Great American Eats

Back in 1976, a Los Angeles candy distributor had an idea for a jelly bean made with natural flavorings. So he called up the candymakers at Jelly Belly (formerly known as Herman Goelitz Candy Co.) who had a reputation for making the very best candies.

Creating “true-to-life” flavors was, well, a natural evolution. The candymakers cooked up a recipe for a new kind of jelly bean — intensely flavored throughout, with natural ingredients for flavoring whenever possible. In 1976 the first eight Jelly Belly flavors were born: Very Cherry, Lemon, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Root Beer, Grape and Licorice. Funny enough they are still some of the most popular flavors made.

The rise to the top, or, what a long, tasty trip it’s “bean.” A furor arose when people tasted Jelly Belly beans for the first time. Wow, what flavor! Soon Jelly Belly became the favorite candy of President Ronald Reagan, who made the beans a staple in the Oval Office and on Air Force One. (President Reagan’s passion for jelly beans inspired Blueberry flavor, which was cooked up so he could serve red, white, and blue beans at his inaugural parties.) Diplomats and world leaders clamored to have Jelly Belly beans. And guess what? Jelly Belly was also the first jelly bean in outer space. Free floating, weightless Jelly Belly beans were sent on the space shuttle Challenger in 1983 as a presidential surprise for the astronauts. Coincidentally it was the same mission that boasted another bit of history — the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride.

Today, Jelly Belly is the world’s #1 gourmet jelly bean, the bean of choice for all those with the most discerning taste, and made in 50 amazing and tasty flavors. Check out the menu to see all the flavors.

Check out the Official 50 Flavor Guide!

The Birth of the World’s Most Famous Jelly Bean

The idea was born in Los Angeles, just next door to Hollywood. Yes, the home of countless famous movie stars is also the birthplace of The Original Gourmet Jelly Bean.®

Jelly Belly

In 1931, the famous Tootsie Roll Pop was born. Tootsie Roll Pops were a revolutionary new confection, as they were the first lollipop with a soft chewy center. Over the years, Tootsie Pops have become part of American history. They have been featured on classic television programs and several motion pictures throughout the years.

Tootsie Pops are the No. 1 selling lollipop and are widely known by consumers trying to answer that age-old question: “Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?” To date, we at Tootsie Roll have received many thousands of letters, each with a response unique to the author. The real answer may never be known!!

Tootsie Roll Pops have just recently been offered in a new unique miniature size called Tootsie Pops Miniatures. These smaller versions of our regular size Tootsie Pop are perfect for giveaways and other reward occasions. Some people serve Tootsie Pop Miniatures as a warm greeting in their offices and homes or as a treat at parades.