The History Of Jelly Beans

Jelly beans have some pretty interesting facts buried in their history. These are a favourite confection that have been around for quite some time, just over a hundred years or so. While info about the exact time and place that jelly beans first came on the market is not available we do know that they began to emerge in the early 20th century. They were sold at stores as a penny candy and they became quite popular.

Back then there were different colours of jelly beans as well but unlike today each colour was sold separately. Instead of selling a jumble of colours they would sell batches of red or white or some other colour. This made them very popular during the holiday seasons because they could sell specific holiday related colours to consumers.

Jelly beans remained the same, with their semi hard shell and soft chewy centre until the mid-1970’s. That is when the Herman Goelitz Candy Co., Inc. created a whole new era of the jelly bean and changed the history of the jelly bean forever. This company made the jelly bean into a delicacy by making unusual flavours. Now jelly beans could be found that tasted like pears or watermelons or even tutti fruity.

Not only did these jelly beans taste different they looked different too. Some of them did not even have the classic clear chewy centre, they had coloured and flavoured centres.

According to the history of jelly beans they became a popular favourite in the Reagan White House. Of all the famous people who loved the jelly bean throughout history none loved them more than Ronal Reagan, or at least none were so public about their love for this wonderful little candy bean. Back in those days it was not unusual to find Jelly Belly brand jelly beans in just about every room of the White House. http://www.youreaster.com/jellybeans/jellybellyjellybeans
Once of the most interesting facts buried in the history of the jelly bean is the fact that many of these little babies even went into space. One of the space shuttles took up a bunch of jelly beans for the shuttle crew to snack on while they were up there. I guess that even astronauts need to satisfy their sweet tooth now and then.

The history of jelly beans is not finished evolving as of yet. Every year more and more creative flavours of the jelly bean hit the market. In a few years’ time there will be a whole new history for people to talk about and record.
author:Gray Rollins

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Jelly Beans – It Wouldn’t Be Easter Without Them

When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, jelly beans showed up once a year. I was always certain of finding jelly beans in my Easter basket. And as far as I knew, there were only two kinds of jelly beans – ones made by Brach’s that were always in my Easter basket, and some off-brand that my Aunt had at her house and that I hated. Like many people my favourite colour of jelly bean was red, or cherry flavoured, and it still is. My second favourite flavour when I was little was the black or liquorice flavoured jelly beans. I still like the black ones a lot, and since nobody else in my house likes the black ones I get those all to myself!

Today, there are numerous types and brands of jelly beans available to tuck into Easter baskets for a sweet treat. The brand most recognizable today, besides the ever popular Brach’s™ jelly beans is probably Jelly Belly™ jelly beans. In my opinion, Jelly Belly™ jelly beans first gained widespread national recognition when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. He was a jelly bean lover and always kept a jar of Jelly Belly™ jelly beans on his desk and on Air Force One for a sweet treat and quick energy boost. He was quick to offer handfuls of his jelly beans to his guests and Cabinet members. I remember watching news stories talking about President Reagan’s jelly beans and what brand they were. Suddenly it seemed everyone was intrigued by these miniature jelly beans in flavours that went beyond the few traditional ones found in most bags of jelly beans.

I first tried Jelly Belly™ jelly beans in the 1980’s and I have to admit I was hooked on them right away. There is a wonderfully intense flavour packed into each one of those little jelly beans. One reason is that I love red jelly beans, and Jelly Belly™ is the only manufacturer I know of that sells red jelly beans in bulk and in individual bags. This means that if I’m in the mood for red jelly beans I can have a whole bag of them!

In our house we have some favourite Jelly Belly™ flavors. We like the root beer, cream soda, cinnamon, buttered popcorn, pinna colada, and cherry flavoured Jelly Belly™ jelly beans. There are many other flavours too. I think the current official count of flavours is 50. Some of those 50 flavours, such as the jalapeno flavoured Jelly Belly™ jelly beans are a little too daring for my taste buds though.

The Bertie Bott’s Jelly Bellies™ which are also called the Harry Potter™ jelly beans by many people, offer flavour choices such as earwax, dirt, and earthworm. The thought of eating those makes me shudder. If you’re wondering if they really taste the way their names suggest, Jelly Belly™ says on its web site that Bertie Bott’s™ jelly beans are true to their names. If you’re curious about what other people think about them, do an Internet search. You’ll find online postings from people who have tried the Bertie Bott’s Jelly Bellies™. Some people enjoy some of the Bertie Bott’s™ flavours, such as the grass flavoured ones. Some of the other flavours, such as the “vomit” ones, were typically described as tasting “nasty.”

Jelly Belly™ isn’t the only brand or kind of jelly bean available. There are numerous kinds. Brach’s™ is probably the brand most often seen on the store shelves at Easter (and throughout the entire year in the candy aisle of many stores). Brach’s™ candy company also makes yummy jelly beans that taste like some of the flavours of Smucker’s™ jam.

In addition, there are jelly beans that taste like Starburst™ candy along with spiced jelly beans, mini jelly beans, speckled jelly beans and some very good tasting sugar free jelly beans. One other thing to note: if you’re searching for jelly beans and you see pectin jelly beans, that’s just another term for the normal jelly beans you see on store shelves.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that each manufacturer makes each colour the same flavour. You many love the taste of the purple jelly beans (grape flavoured) made by Brach’s and may think the purple jelly beans by Gimbals™ are grape flavoured too but they’re not, they have a boysenberry flavour.

Jelly beans are often found in cute gift containers at Easter time and can even be found tucked inside hollow chocolate Easter eggs. And jelly beans are a popular item to tuck in plastic eggs for Easter egg hunts.

The most popular place to put jelly beans though is still in an Easter basket. After all, what’s an Easter basket without jelly beans in it?

Jelly Beans with Bill & Sheila