Sweet Treats: Jelly Beans!!!

Quick Facts

Ingredients: Sugar, glucose syrup/corn syrup,starch, modified food starches, water, citric acid (E330), fumaric acid (E297), glazing agents: Shellac, bee's wax, carnauba wax,flavourings, acidity regulator: Sodium citrate (E331), colours.
Place of Origin: Turkey/America
Brands: Jellybelly, Lifesavour, Starburst, Teenee Beanee, Jelly Bean Factory, Haribo
Variations: Chocolate Raisins, Gumdrops

Now, unlike most people, I am not a big fan of the jelly beans. I don't know why, but I'm just not. There's just something about them that I just don't like. But you really couldn't have a blog about sweets and not include Jelly Beans.

The inspiration for the jelly bean actually came from Turkish Delight because of its jelly-like interior. But again during the American Civil War, people were apparently urged by a Boston Confectioner, William Schrafft, to buy jelly bean-type sweets and send them to the soldiers. But although many historians believe they were first introduced in America, they think that that was not until the 1930's during Easter that they first became popular.

Jelly Beans are mostly made out of sugars, starch and corn syrup. The emulsifying agent Lecithin, as well as anti-foaming agents are also used. Edible waxes, such as beeswax, salt and confectioners glaze is used as well. The standard colours and flavours are as follows: Red (Cherry), Orange (Orange), Yellow (Lemon), Green (Lime), Purple (Grape), Black (Anise), White (Lemonade) and Pink (Strawberry). Different Brands, such as the Jelly Bean Factory, also have many other flavours, such as watermelon, kiwi, marshmallows, popcorn, passion fruit and cranberry and apple.

Some other strange but very cool people have used jelly beans in their art, such as Peter Rocha, who created Jelly Bean Portraits of people like George Clooney, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II. I posted some below.