Does Bigger Mean Better for Starburst?

Starburst Jumbo Jellybeans

Starburst Jumbo Jellybeans

To be honest, I've never been a fan of jumbo jelly beans, probably because most of them I've tried have come from tourist-trap souvenir shops and had the consistency and taste of stale cardboard. I'd rather eat a cheap bag plucked from a truck stop display, if you get my drift. Then again, Starburst jelly beans have been relatively reliable, so I decided that a bag of Original Starburst Jumbo Jellybeans was worth a try. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised.

More Heart-Shaped Beans for Valentines Day 2020

Jolly Rancher Jelly Hearts

Although Easter is the epicenter of jelly bean season, Valentine's Day seems to attract the creative minds of candy designers. Is there such a thing? I sure hope so... anyway, I've already commented on the heart-shaped beans made and sold by a couple of companies (Gimbals and Starburst), and this year I came across yet another variety: Jolly Rancher Jelly Hearts.

Unicorn poop for the unicorn lover in your family

Brach's Miniature Unicorn Jelly Beans

Unicorn Jelly Beans

I have it on good authority that unicorns poop candy. My good authority is a six-year-old girl; is there anyone more authoritative?  Whatever the case, Brach’s must’ve heard the same thing: that’s probably why one of their two special jelly bean offerings for this year is Unicorn Jelly Beans. It’s a companion to Dragon Jelly Beans, which are presumably named on the authority of a six-year-old boy. Never mind the sexist notion…

When the dragon breathes...

Brach's Dragon Jelly Beans

Brach's dragon jelly beans

With Easter only a few days away, I’m having a heckuva time keeping up ith all the different bags of jelly beans that show up on store shelves. At the moment, there are three different open bags on the shelf and a fourth is waiting to be opened. And I haven’t even bought any Unicorn Jelly Beans yet!

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.

More Beans for Valentines Day?

Starburst Heart-Shaped Jellybeans

A couple of news releases came across my Google alerts this month to let me know that Starburst had concocted a special release for Valentine's Day: heart-shaped jellybeans. In reality, the new product isn't anything particularly special: it's just a subset of the company's FaveReds cast in the shape of a valentine heart. Only two flavors are included, strawberry and cherry. Starburst left out their other two red flavors, watermelon and fruit punch. I'm fine with the omission of watermelon, but the fruit punch might have been welcome

Pectin Instead of Corn Starch: So What?

Russell Stover Pectin Jelly Beans

Weirdos like me who just about live on jelly beans (not really – I also eat burritos) know we’re eating something that’s mostly sugar. It’s the other ingredients that set the various beans apart. While that’s usually a matter of flavor, there’s also a school of jelly-bean creation that calls for a slightly different gelling agent: pectin. The jelly in most beans turns from sugary glop into gel because of the addition of corn starch, but a few brands of beans use pectin instead – just like my mom used when making her own jam and jelly.

The easiest brand of pectin-based beans to find is Russell Stover Pectin Jelly Beans (a premium bean, according to the package). The beans are the traditional size and shape; none of that mini business practiced by the gourmet brands. Another difference is that Russ sticks to the traditional flavors. There’s no buttered popcorn, no banana cream pie, just seven fruit flavors like the Brach’s I bought as a kid.