Meet Taharaa Wong | Jamologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taharaa Wong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taharaa, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Joy attracts more joy. Happiness attracts more happiness. Peace attracts more peace. Gratitude attracts more gratitude. Kindness attracts more kindness. Love attracts more love.” Rhonda Byrne It just makes sense. And it is very hard especially with the times we are in right now to not think negative or to complain about things. So I read it first thing in the morning and I try to keep this with me throughout the day. So like Rhonda Bryrne says “Whatever feelings you have within, you are attracting your tomorrow.” So how nice it would be to be joyful, happy, peaceful, grateful, kind, and full of love daily. Just like our saying “Spread love & spread jam.”

What should our readers know about your business?
JAMMIN’ JAMS was created in 2014. At first the jam was given to friends and family and people who say “You have to sell this.” We had a little push too from our friend Heath Porter (Sommelier) who owned Uvaggio in Coral Gables. He said I want this Jalapeno Jam on the menu, so you need label!” Their cheese/charcuterie board was paired with the jam and they even made a cocktail using another custom jam. So from there the jam began to spread and then we started to do Farmers Markets in Miami. I always tell people you would not realize how much work it is for “jam.” But when you believe in your product and dedicate your time to it, it is all worth it. To see how it has grown is amazing too. I never had to take out a loan to start.. the jam sold itself. It is a family business and it does take a village to do the shopping, chopping, making the jam, labeling, printing, marketing, customer service, selling, shipping and delivering. And if it wasn’t for our jammers we would not be where we are today. Some of our jammers have been jammin since 2014! The love from them and supporting this small business makes my heart so happy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a simple person…so it would probably be a more relaxing trip. But it would probably be taking them to see the sights, like Coral Castle, Roberts is Here Fruit Stand, and Pinecrest Gardens. Stopping at the Farmer’s Markets to find local products. Stopping for coffee at Our Grounds Coffee Shop in Kendall and eating at one of my favorite seafood restaurants “The Fish House” on Miller. Another must would be Saffron Indian Cuisine in Pinecrest. Take the bikes and ride the trail in Shark Valley and one day drive to Key Biscayne and spend the day on the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We definitely would like to “Shoutout” to our Grandma Bernie who is 99 years young and lives in Flathead Lake, Montana. Our mom was a teacher and in the summer she would take my sister, brother and I to stay with our grandparents. They live on a lake and they had a big garden filled with everything you can think of. We learned how fruit and vegetables grew and helped in the garden. From raspberries to garlic, to rhubard to dill…We would pick the fruit and then watch our grandmother make jam. We had jam for breakfast daily. Some of my favorites were the raspberry jam, rhubarb jam, and huckleberry jam. Our Grandfather “Bus” would take us hiking in Glacier Mountain and we would carry buckets if we found huckleberries. We could hardly keep up with him! But the great thing was we would fish in the lake, go to the garden and pick what we would eat for lunch and dinner. That is something I am so grateful for that we got to experience. To eat what they grew. Fresh foods, all natural with no chemicals. It is what we also believe when making the jam! All natural….that is how we jam. Just like how our grandmother made her jam.

Website: www.jamminusa.com
Instagram: jamminmadeintheusa
Facebook: JAMMIN’ Made in the USA

Image Credits
Taharaa Wong for all the pictures, except the one picture with the Jalapeno jam, berries with jam on a cracker is Ginger Monteleone Photography.