Welches Concord Grape Jelly continues to be a favorite in Virginia

Welches Grape Jelly continues to be a favorite in Virginia.Photo byJ Grace Bowles

Virginia is for Welches Grape Jelly lovers

If you grew up in rural Virginia, your grandmother or an older aunt or neighbor probably made homemade jams, preserves, and jelly. Thankfully, our house and most homes I spent time in also had Welches Concord Grape Jelly as a choice.

One thing I did not like about the homemade varieties that my great-grandmother and neighbors made was that they were overly sweet. According to Mashed Welches, it ranks number one out of 12 popular Jelly brands. Some people even make homemade jelly using Welches Concord Grape Juice.

Even though there are more store brands of jelly today, Welches is considered the number-one brand of grape jelly in America and a staple in many Virginia homes. The Food Network says this product is number one because it is "bursting with grape flavor." I checked with a few relatives and friends in the Commonwealth, and they all say they still use Welches jelly.