While browsing the Cameron Antiques Fair on Saturday, we quickly found ourselves in the back room of the historic McPherson’s Store off Carthage Street with dewberry preserves, now operated as Now & Then Antiques. Mainly because there was a wine tasting.
But also, because there was a whole stock of products made from a berry that sounds made up. Or something you call your little brother when mom says it’s his turn for the Xbox.
So, what the heck is a dewberry, anyway? A wild berry that plays hard to get, growing wild along the ground on a thorny vine. Farmers used to cultivate so many in Cameron that the town became known as “The Dewberry Capital of the World.” But blackberries were sweeter and, unlike the modest dewberry, much easier to handle— so they ultimately took over the market.
TLDR: We brought dewberry preserves back to the Sway test kitchen and tried it on toast.
Sway Taste Tester No. 1: First of all, it smells very blue. You know what I mean. You know what blue smells like. The texture and taste is kinda like if you melted down a Fruit Roll-Up. I expect preserves to be thicc, or feel like I’m eating real fruit, but I don’t. It tastes sweet and tart, almost like candy. Definitely not like grape jelly, which is what it looks like.
Sway Taste Tester No. 2: The burnt toast is giving strong hangover vibes. I like it and I’m not a jam person. It’s sweeter than I thought it would be.
Sway Taste Tester No. 3: I can’t believe you didn’t bring butter and expected me to just eat toast with a layer of naked preserves. But it’s better than I thought it would be — I would definitely enjoy again now that I know Cameron is/was the Dewberry Capitol of the World. Represent.
Sway Taste Tester No. 4: I don’t have a lot of thoughts on it. it’s jam. I’d have it again, but I wouldn’t have FOMO if everyone went out for dewberry toast without me.
Want to get some of your own? Visit the store at 415 Carthage St., Cameron, from 11-5 Wednesday through Friday and 10-5 Saturday. You’ll also find vintage toys and books and a surprisingly good record collection. The phone number is 910-245-1757
