Desert Jam Co.

There are many things that come to Arizona by way of Minnesota, including Wheaties, Scotch tape and Red Wing boots. And, on a mom-and-pop level, there are homemade jams and jellies from Kassi Rahman (pictured with her daughter, Piper) and her husband, Tarik, who are sharing their family recipes with condiment connoisseurs all over the Sonoran Desert.

Desert Jam Co. was inspired by Tarik’s mother, Alya, who started selling jams and jellies in Minnesota under the brand Cooked With Pride. When she started encouraging family members to learn her recipes, the Rahmans embraced the challenge. “We decided to rebrand and make it more fitting for Arizona,” Kassi says. “All of the recipes are family recipes that Tarik’s mom has created over time.”

Desert Jam joined its first farmers market in the spring of 2023 and has since expanded to markets throughout metro Phoenix, along with eight retail stores. Later, as the family business grew, so did the “family” component, when Alya moved to Arizona to help with recipe development and production.

Today, there are more than 45 flavor combinations in the family recipe book, but Desert Jam sells only 15. Many of the original recipes have an Egyptian influence, which stems from the Rahmans’ heritage. In addition, the family is working to incorporate some desert-inspired flavors into their products — the prickly pear pepper jelly is one of those creations.

Like many mom-and-pop owners, Kassi, Tarik and Alya make everything themselves. And they do it over several days: one day gathering ingredients, another day cooking multiple batches and jarring, and a final day of labeling and packaging. “It’s very time-consuming, because we have to take it step by step,” Kassi says. “We’re probably delivering and selling 500 to 600 jars a month between farmers markets and storefronts.”

The Rahmans take pride in their recipes and choosing the best ingredients. Kassi says they try to keep everything clean and simple and don’t use any artificial preservatives or sweeteners. “All of our stuff is just the fruit, sugar, lemon juice and pectin,” she says.

One of Desert Jam’s most popular products is the honeycrisp apple jam — honeycrisp apples are another import from Minnesota. Despite its popularity, Ariana Seif, a customer since 2022, says she’s hooked on a another flavor. “The strawberry banana jam is the tastiest fruit jam I’ve ever had,” she says. “Every bite bursts with the rich flavors of fresh fruit. And their pepper jellies strike the perfect balance of sweet and heat.

“The only thing sweeter than their jam,” she continues, “is the love they put into it.”

In addition to the sweet jams, the pepper jellies are popular, too. Flavors such as apple garlic, habanero and mango can be used with crackers and cheese on a charcuterie board, but Kassi says customers also pair them with grilled meats. “The different varieties and multiple uses are good selling points for us,” she says. “It’s not just to put on a piece of toast; you can do a lot of different things with it.”

By the way, if you’re wondering what distinguishes a jam from a jelly, it’s the consistency. Jam is made with fruit pieces and usually has the texture of the fruit in it, while jelly is made with strained fruit juice and has a smoother texture.

Kassi says she and her husband never expected their business to be where it is now, and the community response has been encouraging. “We started as something tiny that we were doing on the side,” she says. “If you would have told me two years ago that we’d be in as many stores and markets in the Valley, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s really cool and humbling.”

Desert Jam Co. products can be purchased at local farmers markets and retailers such as Agritopia Farm Store, Farmbox Arizona and the Meat Market of Cave Creek. Soon, they’ll be available on the company’s website as well.