Is it Possible for Jelly Beans to be Too Sweet?

Peeps Jelly Beans

Peeps jelly beans

Easter is fast approaching, and that means that jellybean season is upon us. Heck, candy companies are sending our press releases about their new varieties of beans, believe it or not! I know that because one of them came across my email not long ago. According to JustBorn, Inc., the latest thing in teeny little candy beans is Peeps Jelly Beans! And they’re not kidding: a visit to my local Kroger turned up a display of the little guys, so I was duty-bound to report back to my loyal readers. You know who you are, Mom…

Right up front, Peeps beans are different; at least when it comes to packaging. Like the somewhat cloying marshmallow birdies of the same name, Peeps Jelly Beans come in four flavors: lemon, strawberry, blueberry, and marshmallow. Also like the birdies, their packaging doesn’t mix flavors; so I bought a bag each of blueberry/marshmallow and strawberry/marshmallow. At about three bucks for ten ounces, they’re fairly expensive.

They’re especially expensive considering what you get: the two fruit flavors are, to put it mildly, faintly reminiscent of the fruit they claim. The strawberry (pink) is slightly closer in flavor than the blueberry (pale blue), I think. The marshmallow beans (white) are very marshmallow, if you know what I mean. They’re slightly larger than gourmet varieties, with a soft candy shell and a translucent jelly center. The center is not flavored, so all the taste comes from the candy shell.
As a certifiable jelly-bean fiend, you’d think I’d like these beans and, to be honest, I’d probably be more accepting of them if the company had mixed flavors in the bags. But half marshmallow and half another flavor? That just doesn’t work. Unless you’re buying all three flavors and mixing them in a big bowl for an Easter party, they probably don’t work. They might even be too sweet for the kids!

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