NILES — When Aiye Akhigbe made her first batches of jam, they came out syrupy. Her family feasted on plenty of waffles and pancakes that year because of it.

Now, Akhigbe, Ty Robson, her husband, and Dianna Robson, her mother-in-law, gather thousands of pounds of fruits and turn them into jam — firm, not liquid. Together, they sell them to and share them with thousands of people across Michiana.

What started as attempts make strawberry jam that settled properly in Akhigbe’s kitchen turned into a business, Sticky Spoons Jam, offering a baker’s dozen of jam flavors made from fruits picked from local farms, some Akhigbe’s neighbors, and selling them from out Akhigbe’s vehicle.

Four years later, Sticky Spoons Jam is more than 80 flavors deep, made from thousands of pounds of locally bought fruits. Akhigbe said she would tally up the total number of recipes at the end of the year — she is still working on recipes, given that she remembers to write them down.

Akhigbe’s constant jam creations, massive fruit picks and frequent stops at markets, bazaars and other vendor-friendly events earned her the nickname, “Crazy Jam Lady.” Her mission, however, is simple, not wild.

“We realized that a lot of people want homemade jam, but they don’t have the time to make it themselves,” she said.

Akhigbe may not have even considered launching a business had she not offered overflow jams to her then-boss shortly after creating jam batches with the right consistency.

Her boss offered money for a dozen jars of jam, Akhigbe said, and the jam creator went back to her husband to decide on a price. Her boss accepted their offer, and their first sale was made.

Since then, the recipe list has grown and fan favorites have arisen from peach mango to strawberry banana pineapple to apple pie, a flavor that quickly sells out at the Four Flags Area Apple Festival, she said.

Approach Sticky Spoons Jam’s table at an event, and the person behind it will offer samples of each of the two to three dozen flavors available.

“Seeing the look on someone’s face when they took a scoop of some jam that I made up in my wildest dreams, and their eyes roll into the back of their head,” Akhigbe said, is her favorite part of the job.

She has watched people cry, dance and shout expletives when sampling.

Once a preferred flavor is identified, the worker will tell the customer ways to incorporate the jam not just onto toast or English muffins, but vinaigrettes, marinades and alcoholic beverages. 

The key to Akhigbe’s jams and Sticky Spoon Jam’s success is the texture.

“When people taste our strawberry jam, I like the look on their face when they actually have a piece of fruit on their mouth,” she said.

That is accomplished during the chopping process, after Akhigbe and the Robsons haul, wash and chop their fruits. Akhigbe counts the number of pulses in her chopper to create the right-sized fruit portions.

Then, she measures out the fruit, sugar, juice and other additives needed, cooks the mix, then jars, lids and cans it.

After that begins the process of washing and labeling, which Akhigbe said takes hours and can no longer be done after 10 p.m. Doing so has created upside-down labels in the past, she said.

When that happens, Sticky Spoons Jam makes the best of the situation, however. They offer the jars as gifts.

This gesture, coupled with the business’ participation in fundraisers and raffles, is a way to give back to the community that has helped her, Akhigbe said.

“For us, we have truly felt loved by this community,” she said. “It’s just amazing.”

This holiday season, Sticky Spoons Jam is extending its altruism. It is giving gift baskets away to people that have made profound impacts in people’s lives. The first recipient was Jackalyn Darling, a waitress at Home Plate Restaurant, who coworkers said went above and beyond for anyone in need.

While giving to others is a personal and business goal of Akhigbe’s, her long-term goal is to make it onto the entrepreneur TV show, “Shark Tank.”

A woman who tried her Bumbleberry Jam at an event suggested that Akhigbe take her business there. At first, Akhigbe dismissed the offer, thinking of the contest show’s judges. Their harsh critiques made her think back to when she and her husband were in U.S. Navy boot camp.

When that woman’s daughter came by Sticky Spoons Jam’s booth the next year, stating her mother still raved about the jam, she decided to make it a personal mission.

Those wishing to try Akhigbe’s jams before she potentially makes it big can do so from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24 at Niles FOP’s Merry Little Christmas Craft Show, 501 N. State St., Niles. She will then make an appearance at the Grand LV’s artisan market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 104 N. Third St., Niles.