Traditional 1800s Jelly Beans

Gummy Candy… A Sore Throat Remedy?!

Can you believe this Easter favorite had its origins as a medicine? Gummy candies began with Turkish delight, made in the Arabic apothecaries as a confection and medicine for sore throats in 900 C.E. In the 1700s, a Turkish sultan fell in love with the sweet – hence the name – and word traveled around the world.

What’s a Jelly Bean Anyway?

When the Turkish delight first appeared in the U.S. no one can say for sure, but it was the basis of the gum drop, made in the early 1800s. In the 1860s, someone in Boston put a hard sugar shell on the delight and sent it to the Union soldiers. That became known as the “jelly bean.” About a century later, the humble jelly bean evolved once again into the classic Jelly Belly. Our traditional jelly beans come in a 4 oz bag with the history on the label.

Watch this Video From Candy Historian Susan Benjamin on the Jelly Bean!