The Surprisingly Short History of the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

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The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is such a staple of American childhood these days that it seems like it’s been around, well, forever. In fact, it took a surprisingly long time after all the necessary ingredients were invented for someone to put them together, and several decades more before doing this became popular. In fact, there are people alive today in America who grew up in a world where the PB&J sandwich simply wasn’t well-known at all. *gasp*

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[TodayIFoundOut]

Now that you know the history of the PB&J watch this video and find out What Makes Peanut Butter Stick To The Top Of Your Mouth:

[davidherbst]

Anyone else make a PB&J sandwich while watching this?

[Freakinawesome]

Sliced bread: the best thing since wrapped bread.

[ariefraiser]

PBJ sandwiches are in the Sandwhich Hall of Fame.
Simple, filling, delicious.

[natelogos]

I visited the Netherlands in 2001. When I made a PB&J sandwich, the family I was staying with was shocked and disgusted. They had never heard of peanut butter and jelly being combined, and they refused to try it.

[KTypeR]

Watching this whilst eating a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich with coffee in the U.K. Working a night shift shortly so this little meal will give me the necessary energy. Stay strong people.

[shotavodka]

I'm glad I didn't grow up in a world without PB&J sandwiches.

[tag]

Pb&j is a comfort food and a family tradition.

[Roflmao]

Peanuts aren't a legume because they're grown underground, they're a legume because they are seeds held within a casing.

[jeffreyb.]

My sister was a US exchange student in Australia. When her host mom asked her what she wanted for her packed school lunch. She asked for a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. The host mom refused to make it, so my sister did, confused as to the issue. The entire host family stared at her and were shocked that Amercans ate something so strange.

[annettefournier]

Bonus fact. Pectin is not necessary to make most jelly or jam. The secret is in using the whole fruit before straining off the juice for jelly. And for jam using a mixture of ripe and less ripe berries which amp up the natural pectin or adding citrus zest which does the same. Then you just use equal parts of sugar to fruit. Essentially jam and jelly are just extremely thick fruit syrup. It's very easy to make but does take a bit of patience to cook. Basic jam; equal parts sugar and crushed berries. That's it!

[JwilliamsAssociates]

They always photo those with Jelly and Peanut-butter oozing from the edges and onto the counter. I am pretty exacting and would be pissed if I got it everywhere. But in a pic it looks yummy.

[MrTerminalZ]

There's like 300 things I would give up before PB&J's and rootbeer. I'm so American.

[nicholasruff]

Peanut butter on celery is actually really good, especially with raisins on top.

[stevelubin]

I think I'll make myself a pb&j sandwiche. Thanks Simon.

[wholeNwon]

Like most other students, I usually carried my lunch in grade school. My lunchbox held sandwiches (always PB&J) and a thermos of tomato soup. Mom always offered other things but I'd want nothing else. Sometimes I'd trade half a sandwich with another kid. Good times!

[JohnnyParanoid]

I used to have a friend from Coventry, England who saw me eating a PB&J sandwich and thought it was a disgusting idea. I didn't know at the time, but apparently nobody in England eats PB & jelly/jam together. He also said root beer tasted like some kind of childhood medicine they have there and was also disgusting.

[axiomist]

Great show. I love PBJ since I started living in the US (1960) and discovered it one day in 8th grade when a schoolmate traded lunches with me and I got his PBJ. I was hooked for life. It's great with orange juice. The acidity of the OJ balances wonderfully the sweetness of the PBJ. Take a bite of sandwich and a sip of juice. Yum !

[agentp]

I had heard that it forever became even more popular in the baby boomer generation during the 40's-60's as a common school lunch item. Because a well known pediatrician at the time claimed it was good for providing school children with the carbs from the bread, jam/jelly and peanut butter to give them energy to focus in class. Protein to stick with them till they get through till their evening meal. It also had certain vitamins for good health and energy like B vitamins.
On another note. Peanut butter is still a staple in U.S. military rations today. They've tried to change things a bit by offering both creamy and chunky along with chocolate peanut butter. It isn't every ration that has peanut butter that has the fixings for a PB&J but there are a select few that do. They offer strawberry Jam, grape jelly, blackberry jam (awesome) and apple jelly. I believe they may have had apple butter at one point. So one meal might have crackers and peanut butter or jelly/jam but not always both peanut butter and jelly. They also have something considered wheat snack bread. It's the army's attempt at offering real bread that's soft. I like them a lot but my fellow soldiers hate them. Can't really describe the taste but texture is similar to pita bread. I had a buddy in basic training who was set on having a PB&J at least once every day in basic. Whether in the chow hall or in the field. I think he succeeded. He had to trade some items to get what he needed but he got it.
The army likes peanut butter because it offers protein, fat and carbs all packed into one substance that is cheap. I considered requesting for walnut or almond butter but they can be anywhere from 3-5 times as much.

[hardknocks]

can you give a brief history of the sloppy joe sandwich and how it became popular in the U.S?