After weeks of speculation, sources close to the duchess have divulged that her As Ever products are manufactured by grocery store brand Republic of Tea, as a jam expert slams her fruit spreads for being too runny.
Though Meghan’s business was inspired by the jams and spreads she made in her own home, and she said they were made in US, the Mail on Sunday revealed that they are currently being produced in a factory about 2000 miles from her Montecito home in Illinois.
This week, sources close to the duchess told the British paper that As Ever’s spreads and teas are being manufactured by Republic of Tea—an Illinois-based company known for its round pouches and eclectic blends—using California-grown berries from an unidentified supplier. In addition, the Mail reported that the rosé is being made in collaboration with Fairwinds Estate, a Napa Valley winery. In an April interview with Fortune, Meghan noted that her products were all manufactured in the United States, but otherwise, details about the product’s sourcing and production were difficult to come by. According to The Mirror, she is currently in the process of looking for new suppliers for the brand. Though As Ever’s tea bags are triangular, it isn’t a huge surprise that Republic of Tea was involved with the product development for the brand that Meghan started with support from Netflix’s Consumer Product Group. The CPG has a history of partnering with other brands and manufacturers to bring their products to market, and in 2022, Republic of Tea released an assortment of teas and accessories promoting the streamer’s show Bridgerton. Meghan first began to build buzz for a lifestyle brand in early 2024 when she sent jars of homemade strawberry jam to 50 friends and acquaintances. A handful of the recipients, including Mindy Kaling, Kris Jenner, and Chrissy Teigen, shared photos of the jam to their Instagram accounts. At first, she decided to name her company “American Rivera Orchard,” but later decided to change track when she realized that a geographically specific name would limit her to make products in the area. In a May podcast interview with Tina Knowles, she mentioned that her original ambition for her business was to open a Santa Barbara farmer’s market stand where she would sell small-batch preserves, adding that she had even applied for a license. When the brand made its mass-market debut in April 2025, she had chosen a new name and opted to release a raspberry fruit spread. In a conversation with It Cosmetics founder Jamie Kern Lima, she noted that she hoped to expand the range of flavors. “Of course, more jam drops,” Meghan said. “Think of them like sneaker drops.” Earlier this month, when As Ever did a restock of its products, the apricot spread became the company’s newest jam flavor. Earlier this month, an American jam maker told the Daily Mail that she found Meghan’s decision to market “fruit spreads” to be suspect. “It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails,' said Donna Collins, the owner of Jelly Queens, a business based in Fairview, Texas. “It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread.” The difference between a “jam,” a “preserve,” and a “spread” comes down to the ratio of fruit to sugar. Jam, which is regulated by the FDA, must have at least 55% sugar and 45% fruit. The sugar content also affects the jam’s final consistency. As the sugar is heated, it binds to fruit pectins, either naturally occurring or added, to create a stronger gel. In an episode of her show, With Love, Meghan, the duchess explained that she intentionally made a product with less sugar. “Technically, it can’t be called jam because jam is equal parts sugar and fruit,” Meghan said. “I just don’t think you can taste the fruit that way.” On their website, As Ever describes their new apricot spread as having “a touch of sweetness, letting the apricot’s bright flavor shine.” Vanity Fair obtained a jar of the brand’s newest release, and though the spread’s texture was distractingly runny, the fruit’s acidic flavor was a hit. The duchess is aware enough that her preserves are fairly runny, to the point that she joked about it during her appearance on Aspire With Emma Grede earlier this month. After discussing the stress of launching a TV show, a podcast, and a lifestyle company at the same time, she said she was looking forward to taking a break from her busy schedule. With a smile, she added, “At a certain point, the only thing I want to spread thin is my jam.”
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