Jelly beans have become popular with children of all ages throughout the world. Although no one knows exactly where jelly beans came from,  their creation probably was a process that occurred over time. The jelly bean itself is known for its chewy center and semi-hard shell, and comes in more colors than the rainbow. Here is a brief history of this delicious Easter favorite.

Although no one knows exactly where jelly beans came from, historians believe they were created in Istanbul, Turkey in the late 1700s. Called Turkish Delight, they had the chewy center, but were coated with a powdered sugar-like substance. They were also often flavored with rose water and lemon, and coated with minced nuts.

The process that included the semi-hard shell was developed in France during the 17th century through a process called panning. The process was used to coat almonds, which were call Jordan Almonds. Candy makers would rock raw almonds in a large pan filled with sugar and syrup until the almonds were coated with the hard candy shell. This process was later used to coat the candies known as Turkish Delights and the now  famous jelly bean was the result.

Jelly Beans Arrive in America

Somehow, the two processes described above were combined into the jelly bean. In the early 1900s, the candy made its way to the United States where it was sold as penny candy in general stores that were popular for many years. They were kept in separate colors in glass jars and sold by weight. Store owners would scoop out the candy, place in small paper sacks, and charge by how much candy was in the bag. This concept worked well for decades as children everywhere were delighted to get varying amounts of their favorite colors.

It is believed their egg-like shape led them to become popular as an Easter candy during the 1930s. Also, their bright colors, often associated with Spring, regeneration and new birth, increased their attraction as parents placed them in their child’s Easter basket or used them for decorations.

Variety of Jelly Beans

The style, type, and flavor of jelly beans stayed fairly steady until the mid-1970s when the Jelly Belly Candy Company (previously Herman Goelitz Candy Company) developed a gourmet-style jelly bean. Instead of the flavor varying by color of the hard shell, the Jelly Belly company flavored both the inside and outside. Their version is also small and softer than the traditional jelly bean. Now days there are more than 50 different gourmet flavors of jelly beans.

The biggest boost to the jelly bean business came when Ronald Reagan became president of the United States. They were his favorite candy and had a prominent place in the Oval Office. It is said that blueberry jelly beans were created especially for him so that he could have red, white, and blue jelly beans to share with guests at his Inaugural celebrations.

The popular candy even enjoyed a ride in space in 1983 when President Reagan sent them to the astronauts of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The Jelly Belly Candy Company and other candy makers enjoyed the additional sales this president and his love of jelly beans provided.

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