam when do you add lemon juice? ›

Once the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam returns to its earlier consistency, about another 5 minutes.

Why are loquats not sold in stores? ›

They aren't sold in supermarkets because they're too delicate to be jostled in shipping without being bruised. However you can find them in many farmers markets. But really, your best bet is to start talking to everyone about how you want to find some, and pretty soon you'll be led to the trees.

Can you eat too many loquats? ›

Consuming loquat fruits in moderate amounts does not cause any health issues. However, excessive intake of raw or ripe loquats can trigger digestive issues in the stomach, intestines, kidney problems and in some cases, hampers and weakens muscles – a condition known as toxic myopathy.

What fruit is similar to a loquat? ›

Loquats, also known as a Japanese apricot or plum, are in the Rosaceae family, the same as apples, pears, peaches and nectarines.

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

With a simple lemon juice trick, your homemade jam will achieve your desired thick texture. Preparing jam is about capturing the sweet essence of the fruit while simultaneously cooking it down to the perfect syrupy consistency.

What happens if you add cornstarch to jam? ›

Pectin is a settling agent used to thicken jams or jellies. This recipe calls for cornstarch, which also works as a thickening agent as the jam cools.

Can you make jam too thick? ›

How to Fix Overcooked Jam Ideas. If it isn't scorched though, here are some ideas to try: Slowly heat it in the microwave a few seconds at a time and then use it as usual. If it is still too thick, add some water while heating it in the microwave and then use it as a delicious and unusual pancake or ice cream syrup.

What is the standard ratio of fruit and sugar for a berry preserve? ›

The recipe

Jam recipes mostly comprise equal weights of fruit and sugar. You can play with this 1:1 ratio as much as you want, but too much fruit and you may lose the preserving effects of the sugar; too much sugar and it may crystallise during storage. The choice of fruit for jam-making is almost endless.

What is the ratio of pulp to sugar for the preparation of jam? ›

It can be prepared from one kind of fruit or from two or more kinds.In its preparation about 45% of fruit pulp should be used for every 55% of sugar. The FPO specification of jam is 68.5% TSS, 45% of fruit pulp and 0.5-0.6% of acid (citric acid) per 100 gm of the prepared product.

How do you calculate fruit content in jam? ›

This fruit content is not worked out in the same way as 'QUIDing' with the fruit content, which is in any case done in the ingredient declaration. You will get a % fruit for each fruit the jam contains, together the statement 'Prepared with X g of fruit per 100g'.

Does the amount of sugar matter when making jam? ›

In addition to sweetening and helping with gel formation in regular jams, jellies and preserves, sugar plays a very important role in preventing spoilage. The large amount of sugar present reduc- es the “available” moisture for microbial growth.

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