Most advent calendars are throwaway plastic filled with candy you’ll toss half of. The Bonne Maman jam advent calendar corrects that mistake by delivering 24 glass jars of real jam you’ll actually use. As a gardener, you might recognize the berries inside from your own beds. This jam packed advent calendar is the only one worth buying this year because it solves two problems at once: it gives a gift that doesn’t end up in a landfill, and it shows you exactly which homegrown berries you can preserve the same way this summer.
What Arrives in Each Box and Why It Matters
The 24 jars breakdown
Each calendar ships with 24 small jars, each one holding about 1 ounce of jam. That’s roughly 1.5 pounds of finished jam total. The jars arrive in a cardboard calendar with numbered doors, one to open each day of December leading up to Christmas. Every jar is glass with a metal lid, not plastic or foil.
The specific jars vary slightly by year and retailer, but you’ll typically find between 8 and 12 different flavors represented across the 24 doors. Some flavors repeat. Strawberry usually appears 3 to 4 times. Raspberry shows up 2 to 3 times. The rest fill in with single or double appearances of specialty flavors.
Why glass jars beat the usual calendar format
Glass jars survive past December 25th. You’ll use these jars in January, February, and beyond. They stack in your pantry. They’re reusable for your own preserves. The lids seal properly if you store them in a cool, dark place.
Plastic advent calendars break during unpacking. Chocolate advent calendars get stale or melted. This one becomes part of your kitchen infrastructure instead of becoming trash.
Identify the Jam Flavors You’ll Find Behind Each Door
Classic berry choices that appear most years
Strawberry jam shows up in nearly every calendar. Raspberry is standard. Blackberry appears in most years. Red currant and black currant jams rotate in frequently. Blueberry jam arrives less often but does appear.
You’ll also find non-berry flavors like apricot, fig, and cherry. A few calendars include plum or mixed berry blends. The exact breakdown depends on which Bonne Maman calendar you purchase, as they sometimes release different versions for different retailers.
Seasonal fruit rotations to expect
Bonne Maman sources berries seasonally from their farms in France. Strawberry and raspberry dominate spring and early summer harvests, so those flavors appear most consistently. Blackberry comes in mid to late summer. Currants ripen in July and August.
If you see a calendar advertised with specific flavors, check the product listing carefully. Some retailers sell multiple versions of the same calendar with different flavor assortments. The flavor list matters if someone in your household has a strong preference or an allergy.
Spot the Berries You Can Already Grow at Home
Strawberry and raspberry varieties that match commercial jam
If you see strawberry jam in the calendar, you already know you can grow the same berry. Bonne Maman uses a mix of strawberry varieties, but the jam-making types are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Jewel and Earliglow are excellent jam varieties for zone 6b and colder. Honeoye and Senga Sengana produce high pectin fruit that sets well.
Raspberry jam comes from red raspberries most often. Heritage and Autumn Bliss both grow reliably in zone 6b and colder. They produce fruit in late June through July. The berries have enough natural pectin to gel without added pectin powder if you cook them long enough.
Blackberry and currant options for your garden
Blackberry jam requires blackberry plants, which grow in zones 4 to 9. Triple Crown and Chester are thornless varieties that fruit in mid to late July. Both set fruit reliably in central Ohio. They need full sun and well draining soil.
Red currants and black currants make excellent jam but take longer to establish. Plant them in spring or fall. They fruit in their second year. Ben Sarek is a black currant that performs well in zone 6b. Red Lake is a reliable red currant. Both prefer afternoon shade in hot climates and full sun in cooler zones.
Check the Allergen List Before You Commit to Buying
Common allergens in Bonne Maman products
Bonne Maman jams are generally simple: fruit, sugar, and pectin. Most flavors contain no tree nuts or peanuts. However, some specialty flavors may include nuts or be processed in facilities that handle nuts. The allergen information appears on the back label of each jar and on the product page where you purchase the calendar.
Always read the full allergen statement before buying, especially if the calendar is a gift for someone with restrictions. Cross contamination can happen during manufacturing even if a specific flavor doesn’t list nuts as an ingredient.
Reading labels for hidden ingredients
Look for the ingredients list and allergen statement on the product page before purchasing. Bonne Maman publishes this information online. If you’re buying in person, you can open the calendar box and check individual jar labels.
Some specialty flavors may contain gelatin or other animal products. If you need vegan jam, confirm each flavor before buying. The standard berry jams are typically vegan, but always verify on the label.
Time Your Summer Harvest to Preserve Jam Like This Calendar Does
Pick berries at peak ripeness for jam making
The berries in commercial jam are picked at full ripeness, when sugar content is highest. For strawberries, wait until they’re deep red all the way through. Pick them in the early morning after the dew dries but before the heat peaks. This is usually between 8 and 10 a.m. in July.
Raspberries should fall into your hand with a light tug. If they hold tight to the plant, they need another day. Blackberries turn fully black before they’re ready for jam. Pick them when they’re so dark they’re almost purple.
Match your harvest dates to preservation timing
Plan to make jam within 24 hours of picking. Berries lose pectin and flavor as they sit. In central Ohio (zone 6b), strawberries peak in June. Raspberries peak in late June and early July. Blackberries come in mid to late July. Red and black currants ripen in early to mid July.
If you’re in a warmer zone like 7 or 8, harvest dates shift earlier by 2 to 3 weeks. In colder zones like 5 or 5b, expect berries 1 to 2 weeks later. Watch your plants in real time rather than relying on calendar dates alone.
Learn Why This Calendar Works Better Than Homemade Advent Options
Storage stability of commercial jam versus home canned
Commercial jam is processed in sterile conditions at high temperatures. The jars are sealed under pressure. They stay shelf stable unopened for 2 to 3 years. Once opened, they last 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.
Home canned jam is reliable if you follow tested recipes and process times. But mistakes happen. Under processing leaves jam vulnerable to mold. Over processing can break down the pectin structure. Store bought calendars eliminate that risk.
The dignity question, keeping gift giving simple
Homemade advent calendars require 24 individual gifts, homemade jam in 24 small jars, and a DIY calendar structure. The labor is real. The result often looks handmade in a way that feels incomplete rather than intentional.
A commercial calendar arrives ready to give. It looks finished. The recipient opens one door per day. There’s a rhythm to it. For a busy gardener in July, buying this calendar and spending your time on actual growing makes more sense than spending August making 24 tiny jars.
The Year I Tried to Make My Own Advent Calendar and Failed
I decided to make a homemade jam advent calendar for my sister in 2019. I canned 24 small jars of jam across 8 flavors. I built a fabric calendar with numbered pockets. I was confident it would be better than anything store bought.
The jam was fine. The problem was the jars. They were too small to label clearly. The lids didn’t fit properly because the jars were designed for jelly, not everyday use. By January, three jars had mold on top because the seals weren’t tight. My sister threw them out.
The calendar itself started falling apart in week two. The fabric pockets loosened. The numbers faded. By December 26th, it was in the recycling bin.
The next year I bought the Bonne Maman calendar. My sister still has those jars in her kitchen. She uses them for her own preserves now. That taught me something: sometimes the manufactured product is better because it’s designed to last. Homemade isn’t always superior. It’s just different. Choose based on what actually works, not on what feels more personal.
If you want to give something personal, make one batch of excellent jam in July using berries from your garden. Give that as a separate gift. Let the advent calendar do what it does best: provide structure and consistency through December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you buy the Bonne Maman jam advent calendar?
The calendar sells at major retailers including Amazon, Target, and Williams Sonoma. Specialty food shops sometimes carry it. It’s usually available starting in September and sells out by mid November. If you want one for December, order by early November to guarantee delivery. Check the product page to confirm the specific flavor assortment before buying.
What’s the price and is it worth the cost?
The calendar typically costs between 25 and 35 dollars depending on retailer and year. That works out to roughly 1 to 1.50 per jar. Compared to buying 24 individual jars of Bonne Maman jam separately, it’s a modest discount. The real value is the calendar format and the reusable glass jars. If you’ll use the jars afterward, it’s worth the price.
Can you gift this to someone with nut allergies?
Most Bonne Maman jam flavors are nut free, but verify the allergen statement on each jar before giving. Some specialty flavors may contain tree nuts or be processed in shared facilities. Check the product listing and individual jar labels. Contact Bonne Maman directly if you have questions about specific flavors or processing methods.
Do the jam flavors change year to year?
The core flavors stay consistent, but specialty flavors rotate. Strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry appear in almost every calendar. Limited edition flavors change annually. If you have a preference for specific flavors, check the product listing before purchasing. Different retailers sometimes offer different versions of the same calendar.
What’s the best storage method once you open the jars?
Store opened jars in the refrigerator with the lid tightly sealed. They’ll keep for 3 to 4 weeks. Don’t leave jam at room temperature once opened. If you notice mold or smell fermentation, discard the jar. Unopened jars stay shelf stable in a cool, dark pantry for 2 to 3 years.
