National Jelly Bean Day

April 22 is National Jelly Bean Day. The sweet treat is believed to have been developed by William Schrafft, a Boston confectionery. They were mentioned in 1861 when Schrafft encouraged everyone to send his jelly beans to soldiers during the Civil War. But the war and its aftermath may have slowed their popularity because there's been no other recorded mention of them until an advertisement in a Chicago newspaper in 1905 where they sold for nine cents a pound.

Jelly beans are made mainly from sugar and include other ingredients, such as tapioca or corn syrup, flavoring, and starch or pectin. They may also have lecithin, an anti-foaming agent, an edible wax, salt, and confectioner's glaze. Varying fruit flavors are the most common type of jelly bean, but others have been developed, including licorice, soft drinks, mint, and spices. They are usually sold in assortments of about eight different flavors, but rarely customers might find packs with a single flavor.

Jelly beans became associated with Easter sometime in the 1930s, perhaps due to their egg shape and the need for different varieties of candy for Easter baskets. Their array of bright colors only add to their appeal. Some estimate that about 17 million jelly beans are sold each Easter. Most people either are fans or don't like them at all. Former President Ronald Reagan enjoyed them so much he kept a jar sitting on his desk.

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