Latest news with #TheRepublicofTea
7NEWS
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Meghan Markle's Fourth of July ‘easy entertaining' post goes up in smoke
Meghan Markle rolled out the red, white and blueberry on the Fourth of July, sharing a clip of herself assembling a charcuterie board — but her bid at 'easy entertaining' left viewers anything but entertained. In a video posted to her As Ever Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex styled a wooden platter with fruit, star-shaped cheese, crackers, and a ramekin of her famously sold-out $14 ($A21.35) raspberry spread. Dressed in a summery striped shirt and filmed in what looked like her Montecito kitchen, Meghan smiled, styled, and even giggled as she dropped a rogue raspberry into the mix. It was a slice of domestic goddess realness — or at least, that was the goal. Instead, some viewers likened the presentation to a 2014 Pinterest post. 'Bless her heart for thinking this is new,' one Reddit critic wrote. Others called the faux calligraphy 'eye-roll inducing' and accused the Duchess of not-so-subtly product placing her jewellery into frame. The video also popped up on her personal Instagram account just minutes later, featuring an aerial shot of the same board. But while the jam sold out in 30 minutes back in April, not everyone who tasted it thought it was worth the hype. Daily Mail previously revealed the spread — or 'preserve,' as Meghan insists on calling it — is made by The Republic of Tea, which also supplies her brand's honey and tea bags. Their HQ is in California, but the jam's actually made in a factory in Illinois. Reviewers described the spread as overly sweet, 'surprisingly runny,' and more 'raspberry dessert sauce' than toast topper. Meghan's explanation? Jam is technically equal parts sugar and fruit — and she wanted hers to taste more like the fruit. The result, critics say, missed the mark. 'It dripped off the spoon like a sauce,' one reviewer noted. 'You'd be forgiven for thinking it melted in transit.' Compared to household staples like Bonne Maman, Meghan's jam couldn't hold its shape — or a spoon. Out of five stars? Two, generously. In a May podcast appearance, Meghan acknowledged the drop-it-and-it's-gone launch may have frustrated customers. She likened the strategy to a sneaker drop but admitted: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.'
West Australian
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Meghan Markle's Fourth of July ‘easy entertaining' post goes up in smoke
Meghan Markle rolled out the red, white and blueberry on the Fourth of July, sharing a clip of herself assembling a charcuterie board — but her bid at 'easy entertaining' left viewers anything but entertained. In a video posted to her As Ever Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex styled a wooden platter with fruit, star-shaped cheese, crackers, and a ramekin of her famously sold-out $14 ($A21.35) raspberry spread. Dressed in a summery striped shirt and filmed in what looked like her Montecito kitchen, Meghan smiled, styled, and even giggled as she dropped a rogue raspberry into the mix. It was a slice of domestic goddess realness — or at least, that was the goal. Instead, some viewers likened the presentation to a 2014 Pinterest post. 'Bless her heart for thinking this is new,' one Reddit critic wrote. Others called the faux calligraphy 'eye-roll inducing' and accused the Duchess of not-so-subtly product placing her jewellery into frame. The video also popped up on her personal Instagram account just minutes later, featuring an aerial shot of the same board. But while the jam sold out in 30 minutes back in April, not everyone who tasted it thought it was worth the hype. Daily Mail previously revealed the spread — or 'preserve,' as Meghan insists on calling it — is made by The Republic of Tea, which also supplies her brand's honey and tea bags. Their HQ is in California, but the jam's actually made in a factory in Illinois. Reviewers described the spread as overly sweet, 'surprisingly runny,' and more 'raspberry dessert sauce' than toast topper. Meghan's explanation? Jam is technically equal parts sugar and fruit — and she wanted hers to taste more like the fruit. The result, critics say, missed the mark. 'It dripped off the spoon like a sauce,' one reviewer noted. 'You'd be forgiven for thinking it melted in transit.' Compared to household staples like Bonne Maman, Meghan's jam couldn't hold its shape — or a spoon. Out of five stars? Two, generously. In a May podcast appearance, Meghan acknowledged the drop-it-and-it's-gone launch may have frustrated customers. She likened the strategy to a sneaker drop but admitted: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.'
Perth Now
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Meghan's holiday jam post melts into a PR mess
Meghan Markle rolled out the red, white and blueberry on the Fourth of July, sharing a clip of herself assembling a charcuterie board — but her bid at 'easy entertaining' left viewers anything but entertained. In a video posted to her As Ever Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex styled a wooden platter with fruit, star-shaped cheese, crackers, and a ramekin of her famously sold-out $14 ($A21.35) raspberry spread. Dressed in a summery striped shirt and filmed in what looked like her Montecito kitchen, Meghan smiled, styled, and even giggled as she dropped a rogue raspberry into the mix. It was a slice of domestic goddess realness — or at least, that was the goal. Instead, some viewers likened the presentation to a 2014 Pinterest post. 'Bless her heart for thinking this is new,' one Reddit critic wrote. Others called the faux calligraphy 'eye-roll inducing' and accused the Duchess of not-so-subtly product placing her jewellery into frame. The video also popped up on her personal Instagram account just minutes later, featuring an aerial shot of the same board. But while the jam sold out in 30 minutes back in April, not everyone who tasted it thought it was worth the hype. Daily Mail previously revealed the spread — or 'preserve,' as Meghan insists on calling it — is made by The Republic of Tea, which also supplies her brand's honey and tea bags. Their HQ is in California, but the jam's actually made in a factory in Illinois. Reviewers described the spread as overly sweet, 'surprisingly runny,' and more 'raspberry dessert sauce' than toast topper. Meghan's explanation? Jam is technically equal parts sugar and fruit — and she wanted hers to taste more like the fruit. The result, critics say, missed the mark. 'It dripped off the spoon like a sauce,' one reviewer noted. 'You'd be forgiven for thinking it melted in transit.' Compared to household staples like Bonne Maman, Meghan's jam couldn't hold its shape — or a spoon. Out of five stars? Two, generously. In a May podcast appearance, Meghan acknowledged the drop-it-and-it's-gone launch may have frustrated customers. She likened the strategy to a sneaker drop but admitted: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.'
Daily Record
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Meghan Markle's As Ever jam produced in factory 2,000 miles from Montecito
Meghan's brand boasted the jam was 'crafted in her own kitchen' in a social media post. The jam Meghan Markle's brand has just released As Ever is actually made 2,000 miles away from her mansion. The pricey preserve is said to be "inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted in her home kitchen" and an Instagram video features a fruity mixture bubbling in a pot at the duchess' Californian property. However, it has now been revealed the jam - which Meghan sells for £6.50 per jar - is actually produced in a factory in Illinois, some 2,000 miles from Montecito. It is in fact manufactured by the same US giant which sells Meghan's £9 packs of herbal tea. The brand also makes her sold-out orange blossom honey, priced at £21-a-jar – although it is not known whether it manufactures her newly released apricot preserve. Meghan, 43, had claimed last week the first batches of the apricot preserve and other new treats had sold out within hours of release online, reports the Mirror. However, one tough food critic told the media she felt the jam was "a real disappointment" upon reviewing the fruity spread. Donna Collins blasted the jam, describing it as "too runny" to work. And mum-of-two Meghan faces more scrutiny today after it has emerged The Republic of Tea factory, which produces the jam, is based on an industrial estate 2,000 miles from Montecito, quite the contrast to the homely image the duchess has presented in marketing for the product. A source close to the duchess said that in order to formulate the commercial product, As Ever started with the spread Meghan makes at home "and worked to develop a version of it that could be produced at scale". Meghan's website, though, describes her "signature" raspberry jam as "inspired by the recipe she made in her home kitchen" – and says it was deliberately crafted with a fluid texture". On her hit Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, she described harvesting berries and making small batches of jars in her kitchen, adding: "I did save one of 50 for my mom." But, a source close to Meghan has confirmed to the Daily Mail that The Republic of Tea makes her As Ever raspberry spread, but a new supplier would soon be used in future. The Republic of Tea's headquarters is in Larkspur, California, 350 miles from Meghan's mansion - but the factory in which the jam is said to be made is in Illinois, which is in the Midwestern United States. In a statement given to the Mail, Netflix said: "Netflix and As Ever take pride in working with best-in-class vendors that meet our high standards for exceptional products. It's been exciting to see how much fans have embraced the As Ever product line, with the first two launches selling out so quickly We're looking forward to continued success as we expand and release more As Ever product throughout the year and beyond." The Republic of Tea has been approached for comment.
7NEWS
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Meghan Markle's As Ever ‘homemade' jam actually made in factory 3000km away in Illinois
A fruit preserve launched under Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, As Ever, is being produced nearly 3000km from her California home, despite marketing that leans heavily on a homegrown aesthetic. The jam, described as being 'inspired by the recipe Meghan crafted in her home kitchen,' is featured in an Instagram video showing fruit bubbling on the stove in the Duchess of Sussex's Montecito property. But it's now been revealed that the £6.50 ($A13.64) raspberry spread is manufactured in a commercial facility in Illinois, far from the Californian estate showcased in its promotional materials. The preserve is reportedly produced by The Republic of Tea, the same US company behind Meghan's £9 herbal tea range and her £21 orange blossom honey, which sold out shortly after release, the Mirror explained. It remains unclear whether the brand also produces the newly released apricot preserve, but Meghan previously claimed the first batches of both flavours 'sold out within hours of release online.' However, not everyone has been impressed with the final product. Food critic Donna Collins described the jam as 'a real disappointment,' adding it was 'too runny' to use properly. While As Ever's marketing paints a picture of artisanal craftsmanship, the production facility is located on an industrial estate, raising questions about the gap between the brand's image and its manufacturing reality. A source close to Meghan clarified that As Ever began by using the spread she makes at home and then developed a scaled-up version for commercial release. The official As Ever website still describes the raspberry spread as 'inspired by the recipe she made in her home kitchen' and notes that it was 'deliberately crafted with a fluid texture.' In her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, she is seen harvesting berries and making small batches of jam in her kitchen. 'I did save one of 50 for my mom,' she says in the episode. The Daily Mail has confirmed that The Republic of Tea currently produces the raspberry spread, though a source noted that a new supplier will soon take over production. While The Republic of Tea is headquartered in Larkspur, California — roughly 350 miles from Meghan's home — the jam is reportedly made in a facility located in Illinois. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Netflix said: 'Netflix and As Ever take pride in working with best-in-class vendors that meet our high standards for exceptional products.' 'It's been exciting to see how much fans have embraced the As Ever product line, with the first two launches selling out so quickly. We're looking forward to continued success as we expand and release more As Ever product throughout the year and beyond.'
