Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com

Mayhaw Jelly

in Guest Recipe Book

Average Rating: 
(total ratings: 17)
[Read reviews] [Post a review]
Servings: Makes 6 (1-cup) jars
 
Comments:
What is Mayhaw?

Mayhaws are native to the swamps and lowlands of the Gulf Coast states in the US. They have been collected from wild trees by deep-southerners since antebellum times, and are rarely cultivated in orchards still today.

Mayhaw Jelly is a rare delicacy made from the tart red berry that grows in the swamps and bogs of Southwest Georgia. Colquitt, in Miller County, Georgia, is the center of the Mayhaw growing area. Mayhaw trees grow wild in such a small geographical area. The Mayhaw Tree is in the hawthorne family, a distant cousin of the rose. The plant grows like a small tree and bears fruit that look like small crab apples. The tree has ample thorns that cause a person to gather fruit carefully.

Color is critical for jelly makers. Coral jelly is preferred, but not all mayhaws will make coral colored jelly. They come in red, orange and yellow. Some reds are almost purple and some are a red/yellow combination.

In the wild, mayhaws from a single tree usually ripen in two to three weeks. This is acceptable for mayhaw trees in the garden where the owner can harvest fruit as it ripens. Fruit can be kept until enough is harvested to make jelly or processed to produce juice that is stored for making jelly later.

Where Can You Find Mayhaw Jelly?

Mayhaw jelly is quite hard to find, especially if you live any place other than the southern US. I have found three places you may purchase it. One place is a grocery store in Donalsonville, Georgia called "Harvey's". The second place is "Cedar Head Farms". Their mailing address is P.O. Box 368, Colquitt, GA 31737. Their phone number is (229) 758-9249. The third place is called "Our House". Lisa Durden is the proprietor and known for her prize winning jellies and jams, in addition to many other items. She is located on South Tennille Avenue in Donalsonville, Georgia. You can also try doing a search on the Internet for Mayhaw Jelly. You may find individuals or small companies who sell it.

Ingredients:
3 cups prepared juice (buy about 2 lb. fully ripe mayhaws)
1 qt. (4 cups) water
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
5 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl
1/2 tsp. butter or margarine (optional)
1 pouch fruit pectin

Instructions:
Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

Place mayhaws in saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Crush fruit mixture in saucepan. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 3 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-quart saucepot. Stir in lemon juice.

Stir sugar into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.

Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

How To Measure Precisely:
To get exact level cup measure of sugar, spoon sugar into dry metal or plastic measuring cup, then level by scraping excess sugar from top of cup with a straight-edged knife.

Makes 6 (1 cup) jars.

Date: March 29, 2003-Recipe revised August 22, 2003

Reviews

Reviewer: Michael Mayeux
Rating: 
Review:
I'm from S E Texas and our jellies are comparable to yours. I have enjoyed Mayhaw Jelly for many years before it bacame so popular. Now I try different recipes and pass them on if they are excellent. Yours matches the taste I'm looking for. Thanks!!

 
Reviewer: Ashley
Rating: 
Review:
I have never tasted a jelly that was so delicious! My grandmother was given a jar of Cedar Head Farms Mayhaw Jelly for christmas.... I tried it and needless to say I won't eat anything but mayhaw jelly now. :-)

 
Reviewer: Jayme
Rating: 
Review:
I love this recipe, I am livin in SW Missouri, a Texas transplant and have never seen it here. Is there a way to order trees to plant so I can harvest my own? If not, please direct me to some assistance. Thanks!

 
Reviewer: Diana
Rating: 
Review:
Hi Jayme,

Mayhaw trees and bulbs can be purchased at: TyTy Nursery 4723 U.S. Hwy. 82 W. P.O. Box 130 TyTy, GA. 31795 Phone: 1-800-972-2101 Good Luck! Diana, Diana's Desserts

 
Reviewer: Allison Jones
Rating: 
Review:
Can't wait to taste it. It smells soooo good.

 
Reviewer: Annabel Alderman
Rating: 
Review:
Perfection is hard to find in any venue. Cedar Head Farms' Mayhaw Jelly makes the grade. What a wonderful gift to the world!

 
Reviewer: Saiful Islam Ridoy
Rating: 
Review:
I need a recipe of jelly from Longan. Please help me

 
Reviewer: Diana
Rating: 
Review:
Hi Saiful, You can find a recipe for Tropical Fruit Salad in Jelly that contains Longan in it on this website in My Recipe Book, under the International Desserts and Treats Category. Good Luck.......Diana, Diana's Desserts

 
Reviewer: sam fenn
Rating: 
Review:
my jelly didn't firm up, what can i do?

 
Reviewer: Carolyn
Rating: 
Review:
My mayhaw jelly did not get firm. I used surejell. Help

 
Reviewer: Sarah Dedmon
Rating: 
Review:
This is the same recipe given out by Sure-Jell / Certo (same company). My full-sugar Certo version did not set. However, my low-sugar version set within an hour. I recommend using the low-sugar recipe.

 
Reviewer: Kristen
Rating: 
Review:
I adore mayhaw jelly (My great grandmother use to make it for the family and we would positively fight over the jars of jelly!), but live in south Texas and I don't know if the trees grow here... I can't find a consistent answer if they can be grown down here, nor can I find anyplace that will just ship the berries. Any advice?

 
Reviewer: Deb M
Rating: 
Review:
There is a store on I-45 North at exit 164 between Houston & Dallas called Woody's Smokehouse. They sell Mayhaw Jelly in 16 oz jars. A store on each side of highway.

 
Reviewer: V. Macor
Rating: 
Review:
Rare? Yes, but also found at Bradley's Country Store {established in 1927} in Tallahassee, Florida [850.893.1647] on Centerville Road.

 
Reviewer: Wanda
Rating: 
Review:
Our love affair with Mayhaw jelly began in Nachez, Mississippe at the Monmouth Plantation. We were unable to find it and then discovered it was sold at Adcock's-a pecan store-we have been shopping at for years on our trips to our NC home. This southern Floridian has tasted countless Mayhaw jellies since that time and I am here to tell you NONE can compare to Cedar Head Farms. It is fabulous, perfect and yes, we almost fight over the jars. It's a taste beyond compare!!!

 
Reviewer: Jen Zerlaut
Rating: 
Review:
I just bought a jar of Mayhaw Butter at a roadside stand in SC. It is Cider House Produce, 1070 N. HWY 25, Traveler's Rest, SC, 864-834-4446. Very nice people and the place was spotless. I make fruit butter muffins and am excited to try this in a recipe. I hope this helps folks in our area. Also, I think I remember seeing Mayhaw jelly at the gift shop at Grandfather Mountain in GA. Good hunting!

 
Reviewer: Tasiia98
Rating: 
Review:
For those who's jelly did not firm, you did not cook it long enough at a high temp. I use a thermometer and I get my jelly to 225 degrees for about 5 min. Hope this helps.

 

Add Your Review

  YOUR NAME (required)
  YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (required)
 (Excellent)
 (Very Good)
 (Good)
 (Could be Better)
 (Poor)
  RATING (required)
YOUR REVIEW: