Did you know that the origin of the jelly bean is still unknown?  There are suspicions, however, that they descend from Turkish Delight, a treat that was popular in Biblical times.

  • Jordan Almonds, which are the other possible origin of the modern day jelly bean are also made this way and were made popular in the 1600’s in France.
  • The first appearance of what would become the modern day jelly bean was promoted to Union Soldiers during the Civil War.
  • It takes 7 to 21 days to make a jelly bean.
  • There are 130 calories and 37 grams of sugar in one serving of jelly beans which equals about 35 jelly beans.
  • In the early 20th century, a “jelly-bean” was slang for a man of style and no substance.
  • They were the first candy to be sold by weight rather than by piece.
  • They were originally sold by color.
  • Peak jelly bean season is Easter, but that is a recent development which began in the 1930’s.
  • The jelly bean is associated with Easter because of its egg-like shape.
  • They were President Reagan’s favorite candy and he used them to help him quit smoking when he was the governor of California.
  • Jelly Belly jelly beans became the first jelly beans in space when they traveled aboard the 1983 Challenger Space Shuttle
  • Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans from the Harry Potter books and movies are manufactured by Jelly Belly and include flavors like ear wax, pepper, avocado, marmalade and caviar.