Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
Pit and coarsely chop peaches. Measure 4-½ cups chopped peaches into a 6-qt. stainless-steel or enameled Dutch oven, and mash with a potato masher until evenly crushed. Stir in pectin and next 3 ingredients.
Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
Ladle hot jam into a hot jar, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe jar rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band and adjust to fingertip-tight. Place jar in boiling-water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
Process jars 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat, remove lid, let jars stand 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal, they should not flex when center is pressed.
Note: Makes about 6 half pint jars
Note: Do not use this process to can white-flesh peaches. Some varieties of white-flesh peaches are higher in pH (i.e. lower in acid) making them a low-acid food for canning purposes.
