Meghan Markle’s luxury raspberry spread may have flown off the virtual shelves, but early reviews suggest the Duchess of Sussex's new lifestyle venture has left a sour taste for some. The £11 jam-style spread, sold under her new brand As Ever, was part of an exclusive range that included herbal teas, flower sprinkles and crepe mix. But while it sold out within an hour of launching, not everyone was impressed with what they received.

Writers at The Cut, a publication once favoured by Meghan herself, gave the spread a mixed reception with some staff describing the texture as “slimy and viscous,” comparing it to “baby food”. “It sucks!” said senior writer EJ Dickson. “It’s like something you’d see at the toppings bar at Pinkberry, not a functional, standalone jam in itself.”

Others agreed the texture let it down, with one calling it “too thin to spread on toast” and another adding: “It looked good, but the consistency threw me off - it’s more like a raspberry purée.”

However, not everyone felt the same way.

Deputy editor Jen Ortiz praised it for its flavour and finish, writing: “Is there such a thing as a bad raspberry jam? I like how runny this one is. And I loved her show! Sue me!”

Writing for Today, food editor Joseph Lamour echoed that sentiment, describing the spread as tasting “like a sunny day” with a balance of raspberry and lemon that felt homemade.

He said the texture was lighter than expected but added: “It’s not your typical jam - more of a compote or syrup – but that’s what makes it different.”

Meghan’s As Ever range is her first consumer launch since stepping back from royal duties.

Products featured heavily in her recent Netflix docuseries “With Love, Meghan”, and were rolled out in collaboration with Netflix Consumer Group.

The jam, officially called “Raspberry Spread in Keepsake Packaging,” retailed for $14 (£11) and was accompanied by a similar version without the box priced at $9 (£7).

However, some commentators have questioned the rollout strategy.

Royal expert Phil Dampier told GB News the release may be part of a broader effort by Netflix to recover their investment in the Duke and Duchess: “If they can get some money back with the merchandising, great.”

And while Meghan told Fortune she aimed to create products that felt “prestige but more accessible,” others criticised the pricing, including Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan, who labelled the jam “sickly sweet” and “overpriced.”

Despite the backlash, Meghan’s launch saw instant sell-outs, with teas, cookie mixes and her now-infamous raspberry spread snapped up within minutes.