If cheese is the only thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “curd,” it’s time to expand your culinary horizons. Simply put, fruit curds are a category of preserves in a class of their own, made by cooking fruit juice with eggs and butter. Typically served with scones or bread as an alternative to jam, fruit curds are woven into British teatime tradition—which is why our Buyer went straight to the source to develop Trader Joe’s Authentic Lemon Curd.

Our Lemon Curd is imported from England, where it’s been made exclusively for us for nearly 15 years. Cane sugar, whole eggs, and butter are slow-cooked in small batches with lemon juice concentrate, lemon oil, and pectin; because the characteristics of the lemon juice can vary slightly from batch to batch, this labor-intensive process is overseen by a kettle master, whose sole purpose is to stir the curd and monitor its flavor, satiny texture, and vibrant sheen until it’s just right. When the mixture cools, it transforms into a luxuriously thick, glossy, golden-yellow spread, imbued with the aroma of freshly baked lemon bars. Yum…

With flavors of rich butter and sweet sugar contrasted by bright, tangy lemon, you might refer to our Lemon Curd as “sunshine in a jar.” After all, a spoonful of the stuff has the power to brighten up breakfast, baked goods, and all sorts of sweets and treats in between. Slather it on toast or stir it into yogurt. Drizzle it on pancakes, or ice cream, or cheesecake. If you want to get fancy, whip up some heavy cream and fold it into the Lemon Curd for an almost-effortless tart or layer cake filling worthy of a royal afternoon tea.