The Hidden Truth About Meghan Markle’s Product – Fans Shocked to Learn Their True Origins

When Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, launched her lifestyle brand As Ever in April 2025, it was heralded as a triumphant return to her pre-royal passions—cooking, crafting, and curating a life of joy. Marketed as an extension of her personal touch, with products like raspberry spreads, herbal teas, and crepe mixes, As Ever sold out within hours, sparking a frenzy among fans eager to taste a slice of Meghan’s Montecito charm. Her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, further amplified the brand’s allure, showcasing her in a sunlit kitchen, stirring pots of jam and arranging flowers with an effortless grace. The narrative was clear: these were “homemade” creations, inspired by recipes crafted in her own home, infused with love and authenticity. But as the dust settled on the sold-out launch, a startling revelation emerged about the true origins of As Ever’s products, leaving fans shocked and questioning the duchess’s carefully curated image.

The As Ever brand was born from Meghan’s desire to reconnect with her audience, a nod to her days running The Tig, a lifestyle blog she shuttered in 2017 upon her engagement to Prince Harry. In a candid Instagram video, Meghan explained the rebrand from the original American Riviera Orchard, which faced trademark issues, to As Ever—a name meaning “as it’s always been.” She spoke of her love for gardening, entertaining, and sharing thoughtful living, positioning the brand as a personal endeavor. The product line, including $14 raspberry spreads, $12 herbal teas, and $15 flower sprinkles, was marketed as artisanal, with Instagram posts featuring handwritten notes and videos of bubbling fruit mixtures, often accompanied by her daughter Lilibet’s voice praising the creations as “beautiful.” The messaging was intimate, suggesting Meghan was personally involved in every jar and tin, crafting products in her Montecito kitchen.

Yet, beneath this homely facade, a different story began to unfold. Fans and critics alike noticed inconsistencies in the brand’s narrative. How could a small-scale operation produce enough jam to sell out in 45 minutes? Why were product labels vague about manufacturing origins, listing only Netflix’s corporate address on Sunset Boulevard? As curiosity grew, investigations by media outlets and online sleuths revealed a truth that clashed with Meghan’s artisanal image: As Ever’s products were not crafted in her Montecito kitchen but mass-produced in industrial facilities, primarily by The Republic of Tea, a well-known grocery store brand based in Illinois, over 2,000 miles from her California home.

This revelation, first brought to light by social media accounts and later substantiated by reports, sparked a wave of disappointment among fans who had believed they were purchasing something uniquely Meghan. The Republic of Tea, known for its affordable teas and spreads, was reportedly producing As Ever’s raspberry spread, hibiscus tea, and flower sprinkles, with some products allegedly identical to those sold under other labels at a fraction of the price. For instance, similar “organic” dried edible flowers were available on Amazon for $5 less than As Ever’s $15 tin, and herbal teas bore striking resemblances to Republic of Tea’s offerings, which retail for significantly lower prices. The realization that Meghan’s “signature” raspberry spread, marketed as inspired by her home recipe, was churned out in a sterile factory vat rather than a cozy kitchen felt like a betrayal to many.

The involvement of Netflix, a $500 billion corporation and Meghan’s business partner, added another layer of complexity. As Ever was not a solo venture but a carefully orchestrated collaboration, with Netflix overseeing production and distribution. While Meghan was undoubtedly involved in product development, the business side—sourcing ingredients, scaling production, and managing logistics—was handled by the streaming giant. This arrangement allowed As Ever to leverage Netflix’s resources but also meant that the “homemade” aesthetic was more marketing than reality. Industry experts noted that this is common among celebrity brands, where products are often white-labeled—produced by third-party manufacturers and rebranded for profit. However, Meghan’s insistence on authenticity, coupled with her public persona as a hands-on creator, set expectations that her products would be different.

The backlash was swift. On platforms like X, users expressed outrage, with some calling the brand a “fraud” and accusing Meghan of “drop-shipping” mass-produced goods at a premium. One post highlighted a 75% profit margin on teas and spreads, suggesting Meghan was capitalizing on her fanbase’s loyalty. Others pointed to metadata in As Ever’s promotional images, which allegedly linked back to Republic of Tea’s product catalog, further fueling claims of deception. Fans who had paid $14 for a jar of apricot spread in “keepsake packaging” or $28 for wildflower honey felt misled, especially when they learned similar items were available elsewhere for less. The sentiment was clear: Meghan’s promise of authenticity had been undermined by the reality of industrial production.

Meghan’s defenders, however, argue that the criticism is overblown. Celebrity brands, from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop to Martha Stewart’s empire, often rely on third-party manufacturers to meet demand. Scaling a recipe from a home kitchen to a national market requires industrial processes, and Meghan’s transparency about her partnership with Netflix should have tempered expectations. In interviews, she acknowledged the challenges of producing consumables, citing FDA regulations and the need for rigorous testing. On her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, she discussed the year-long planning for As Ever, emphasizing the effort to maintain quality while meeting market demands. Supporters also point to her loyal fanbase, many of whom followed her from The Tig days and remain devoted despite the controversy. The fact that As Ever’s first and second product drops sold out in under an hour suggests a strong market, even if the products aren’t handmade.

Still, the controversy has raised questions about Meghan’s brand identity. Is she a relatable California mom sharing her love of cooking, or a savvy entrepreneur building a luxury empire? Her marketing oscillates between these personas, creating confusion. For example, her “Tips for Enjoyment” on the As Ever website range from basic (steeping tea in hot water) to aspirational (pairing hibiscus tea with a Champagne-honey vinaigrette), leaving consumers unsure whether she’s addressing novice cooks or affluent homemakers. Critics argue this lack of clarity reflects a deeper issue: Meghan’s struggle to define her post-royal identity. Her Netflix show, while a top-10 hit, was criticized for being out of touch, and As Ever’s launch has been described as “chaotic” by PR experts, with delays in restocking and unanswered questions about production.

The As Ever saga also highlights the intense scrutiny Meghan faces. Every move, from her logo (accused of copying a Spanish town’s coat of arms) to her use of daughter Lilibet in promotional videos, invites criticism. Some see this as unfair, noting that other celebrities face less backlash for similar business practices. Others argue that Meghan’s history of advocating for authenticity—whether in her feminist activism or her public critiques of the royal family—invites higher expectations. Her claim on Confessions of a Female Founder that she’d rewrite her story by asking people to “tell the truth” about her only heightened the irony when reports questioned her brand’s transparency.

As Ever’s future remains uncertain. Meghan has announced plans to expand into hospitality and possibly fashion, with new products slated for 2026. She’s also teased a Napa Valley rosé, which sold out before its July 1, 2025, release, proving her brand’s enduring appeal. Yet, the controversy over product origins has left a mark. To regain trust, Meghan may need to clarify her brand’s narrative—embracing either the polished luxury of a Goop or the accessible charm of a home cook, rather than straddling both. For now, fans are left grappling with a bittersweet truth: the As Ever products they cherished as Meghan’s personal creations are, in reality, the work of a corporate machine, packaged with a duchess’s signature and sold at a premium.

In the end, the As Ever story is not just about jam or tea but about the delicate balance of authenticity and ambition. Meghan Markle, once a royal and now a lifestyle mogul, is navigating a world that demands both transparency and allure. Whether she can reconcile these demands will determine whether As Ever becomes a lasting empire or a cautionary tale of a brand that promised too much.