Hemelhuijs Hedgerow Berry Jam Named South Africa’s 2026 Preserve Product of the Year
Hemelhuijs Hedgerow Berry Jam Named South Africa’s 2026 Preserve Product of the Year. Hemelhuijs Hedgerow Berry Jam has been named the 2026 South African Preserve Product of the Year after taking the top award at the second South African Preserve Championships.
The winning product was announced on Thursday, 27 August, at Eensgezind in Durbanville following a competition that attracted 700 entries from 85 manufacturers.
The championships, presented by Agri-Expo, used a blind-tasting process to assess the products. A panel of 61 judges evaluated the entries, with 113 products from 43 manufacturers ultimately recognised as South African Champions in their respective classes.
Thirteen category winners were selected as the leading products in their fields, with Hemelhuijs Hedgerow Berry Jam receiving the overall Product of the Year title.
Judges praise winning berry jam
Chief judge Susina Jooste, a food expert and training specialist, said the standard of the competition made the national award a significant achievement.
She described the Hemelhuijs product as exceptional across several sensory characteristics, including its appearance, colour, berry flavour and mouthfeel.
Jooste also highlighted the balance between syrup and fruit, as well as the product’s sweet and acidic profile. She noted that the jam could be enjoyed traditionally or used to enhance meat dishes and sauces.
Preserves made with organic fruit
Hemelhuijs was established in 2009 as a Cape Town inner-city café combining South African heritage with global culinary influences.
Chef Patron Jacques Erasmus said the company’s preserves are made using organic fruit grown at its Jonkmanshof farm in Montagu, where seasonal fruit is produced.
According to Erasmus, sourcing fruit directly from the farm is part of the business’s approach to fresh ingredients and sustainability.
The preserves are made using family recipes and do not contain additives or artificial flavours. They are handcrafted in small batches using traditional copper jam pans, with the business focusing on single-cultivar preserves to showcase the characteristics of individual fruits.
Preserve championships expand
The South African Preserve Championships were launched in 2025 to showcase preserving, recognise product quality and contribute to economic development, according to Agri-Expo general manager and competition organiser Breyton Milford.
Milford said the increase in entries demonstrated demand for a platform of this nature, while the results highlighted competition among established brands as well as smaller and emerging producers.
The 13 category winners included Miami Mango Atchar in Vegetable Oil Garlic for Atchar, Peppadew International Woolworths Dhania Chutney for Chutney and Lessing Konfyte & Bakkery Passionfruit Curd for Curd.
Elana’s Preserves Peach Halves in Syrup won the Fruit in Syrup category, while Hemelhuijs Kumquat Conserve took the Marmalade category.
Other winners included PITTIG Sweet Chilli Jelly for Jellies, Darling Olives Marinated Olives for Olives, Pesto Princess Basil & Chilli Pesto for Pesto, and Lessing Konfyte & Bakkery Curry Peaches for Pickled Fruit.
Miami Sweet & Tangy Cherry Peppers won Pickled Vegetables, Creative Cuisine Pantry Tomato & Onion Relish won Relish, and Ko-Ria Products Three Bean Salad won Vegetables in Sauce.
The results place Hemelhuijs Hedgerow Berry Jam at the top of the 2026 championships after a judging process that assessed hundreds of entries from producers across the preserve sector.
