Jelly Belly tour is more than a sugar rush
By Kathryn Reed
FAIRFIELD – Free tour, free candy. Count us in.
I don’t know how many times I’ve driven past the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield off Interstate 80, but it was finally time to stop. I had been there once before, but this was Sue’s first venture into this world that is more than just Jelly Bellys.
The only downside to visiting on a Sunday was the workers were all at home, so the real operation can’t be seen. Nevertheless, the 40-minute walking tour is still fun and informative.
The Jelly Belly factory has free tours in Fairfield. Photo/LTN
While President Ronald Reagan made Jelly Belly a household world, the candymakers’ roots go back to Germany. Brothers Gustav and Albert Goelitz immigrated to the United States in 1867, starting their businesses here two years later.
It was 1976 that the Jelly Belly was born, so to speak. The initial flavors were Very Cherry, Lemon, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Root Beer, Grape and Licorice.
In addition to the 50 official flavors, there are sugar-free, sours and chocolate dipped beans.
We bought Belly Flops at the store. These are rejects – sort of. They taste great; just look a little funky in shape and color. The flavors can be original and not likely to be created again.
Then there are the ones that make you scratch your head as to who developed the bean and another scratch for who would buy them. Flavors like Pencil Shavings, Skunk Spray and Booger.
What I think is fun is using the recipes to come up with a new flavor. It takes two Blueberry beans and one Buttered Popcorn to come up with what tastes like a Blueberry Muffin.
According to Jelly Belly, the difference between their product and regular jelly bean is “their authentic and intense flavors, the number of flavors, the smaller size, the brilliant colors and, of course, the Jelly Belly name on every bean. … most Jelly Belly flavors use fine natural ingredients, whenever possible, to flavor the beans, i.e., chocolate, coconut, fruit juice concentrates and fruit purees like strawberry, pear and banana. These ‘true-to-life’ flavors are mixed into the center and the shell.”
More information about tours all things Jelly Belly is online.
Walking into the Jelly Belly Factory is a must for children of all ages.
The tour from above provides a bird’s eye view of the tremendous amount of work required to make such a small confection. Worker bees scurring around in head caps, (even some caps for beards and moustaches) rolling large guerneys of sweets was indeed reminiscent of Charlie’s visit to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
If you haven’t been, or it has been a while since your last tour, it is time to revist where Violet actually does turn Violet.
Oh, be careful to eat in moderation when eating the Sugar Free variety. When my son was diagnosed diabetic a dear family friend gave him a sweet gift of the Bellys w/o sugar. He was so excited to finally have a treat that he could actually eat that he devoured too many at one setting. Needless to say, he spent quite a bit of time on the toilet that night!
Only wish the Jelly Belly Corporation would include “Toot Sweets” on their menu of creations.
And if the workers would be shorter in stature, in stripped suspender costumes, and have their skin painted…