By Garland Pollard
CHERRY HILL, N.J. – LEM is a special kind of lemon filling, found in select grocery stores and specialty food shops. Made by Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Serv-Agen, it is quite different than your regular pie filling.
It was originally called Mrs. Morrison’s LEM, and was a “one-line item” company. It is made with pure egg yolk batter, tapioca flour and no artificial lemon flavors. Eventually, it became part of the Serv-Agen company, makers of Serv-a-Gravy.
Its ingredients are a lesson in marketing. The prize element of the filling is that the oil of lemon in the ingredients is sent to an extra sterile pharmaceutical company where it is turned into an encapsulated gel capsule, before it is packaged.
We found out about Lem while writing about Serv-a-Gravy, that classic gravy sauce in a packet. The company was founded by Herbert W. Salus in 1936, though LEM much older, over 100 years old. Salus was a civil service commissioner and attorney who got into the spice business on the side. LEM can be found at many regional grocery stores. If you have questions, the company is at 856-685-7946.
17 responses so far ↓
1 BARBARA // Mar 31, 2010 at 9:27 am
Where can I purchase LEM Pie and Pudding?
I live in Magnolia, NJ (very close to Cherry Hill) and I can’t find it…………..Thanks
2 L L // Apr 2, 2010 at 11:55 am
This information is wrong. Serv-Agen is closed up. The phone # 856-685-7946 is no longer. Sorry
3 dayle // May 19, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I live in Myrtle Beach, SC and I can’t fine Lem pie filling anymore either. What’s happened to it?
4 Karen // May 27, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I live in Pa below Philadelphia and my mom too is looking for LEM pie filling. The only store around here that still carried it was Shop N’ Bag in Aston and they recently closed. Now she doesn’t know where to find it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
5 Garland Pollard // May 28, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I would talk to your grocery store. From what I understand Haddon House distributors and some other specialty wholesalers carried the line. I would ask for it at gourmet stores, etc.
6 Reverend MA // Aug 11, 2010 at 5:28 pm
On Monday, I purchased a box of LEM at the Acme in South Philadelphia on Passyunk Avenue. It was stocked with the Jell-o and what not.
I am eager to give it a go.
7 Clif // Sep 6, 2010 at 11:04 am
Grew up in Philadelphia and remember Mrs Morrison’s Vanilla Pudding, It was awesome and the chocolate was good too. last time I bought it was in the early 70′s. Anybody now where to buy some today?
8 Greg // Dec 10, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Question, if the company has closed, how is product available? Search for Lem. It is everywhere on the net. However with shipping the price is pretty stout.
9 linda // Feb 6, 2011 at 12:58 pm
You can find lem pudding & Pie filling in giant food stores for .89
10 Theresa // Jun 3, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Karen, I live in Philly, you can find Lem in the Acme stores.
11 W. T. MacNew // Jun 6, 2011 at 4:18 pm
What ever happened to Mrs Morrisons Golden Pudding? I’m 86 and would love to have that glorious pudding before I get the final call. My mother and grandmother use to prepare it often as a family dessert.
12 kim // Nov 19, 2011 at 5:34 pm
we live in Seaford Delaware and cant find Lem anywhere where can we find it
13 D.Townsend // Nov 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Live in Seaford,De..I seen other post as where to find Lem..We have Gaint Food here in the Salisbury Md area and Acme in Dover,De area.
14 Pauline mobley // Nov 25, 2011 at 10:30 pm
I have an annual quest for this pudding and pie filling. My Mom always used this pudding for cup cake filling, lemon meringue pie. I’m in my fiftys and my son in his thirty’s and wants only LEM for his pie. I tried other brands and they just don’t measure up to the taste, color ad cosistacy.
I’m so glad to have foud it this year.
Happy Thanksgiving
15 Donna // Dec 16, 2011 at 9:46 pm
I was just at the Acme in South Philly 2day & I was told they have taken the Lem Product off the shelves & it is no longer sold in the Acme on Passyunk & Reed St . There is no Giant store around here and I don’t know where else to look. Shop Rite has something awful that they pass off as a lemon filling
16 Lauren // Dec 23, 2011 at 6:29 am
I also live in Philadelphia and have been looking for Lem. My grandmother used to make it all the time, and I was looking for a bit of nostalgia/comfort foods lately. Is Lem no longer available? I have looked at my local ShopRite and Superfresh, no luck. Seems to be out of stock on Amazon as well.
17 Pie fillings : Lem Pie Filling And Pudding // Jul 23, 2012 at 10:59 am
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