Funny as it may sound, but jelly bens do have a fascinating history. Jelly beans have been on the shelfs of our shops for around 100 years and have been enjoyed by young and old throgh out the world. While Jelly beans only made there main appearance in the 1900's jelly beans have been about since the 17th century but where known as Jordan almonds.
Jelly beans became very popular when they started being sold as penny sweets in many stores across the globe.
Back in the jelly bean early days they were sold in a variety of colors and flavors, but unlike the jelly beans of today they were not sold in variety packets, instead they were sold in single colors, a bag of reds or a bag of blues etc. Jelly beans then became very popular during seasonal times (eg summer or christmas) because of the various seasonal colors that were available.
Jelly beans remained the same, with their semi hard shell and soft chewy center until the mid 1970's. When the Herman Goelitz Candy Co., Inc. revolutionized the jelly bean for ever. This company made the jelly bean into a delicacy by making unusual flavors, such as peach, melon, grape and sour fruit flavors.
The new jelly beans were completely different, they donned a different taste as well as look, and the center was even changed in several flavors from the classic clear jelly to a matching color of the bean.
According to few independant sources jelly beans were the favorite of former president Ronald Regan. Of all the famous people who loved jelly beans throughout the ages Regan was the number 1 fan. During his administration it was quite common to find jelly beans in every almost every room in the white house.
One fact about jelly beans is that many of these little drops of heaven even went into space. One of the space shuttles took up a load 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 flavors 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.
Who can resist the sweet flavor and gooey consistency of a jelly bean? Companies such as Jelly Belly sell individual boxes of these delectable treats, and bulk candy sellers also offer them in huge quantities for discount prices. They are popular for Easter baskets, movie concessions and everyday consumption. While there is no exact way to trace the origins of the jelly bean, many experts believe the Mid-Eastern treat known as Turkish Delight that's been around since Biblical times was the predecessor to this modern delicacy.
The modern jelly bean can also largely be attributed to the 17th century process known as panning, which involves rocking almonds in a bowl filled with syrup and sugar until the almonds are coated with a hard candy shell. The candy shell that coats jelly beans is made through a similar process. Long before they were ever sold as bulk candy, however, they were sold in the glass penny candy jars that were on display in the candy stores. It wasn't until the 1930s that the jelly bean became such a huge part of the Easter tradition and entered into a higher realm of popular culture.
The jelly bean as we know it today comes in two different varieties. There are traditional jelly beans that hold their flavor in the shells, which are often found in Easter baskets and plastic Easter eggs. There are also gourmet jelly beans, such as those made by Jelly Belly, which are softer, smaller and hold their flavor in both the shell and the center. The manufacturing techniques for these candies are similar and have stayed about the same since the 1970s, and both take between six and ten days to produce. The recipes, however, are a bit different. The jelly bean is an integral part of our culture, and there is no doubt that kids and adults alike will be enjoying these sweet treats for years to come.
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