A love potion, a digestive aid, an energy-giving snack, and a lavish royal treat. Jam has had many roles throughout history. At its core, jam is a condiment made from fruit, sugar, acid, and pectin. It’s closely related to—but not the same as—jellies (which are smoother) and preserves (which are chunkier).

Today, jam is still a staple of the breakfast table. And while most of us might content ourselves with the homemade or store-bought variety, there are higher-end options, including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s new strawberry jam, the first product of her American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand that she sent out to influencer friends last week in individually numbered pots, like an art print.

Regardless of whether you are a jam devotee or not, jam’s evolution from a simple method used to preserve fruit through the seasons to a cherished treat beloved by royalty reveals a rich—and at times, not so-sweet—history.