Will they grow me a beanstalk? (Jelly Belly Beans)

Member Name: AmyAmy

Product:	Jelly Belly Beans
Date:	13/01/08 (329 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reasonably healthy, wide variety, found in several stores

Disadvantages: costly, addictive

Jelly beans are one of those sweets which I could never make my mind up about. Did I like them? I could never decide! But the day I tried my first Jelly-Belly Bean, the answer was clear...!


-----THE BEGINNING-----
Jelly Belly beans are an American sweet, dating all the way back to 1869. Jelly beans were popular sweets for a short while, until the chocolate craze in the early 1900s. But nevertheless, when chocolate became rare during the Second World War, everybody craved other sweets, including the jelly bean.
In 1976, in Los Angeles, the Jelly Belly bean was created, in several new and exciting flavours, as we know them today!
Now, Jelly Belly has explored taste buds all over the world, including settling down in good old Britain!


-----JELLY BELLY BRITAIN-----
Jelly Belly beans are being sold in stores all over Britain now! I first stumbled across them in my local 'Globally Sweet' shop (a shop that sold nothing but snacks and drinks from all over the world - it's closed down now though!) I'd never heard of them until that point about two years ago, it was my friend who introduced me to them! When she took me into this shop (which was also new to me!), I was astonished by all those different flavour of beans sitting in their separate tubs on the shelf. It was so tempting to buy a few, just to say I'd tried them, but when I looked at the price (I can't remember exactly, but it was over £2!), I changed my mind! I didn't want to pay an extortionate amount of money just to fill myself up with sugar! I walked out the shop, feeling empty.

From that point, I saw Jelly Bellys all over! They were in Woolworths, the pic 'n' mix shop, BHS...it was like they were setting out to haunt me! About a month or two later, my friend's mam bought us both a little box of Jelly Bellys (why, I don't know. I guess she was just being nice!). I was so pleased! I'd craved them for weeks and weeks, and could finally let it rest! There was about twenty beans in the clear box, most of them different, though I think there were one or two the same.

Well, that was it! Once I'd devoured my 'beans, I wanted more (sounds a bit greedy, doesn't it?!). Next time I took a trip into town, I went back to Globally Sweet, shovelled as many different flavours as I could into a bag, and purchased my long-awaited pic 'n' mix of beans! I didn't want to feel guilty for eating all those 'unhealthy' sugary beans for no reason, so I decided to hold out until I got home, and sat in front of the TV, watching a film (I cant remember what one now), indulging in my sweets! Mmm...it was a perfect recipe!
Since then, I've had my fair share of Jelly Bellys! Though, I haven't actually had any in a while now, but perhaps when I go out next to a shop that sells them, I may just purchase a handful!


-----FLAVOURS-----
Jelly Belly Beans come in fifty amazingly delicious and outstanding flavours! I haven't tried them all I don't think, and I could not possibly remember each individual bean and its taste in detail! But I will tell you about the ones that stuck with me, giving my taste buds that little bit more satisfaction!

*Cappuccino*
I am a bit of a caffeine addict, and I adore anything that tastes of coffee or similar. I couldn't wait to discover the marvellous flavour stored inside the cappuccino bean! The smell, I can't remember, so it could not have been that great! But the taste, it was wonderful! It was a nice and light cappuccino taste, not to strong! If only every cappuccino tasted the same!

*Juicy Pear*
Now, I like pears, but when I first sampled this bean, pears seemed too boring for my liking! I was wary of trying this bean, adamant I wasn't going to like it. But I popped it into my mouth and gave it a chew. It was a very sweet bean, not sour or too juicy. It wasn't my favourite, but I did enjoy its individual taste!

*Peanut Butter*
I'm not sure if this bean is rare or not, but I have only came across it once, and fortunately tried it then. Honestly, I don't think it tastes much of peanut butter, but there is a salty sweet taste to it! It's got quite a soft taste compared to many of the others, a lot lighter to eat!

*Strawberry Cheesecake*
I love a good cheesecake, and the strawberry puree on the top has such a divine and rare taste! When I discovered it in 'bean form', I was curios to see whether it captured the same creamy taste. And you know what? It did! The bean was very sugary sweet, and held a special mild strawberry 'tint' to it, not too strong, but powerful enough that I could smell it straight away when I bit into it! It tasted a bit like ice cream, too!

*Toasted Marshmallow*
This has to be the sweetest bean I have ever tasted! The aroma is quite sickening, especially when it's bitten into! As for the taste, I don't feel it tastes like marshmallows (I used to love toasting marshmallows in the Winter when I was younger!). But the taste was recognisable! More of a 'flump' than a 'mallow'! Only attempt this one if you have an exceptionally sweet tooth!


There's a load of other flavours available, ones which I haven't tried too! After browsing through the 'menu' on www.jellybean-uk.com, I'm hoping to explore the tastes of the following flavours:
Café Latte*
Chocolate Pudding*
Strawberry Jam*
Sour Strawberry*
Sour Apple*

They sound delicious!



-----NUTRITION-----
Ok, so the nutrition isn't printed on the back of each individual bean! That wouldn't be very practical! But after doing a bit of browsing on the site, I discovered a bit more about just what exactly is found in Jelly Belly Beans!

Each bean contains 4 calories (doesn't seem a lot, but they are so addictive, and you don't tend to count how many you are eating!).
Approximately 1 gram of carbohydrates can be found in a single bean, and a whopping zero percent fat content!
No-added sugar Jelly Belly Beans are also available.
They don't seem that bad now, do they?



-----PRODUCTS-----
Beans don't just have to be sold individually! There are plenty of gift ideas available (or just as treats for yourself!).
Pre-made bags and boxes of the beans are already made up, just like my first box of beans, so you do not have to worry about choosing which flavours! This is great if you are indecisive, like I am!

You can purchase Jelly Belly Beans dispensers, which I have seen not only on the official website, but in several shops too (mainly BHS). This is priced at £51.50 online, which comes complete with a bag of 49 assorted 'beans.
Gift bags and boxes can also be made up. I'm not sure if you can do this in stores, as I have only seen it available online. Choose a selection of beans to store in a presentation box, or select a variety of ready made bags to pack away nicely in a basket to give your sweet-toothed loved ones!

Something that amazed me was, not the beans that are available to purchase online, but the extra products! Fridge magnets, key rings, teddy bears and loads more are offered!
http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/cgi-bin/jb/products. pl?category=6



-----RECIPES-----
Who ever thought of creating an entire meal out of Jelly Belly Beans! Of course, with all the sweet sensational options, it would be a mouth-watering, delectable dessert you're able to create, with just a few little 'beans!

Several are given on the website: http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/cgi-bin/jb/your_recip es.pl.
They seem so tempting, especially the 'Strawberry Drizzle Cake'! I mean 48 calories in that pudding if you count up all the beans - imagine how many would be in the real dessert!


-----MY IDEAS-----
After a bit of thought, I've come up with a few ideas for flavours I'd like to see...

Honey
White Chocolate
Chocolate Gateaux
Treacle Fudge
Marzipan
Sponge cake
They're all really sweet options, ones that would make you a bit sick if you ate too many! What about some 'healthier' ones?

Prunes
Dates
Apricot Jam

Ok, so they're not that healthy! But they sound exceptionally delicious! Mmm...!


------AMERICAN JELLY BELLY BEANS-----
After exploring the world of British Jelly Belly Beans, I thought I should have a quick browse around the American website, www.jellybelly.com, to see what they had to offer!

The first thing I noticed was that they had the Harry Potter Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans! I remembered those from years ago, when Harry Potter first hit the big screen! I had no idea these were made by Jelly Belly! Funnily enough, they were the most revolting flavours you could think of, yet they tasted so magical! I mean, would you ever imagine enjoying something that was 'vomit' flavour?!

Jelly Belly don't just do beans in America either, it appears that they have a wide range of other products too; Sunkist jellies (I recognise them - do we have them?), chocolates, and various other jellies and sugary treats!

Perfume?! Seriously - the American Jelly Belly does fragrances! I wish we had that - they must smell absolutely gorgeous! One particular one that caught my eye was the Hot Fudge Sundae fragrance - I'd love to sample the sweet aroma of that one!
I think I can say the American Jelly Belly range have a lot more products to offer, as bizarre as they may be!


-----
Jelly Belly Beans are available world wide, and with such a variety of flavours, I'm sure you can find a fair selection to fill you up with a sweet sugary 'bean' sensation!
After you've tried a Jelly Belly Bean, no other 'ordinary' jelly bean will ever taste as nice!

The best way to experience the true magic of the Jelly Belly Bean is to go out and try them for yourself! So go on, discover your favourite!


© Amy 2008

Summary: A wide variety of unique 'bean' flavours!