Grape jelly is a sweet spread typically made by cooking grape juice with sugar and pectin to achieve a smooth, gelled consistency. It is most commonly produced using Concord grapes, a cultivar developed in the mid-19th century in Concord, Massachusetts.
The creation of this jelly coincided with rising interest in fruit preservation and home canning in the United States during the late 1800s. Commercial grape jelly became widely available after the introduction of brands such as Welch’s, which began mass-producing Concord grape products in the early 20th century.
Grape jelly has since become a staple condiment in many American households, often used in spreads, desserts, and notably in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
