Jelly Beans

These tiny, bean-shaped sugar candies are an indelible part of the childhood memories of millions of Americans. The chewy jelly beans have a stiff exterior shell and a gelatinous interior, and they come in numerous colors and flavors. Corn syrup, sugar, and starch are the key ingredients used in their production.

The earliest reference to jelly beans is closely tied to a Bostonian candy maker named William Schrafft, who first started sending these candies to Union soldiers who were fighting in the Civil War. By the 1930s, jelly beans had exploded in popularity and were sought after throughout the United States, where they were associated with Easter due to their egg-like shape.

Today, jelly beans remain an American favorite, and they even have their own day - American National Jelly Bean Day, celebrated every year on April 22nd.