If jelly is jam in america, then what is jelly?
The terms jam and jelly are used in different parts of the English speaking world in different ways. Although both terms exist in North America, the UK and Australia; in the USA most jams are often popularly referred to as “jelly” in a generic way. Meanwhile in the UK, Canada, and Australia the two terms are more strictly differentiated, although the term jam is more popularly used in Australia and South Africa as a generic term.[14][15] To further confuse the issue, the term jelly is also used in the UK and Australia to refer to a gelatin dessert, whereas in North America the brand name Jell-O is used as a generic term for gelatin desserts and is strictly differentiated from clear fruit preserves.
In America we have both jelly and jam. They’re different products. Jam has more fruit in it, while jelly has all of the fruit pulp strained out to make it clear. Both are used on toast or on sandwiches. We also have preserves and marmalade, which have even more fruit. [edit] What the English call “jelly” is what we call “gelatin” or “Jell-O”. “Gelatin” is the proper name and “Jell-O” is a brand name so well-known it has become synonymous with the product, just as “Kleenex” has become synonymous with “tissues”. littlepinkpantha, most of us here in America have never been to Great Britain. I had no idea what you meant by “jelly” until I read some of the answers by other British users. After that I updated my answer. Now you have me wondering, since, jam, jelly, and Jell-O are all different things here, what do you call what we call jelly? Is there no such thing over there or is it all jam to you whether it has bits of fruit or not?
