Ever since I was a child I have loved eating peanut butter and fruit preserves sandwiches. Because I try to limit the amount of sugar I ingest, I regularly purchase and eat different brands and flavors of sugar free preserves in addition to regular-style preserves.
Within the past several weeks I have purchased containers of both Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam and Polaner’s Sugar Free with Fiber Seedless Blackberry Preserves. When I saw the two containers of preserves sitting in my refrigerator I realized they would be good products to compare.
Presented here in an effort to assist the consumer, is one pb & p-lover’s product comparison of Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam and Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves.
Size
The net weight of the standard-sized container of Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam is 12.75 ounces. According to the product label the container holds 17 one tablespoon servings.
The net weight of the standard-sized container of Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves is 13.5 ounces. According to the product label the container holds 22 one tablespoon servings.
Price
The regular retail price charged for one 12.75 container of Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam in the Hartford, Connecticut area ranges between $2.79 and $2.99. The price that I usually pay for one jar of these preserves is $2.99.
The regular retail price charged for one 13.5 ounce container of Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves in the Hartford, Connecticut area ranges between $3.49 and $3.99.
Consistency / Texture
Although they are both blackberry spreads, the consistency or texture of Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam and Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves are not the same.
Both of these blackberry spreads are loaded with real blackberries and are easy to apply to bread and peanut butter. The consistency of the Smucker’s product seems to be more consolidated than that of the Polaner product to me, but the Polaner product appears to have more actual pieces of blackberries in it.
Nutritional Facts
Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam contains 10 calories per one tablespoon serving. This product also contains 0 grams total fat, 0 mg of sodium, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams total carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar and 0 grams of protein per one tablepoon serving.
Polaner’s Sugar Free with Fiber Seedless Blackberry Preserves contains 10 calories with 0 calories from fat, per one tablespoon serving. This product also contains 0 grams trans fat, 0 grams total fat, 0 mg of sodium, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of sugar and 0 grams of protein per one tablespoon serving.
Taste / Flavor
When it comes to flavor, it’s very hard to say that one of these blackberry spreads tastes better than the other.
When I first opened the container of the Polaner Sugar Free with Fiber Seedless Blackberry Preserves I was quite impressed with the product’s vibrant, not-too-sweet but appealing flavor. Maybe I’m wrong, but as the Polaner spread has sat in the refrigerator for a few weeks it seems to be somewhat less-sweet than when it was first opened.
As far as real blackberry flavor is concerned, the Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves definitely delivers. This Kosher and gluten-free spread features a vibrant fresh fruit taste that is quite satisfying.
The Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam offers a well-balanced flavor that somehow tastes sweeter than the Polaner product to me. As with the Polaner product, the jam tastes like real blackberries but the taste of the Polaner spread seems more like that of fresh blackberries to me.
For me, the real test of these spreads’ flavors is when they are combined with peanut butter in a sandwich. Although I really do like eating peanut butter and Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves sandwiches, the flavor of sandwiches made with peanut butter and Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam appeals to me a little bit more.
On a flavor scale of one through ten, I would assign Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves a rating of 9.40.
On a flavor scale of one through ten I would assign Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam a rating of 9.50.
Packaging
Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves are packaged in a fairly tall glass jar that is easy to open and reclose. The front label on the jar has a white, violet and blue design and the rear label lists all relevant ingredient and nutritional information.
The Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam is packaged in a smaller glass jar that is also easy to open and reclose. The front label features a white, blue and green design and the rear label lists all pertinent ingredient and nutritional information.
Overall Rating
All things considered, both the Polaner Sugar Free Blackberry Preserves and the Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam are excellent products.
While the Smucker’s product in a peanut butter sandwich seems to suit my tastebuds just a tiny bit more than the Polaner product, I feel better about eating a sandwich made with the Polaner product.
The Polaner Sugar Free with Fiber Seedless Blackberry Preserves seems more like fresh fruit to me and the Smucker’s Sugar Free Blackberry Jam seems more like a spread to me. When it comes to peanut butter sandwiches, a spread-like consistency works well. At any rate, I would recommend both of these products.
Sources :
Personal experience with the products