Jelly Belly Jellybeans

I love Jelly Belly Jellybeans.  They come in so many wonderful colors and flavors.  They seem to have more intense flavors than other jellybeans I have tried.  They keep coming up with new flavors- a new one I would like to try is Honey.  I searched their website, and couldn't find how many flavors they have altogether.  I am sure it is well over 100.  My husband says that chocolate is one of the four food groups, I say that jellybeans are another one. We weren't sure what the other two food groups were.  Any suggestions?

There is alot of fun info on their website, and right now they are running a contest where one person can win $10.000 and help run the company for a day.  They have lots of other prizes, too. They even have recipes, like lemon meringue pie (2 Sunkist Lemon Jelly Belly Jellybeans and 2 coconut Jelly Belly Jellybeans), and Tiramisu (2 cappuccino, 1 A & W Cream soda, and 1 chocolate pudding).

When we were in northern California several years ago, we went on a tour of their factory in Fairfield (there is one in Wisconsin, as well).  It was one of the best factory tours I have every been on (no pun intended- been/bean- get it?).  Of course, one of the highlights was the store, where they sell Belly Flops- jellybeans that are misshapen, but still of the same high quality in flavor.  I even got jellybean wrapping paper.  

Check out their art gallery.  There are a variety of portraits, including Minnie Mouse, the American  Bald eagle, and several of Elvis.  Most of them are around 4' x 4', done entirely with Jelly Belly Jellybeans.  Pretty amazing!

Usually my blog has something to do with coping with chronic pain and illness.  I said in an earlier post that I can relate almost anything to coping.  There are many ways Jelly Belly Jellybeans promote coping.  First of all, when not feeling well, it is important to treat yourself gently.  That includes giving yourself some little treats if they help you feel better.  Now, if those little treats are one jelly doughnut, a hot fudge sundae, and a bag of Oreos, you will end up feeling much worse than you did to start with.  If, on the other hand, you treat yourself to a small handful (yes, just a small one), of jellybeans, and eat them one at a time, savoring each one, you will get a series of intense flavor bursts that don't add up to alot of calories. (There are 4 calories per bean, or about 100 calories per single serving (25 beans). They have approximately 1 gram of carbohydrate per bean and zero fat.) 

Second, if you take a handful of assorted jellybeans, you can keep your mind occupied and off of your pain for quite awhile trying to figure out what flavor each bean is.  Third, explore the  Jelly Belly website. That will keep you occupied for awhile. They even have a virtual tour and videos.

And fourth, my favorite way Jelly Belly Jellybeans can be used to help you cope:  Get creative!  You can try to concoct recipes from the flavors.  What is your favorite dessert or drink?  Try to recreate the flavor using a combination of Jelly Belly Jellybeans.  If it turns out good, submit it to the company, see what they think.  Or, buy a whole lot of jellybeans, and do a mosaic.  It doesn't have to be a portrait.  It can be a design, or a tranquil scene like a sunset.  Again, if it turns out good, send it in, see what they say. It can be any size you want, try 6"-12" square,  less overwhelming than 4' square.

As they say, good things come in small packages.  Hand me a Jelly Belly juicy pear jellybean, please.