Where did jelly beans originate? The first person that invented jelly beans is a mystery. The person many people believe first started to make jelly beans was a Boston maker named William Schrafft who urged people to send his jelly beans to Union soldiers fighting in the Civil War. Many people believe that jelly beans were inspired by the soft chewy middle eastern desert , and Jordan almonds which have a hard outer candy coating. The marriage of the two desserts resulted in the birth of the jelly bean. Jelly beans became a popular American treat in the early 20th Century and were, sold with other penny . In the 1930’s, Jelly beans became associated with Easter because of their oval shape, in other words they were shaped like an egg.

A History of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans Jelly Belly started making jelly beans in 1976. The company was originally named Herman Goelitz Candy Company. David Klein sold the first Jelly Belly jelly beans in Fosselman's ice cream parlor, in Alhambra, California. The first flavors were Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape Jelly, Licorice, Root Beer, and Cream Soda. Total sales for the first seven days were $44. The product was selling for $2 per pound, which was considered a high price at the time. In the mid 1970’s Herman Goelitz Candy company made some unusual flavors. David Klein is no longer associated with Jelly Belly jelly beans and has his own company which makes David's Signature jelly beans.

How Are Jelly Beans made? Jelly beans are made by heating liquid in large vats, then they add glucose and then they use an agitator which mixes it all together. In another part of the factory starch spills on to trays. Then an impression maker presses down into the starch making indentations for the jelly beans. The impressions serve as molds for the jelly bean centers. Nozzles inject the sugar and starch mixture from the vats into the starch molds. Then a conveyor belt takes the trays filled with the jelly centers to a drying room, where they sit for 24 hours. This solidifies them and makes them chewer. Metal arms flip the trays contents into a big drum that will separate them. Then the trays flip over again and are refilled with starch and the process starts again. The dry jelly center tumble out of the drum on to a mesh conveyor belt. It transports them to a steam bath which dampens them which readies them for the sugar coating process. After the steam bath they are rolled around in a drum while nozzles spray them with sugar. In a different part of the factory engrossing syrup is made by adding liquid sugar to food color and flavor. Then a worker adds the engrossing sugar to the jelly bean centers which have been moved to a tited spinning pan. When the engrossing sugar and centers have mixed the worker then adds sugar to the mix this process is repeated 4 times to make a coating around the jelly center. They then let the jelly beans harden overnight. In the morning they add a hot syrup that adds shine and polishes the beans. The worker adds a little wax and spins the pan to distribute the wax. The wax adds a gloss finish to the beans. Then the jelly beans sit for 7 to 21 days to set . Then they are sorted and put into bags.