The Candy That Made it to Space: A History of Jelly Belly!

Nothing says Easter candy more than JELLY BEANS! These tiny treats are a crucial part of Easter celebrations everywhere. In honor of the season, here's a short history of everyone's favorite jelly beans: Jelly Belly! 

Who Invented Jelly Beans?

No one knows exactly who invented jelly beans – but they're likely linked to an ancient candy called Turkish Delight. Jelly beans as we know them today first appeared in the 1860s. But they weren't associated with Easter until the 1930s!

Everything changed when Jelly Belly entered the scene. In the 1960s, a candymaker named David Klein envisioned a gourmet jelly bean – one that would boast intense flavors and premium ingredients. In 1976, the Jelly Belly Candy Company was officially established, marking the beginning of a sweet revolution.

Jelly Belly Over the Years

Since the '70s, Jelly Belly has captured the hearts of candy lovers everywhere. One of the pivotal moments in Jelly Belly's history came with Ronald Reagan's presidency. Reagan, a fervent fan of Jelly Belly beans, famously enjoyed them so much that he made them the first jelly beans in space during the 1983 Challenger mission. This cosmic endorsement cemented Jelly Belly's status as an American classic.

Over the years, Jelly Belly has expanded its offerings, introducing a plethora of flavors, from the traditional to the downright whimsical. They've ventured into collaborations with popular franchises like Harry Potter (of course...everyone knows Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!)

Jelly Belly Flavors 

The BEST thing about Jelly Belly is how many crazy, awesome, and weird flavors there are. 

What's your favorite flavor? Here are some of the post popular choices:

1. Very Cherry
2. Juicy Pear
3. Buttered Popcorn
4. Tabasco
5. Draft Beer
6. Booger
7. Blueberry
8. Green Apple
9. Strawberry Cheesecake
10. Cinnamon
11. Coconut
12. Cotton Candy
13. Peach
14. Licorice
15. Watermelon
16. Toasted Marshmallow
17. Sizzling Cinnamon
18. Berry Blue
19. Bubble Gum
20. Root Beer
21. Lemon Lime
22. Tangerine
23. Toasted Marshmallow
24. Tutti-Fruitti
25. Chocolate Pudding
26. Cream Soda
27. Grape Jelly
28. Kiwi
29. Mango
30. Red Apple

Do you love jelly beans? Tell us all about it in the comments!