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Fireweed Jelly

8/10/2013

17 Comments

 
I have been making Fireweed Jelly for the past three summers. It is so fun from beginning to end, and this year I am submitting my jelly to be judged at the State Fair! 

By far, this summer was the best jelly experience ever because Laura, Jason, and I took it to a whole new level. 

Take a look:

The Harvest

On Saturday, August 3rd, we originally set out on a 15 mile hike to loop Williwaw Lake, but once the weather turned we decided to take advantage of some of the most vibrant fireweed patches I have ever seen.
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Jason, Shane, and Laura had fireweed fever and picked a ton. At some point, I knew we were going to have more than we needed, so I sat back and took advantage of some good photo opportunities. In fact, we could have all sat back and watched Jason's Iowa farming efficiency go unmatched by the three of us combined. 






With a couple of gallons of flowers collected, we headed down to Midnight Sun for a beer and a snack and then went home to make juice. 
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Fireweed Juice

The first step is to rinse the flowers and buds of dirt and bugs. We do this by submersing them in water and using a colander for several rinses. The dirt and many many bugs separate from the flowers easily. 

To make juice the cooperative extensions office calls for 2 cups of packed flowers to be added to 2 1/2 cups of boiling water. Every year, I have always doubled this recipe to yield about 6 half pint jars of jelly. This year, Laura's and Jason's enthusiasm yielded so many flowers that we made 3 1/2 gallons of fireweed juice. 

Fireweed Jelly Recipe

2 1⁄2 cups fireweed juice
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1⁄2 teaspoon butter, margarine or oil 3 tablespoons powdered pectin

Sterilize canning jars and prepare lids. Combine fireweed juice, lemon juice, pectin and butter, margarine or oil in a large saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add sugar and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

To test, drop 1⁄2 teaspoon of jelly on a cold saucer and put it in the freezer for 5 minutes. If the mixture does not set to your satisfaction, add 1⁄2 cup sugar to the jelly in the pot and boil hard for 1 minute. Retest. During the test, the rest of the jelly mixture should be removed from the heat.

When test mixture gels to your satisfaction, ladle jelly into hot jars, add two-piece lids and process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

Yield: 3 cups 

Final Thought

There is nothing more reminiscent of summer than opening a jar of Fireweed Jelly in January. The color, flavor, and aroma is the distillation of an Alaskan July. 

Finished Product

Thank you Laura, Jason, and Shane for your work and help on this pretty epic canning endeavor. 
17 Comments
Becky Harvey
8/15/2016 12:41:59 pm

Hi! Gosh, I love all the beautiful pictures and reading your story. I accessed the extension office site, and I noticed that they called for 2 cups of packed fireweed to 2 1/2 cups water. You mentioned that you used 4 cups of fireweed to 2 1/2 cups water. Did that work better for you? I made some fireweed jelly according to the extension office directions, and it turned out a little on the runny side. Do you have any suggestions on how I could make it thicker? Maybe add more pectin? Thanks!

Reply
Pete Braun
3/7/2018 07:36:37 pm

How many jars did you end up with after that trip? And you're definitely right about how good it is. I've only tried the fireweed jelly from Midnight Sun Farms, but that was still good enough to get me interested. Watch out grape, strawberry, the usual flavors, fireweed is making a name for itself! I think it's even better than those flavors for my favorite use: a peanut butter, banana and jelly sandwich. Mmm, so good.

Reply
Mindi
3/8/2018 08:53:56 am

We had so so many jars. I think we ended up with 99. I love fireweed jelly too. It is surprisingly easy to do. Have you made it before? If not, I hope you get a chance this August/September.

Cheers!

Reply
Pete Braun
3/8/2018 02:22:29 pm

There are some people who live in the same town as me (Girdwood) who know how to make their own fireweed jelly, so I'd have to ask them about that, as I've never made it before. I can already tell what my favorite use for that jelly is gonna be. Pair it with your favorite variety of peanut butter (creamy is my favorite) and some banana slices on your favorite bread (I like 8-grain), and you have the makings of the greatest homemade sandwich you have ever had to eat in your life!

Reply
E Henry Preece.
4/28/2020 12:16:38 am

I visited Girdwood 2019 as well as many other places in Alaska on a cultural trip from England.I am a headgerow forager and preserve maker,and was introduced to this Jelly by our land lady,in Homer.It was brilliant.I decided to try it back home.We call this flower,Rosebay willow herb.Will use this recipe to make some,love Alaska.Shabash.

Debra Massey
8/7/2018 10:52:55 am

We are traveling and won’t be back home until 2 1/2 weeks. Can I keep the Fireweed until then? Or, can I boil it and keep the juice in the refrigerator?

Reply
S Simon
8/12/2018 07:16:32 am

Make the tea/juice and freeze it until you’re ready to use it.

Reply
Mindi
8/12/2018 09:51:03 am

S Simon - that is good advice!

Debra - I would think that freezing is the way to go. Let us know how it turns out!

Courtney Stanley link
4/19/2020 05:45:50 pm

Hi There! I write content for The Alaska Life and would love to do a feature on fireweed jelly. Your recipe and photos are amazing! Could I possibly use your content if I link everything back to you and this great site? Please let me know. Thanks so much for your consideration!

Reply
Mindi
4/19/2020 07:07:43 pm

Hi Courtney,

I am delighted to share! Go for it.

Thanks for asking,

Mindi

Reply
Barbara Adjun
8/5/2020 01:39:42 pm

I just made fireweed jelly and would like to know how we cool it, can I put it in the fridge?

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Mindi link
8/6/2020 01:15:05 pm

I would just let them cool down on the counter. You'll hear the lids seal as they get to room temp.

Reply
Derek
7/24/2021 06:21:54 am

I am a little confused by the recipe.

Is it butter, margarine, or oil AND 3 Tblsp of Pectin?

Reply
Mindi
7/29/2021 09:26:37 am

You can choose to use butter, margarine, or oil. And yes, 3 tablespoons of pectin. Enjoy!

Reply
Clarissa
8/4/2021 12:32:56 pm

When foraging for the fireweed, are you grabbing both the flower and the buds and removing them from the stems?

Reply
Mindi
8/4/2021 01:59:22 pm

Hi Clarissa,

Grab both the flower and the buds, but leave the stem. I try to not strip an entire plant, but just take a little from each one.

Mindi

Reply
Stephanie
5/24/2022 03:46:46 am

Thank you for sharing ❤️ I look forward to learning new things to harvest and make from what grows in our amazing Alaska!

Reply



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