The History Behind Jelly Beans Becoming an Easter Staple

Come Easter time, jelly beans seem to be everywhere. They fill Easter baskets, get stuffed into plastic eggs for hunts, and are one of the most popular candies associated with the spring holiday. But jelly beans actually have a long history that predates their egg-shaped connection to Easter. So when exactly did jelly beans become such an iconic Easter candy?

The Evolution of Jelly Beans

While jelly beans are now a beloved Easter treat they weren’t originally created just for this holiday. In fact their origins stretch back centuries! Here’s a look at the fascinating evolution of the jelly bean

• 1700s – Jordan almonds, hard sugar-coated nuts, gain popularity in Europe and likely influence the development of jelly beans

• 1800s – Candy makers start creating jelly-like jellied sweets and jujubes using sugar and cornstarch.

• 1861 – Boston confectioner William Schrafft encourages people to send his jelly candies to soldiers during the Civil War. Their popularity grows.

• Late 1800s – Machines allow for mass production of jelly candies. They’re called “jelly beans” and sold in penny candy stores.

• Early 1900s – Jelly beans gain traction in the U.S. and U.K. as their bright colors and explosive flavors become favorites.

• 1930s – Jelly beans become strongly associated with Easter and Easter egg hunts. Their egg-like shape fits the spring theme.

So the humble jelly bean has been around for well over a century! But it took a pairing with Easter traditions for them to become famous as an Easter candy.

Jelly Beans Find a Spring Connection

During the early 1900s, jelly beans were still just popular candies without any particular seasonal association. They were sold year-round in flavors like lemon, licorice, cream soda, and other classics. Kids and adults alike enjoyed their chewy, sweet burst.

But in the 1930s, jelly beans finally became cemented as a popular Easter treat. According to the National Confectioners Association, it was their egg-like oval shape that helped them become tied to Easter and the Easter Bunny:

“Jelly beans became associated with Easter traditions because their egg-like shape is reminiscent of the belief that the Easter Bunny delivers eggs as a sign of new life in spring.”

This egg symbolism, paired with bright spring colors like yellow, green, and pastels, made jelly beans a perfect fit for Easter baskets and celebrations.

Their small size and vibrant colors also made them ideal for filling plastic Easter eggs used in Easter egg hunts and games. Families could fill dozens of eggs with jelly beans (and other small candies) to hide. Kids then loved hunting for the colorful treasures.

Jelly bean recipes were also evolving in the early 1900s, transitioning to softer, more complex flavors like grape, raspberry, apricot, and other fruits. This expanded the appeal beyond just children. Their burst of flavor in an egg-shaped form resonated for Easter.

By the 1940s, jelly beans had become a definitive Easter candy and popular culture phenomenon. As their popularity grew, confectioners like Jelly Belly developed new flavor innovations that expanded jelly beans’ appeal beyond Easter into gourmet candy. But the classic flavors remain an Easter staple for many.

Jelly Bean Fun Facts

As we’ve seen, jelly beans have a more storied history than many realize! Here are a few more fun facts about these iconic Easter candies:

• 16 billion – The estimated number of jelly beans produced for Easter annually

• 7 – The number of jelly bean layers (center, flavor layers, shellac coating, carnauba wax, coloring, corn syrup, and sugar)

• 8– The number of days it takes to make a single jelly bean

• 1976 – When Jelly Belly launched revolutionary new gourmet jelly bean flavors

• Red – The most popular jelly bean flavor of all time

Why Jelly Beans for Easter?

Clearly, jelly beans dominated Easter candy choices for many reasons:

• Egg-shape – Closely aligns with Easter egg symbolism and egg hunts

• Bright colors – Mirrors spring colors like yellow, green, purple, and pink

• Small size – Perfect for stuffing plastic Easter eggs and baskets

• Kid appeal – Vibrant colors and sweet flavors appeal to children’s tastes

• Nostalgia – Many adults have fond childhood memories of jelly beans at Easter

Thanks to this winning combination of color, shape, flavor, and nostalgia, jelly beans earned the spotlight as the premiere Easter candy.

Jelly Beans Year-Round

While jelly beans still reign at Easter time, they have become more than just a seasonal candy:

• Exotic flavors – Jelly Belly took jelly beans gourmet with unique flavors like buttered popcorn, toasted marshmallow, and chocolate pudding.

• Cocktails – Cocktail-inspired jelly beans with margarita, piña colada, and mojito flavors are now popular adult treats.

• Events – Sporting events, movies, and more now have specialty jelly bean flavors. Harry Potter, Star Wars, and DC comics have inspired bean themes.

• Weddings – Jelly beans in wedding colors are given as favors or used in decor since they’re lucky when eaten together.

So jelly beans can now be found year-round in gift shops, specialty stores, theaters, and more. But Easter remains their time to shine bright!

Jelly Beans Are Here to Stay

While no one knows for sure who exactly first paired jelly beans with Easter, it was a match clearly meant to be. Their festive colors, ovoid shape, and tangy sweet flavors have cemented their status as an Easter essential.

Though now seen as a classic candy, jelly beans were an innovation that bucked tradition in their day. This spirit lives on in new flavor creations and year-round jelly bean fans.

Even with competition from chocolate bunnies and eggs, peach blossom marshmallow treats, and sour candies, the humble jelly bean remains a favorite part of Easter traditions. For both kids and adults, Easter just wouldn’t be the same without these iconic egg-shaped candies.

So next time you fill your Easter basket or hide jelly bean-stuffed eggs, appreciate that you are taking part in a decades-long candy tradition! Whichever your flavor – cherry, buttered popcorn, or cotton candy – jelly beans make Easter a little brighter.