Thursday, March 16, 2006

Starburst and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

The traditional icon for Easter candy has always been Jelly Beans. I’m not sure when they were invented, but they’re a great candy because they are their own wrapper. You can hold them in your hand and unless you’re exceptionally sweaty, they don’t melt. Back in the day jelly beans were like gumdrops and came in spice flavors. Sometime late in the last century this changed and spice beans fell out of favor and now just about all jelly beans are fruit flavored.

imageThe Starburst Jelly Beans are really fruity flavored jelly beans. A little smaller than the old fashioned spice ones but not as small as a Jelly Belly. They come in Cherry, Strawberry, Green Apple, Orange, Lemon and Grape. Like Jelly Belly, the Starburst beans use both a flavored center and flavored shell to maximize the taste. The Starburst beans are zesty and fruity, with a nice ring of tart. The shell, though a little grainy at first when you chew it, dissolves nicely. The whole candy dissolves very well instead of sticking like the Jelly Belly tend to do. (Note: Starburst Jelly Beans are made in Mexico.)

image

Here’s the array to match up the flavors of (Jelly Belly) and Starbursts for my taste test. From top left to lower right it goes: (Green Apple) Green Apple, (Blueberry) Grape, (Orange) Orange, (Strawberry Daquiri) Strawberry, (Lemon) Lemon, (Very Cherry) Cherry.

imageI’ve already said lots about the Jelly Belly. I think they’re fantastic jelly beans. I don’t really care for the flavor mix boxes, I prefer to pick out my own jelly bean flavors. I usually go with a citrus mix of the various lemons, orange, tangerine and grapefruit and maybe a little pina colada.

What I prefer about the Starburst is that there’s just fewer flavors, and the colors are pretty easy to distinguish so there are no surprises. I found the cherry flavor okay and if I had to drop a flavor, it’d be the grape.

When I was at the store it was obvious that there’s been an explosion of jelly bean brands. Everyone is making them now. You can get Lifesaver branded ones, Ferrara Pan, SweeTarts, Starburst has several other flavor mixes ... I could go on and on. If you’re looking for value, well, the Starburst are FAR less expensive and with Easter candy half the fun is the insane quantity. Really, you can’t go wrong with jelly beans. What I always liked about jelly beans is that they were a candy you could leave out, unwrapped, in a bowl or in the grass of your Easter basket and as long as they didn’t get wet, they seemed to stay fresh forever. Well, I’ve never tested forever ... a jelly bean never lasted long in my house.

If you’ve tried these or one of the other brands of jelly beans, like SweeTarts or Lifesavers, what did you think?

Related Candies

  1. Jelly Belly Sunkist Citrus Mix
  2. Starburst GummiBursts
  3. Jelly Belly - All Natural
  4. Starburst
  5. Jelly Belly Deluxe Easter Mix
Name: Starburst & Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Mars & Jelly Belly
Place Purchased: Rite Aid
Price: $1.89 & $1.09
Size: 14 ounces & 1.6 ounces
Calories per ounce: 107 & 100
Categories: Jelly, United States, Mexico, Mars, Jelly Belly, Easter

POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:02 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. starburst sour jelly beans are awesome and addictive.

    Comment by cheryl on 3/16/06 at 11:02 am #
  2. I have never tried the starburst jelly beans.  I am really partial to “pectin” jelly beans.  For some reason, I really like their texture and taste better.  I think Russell Stover and Brach’s make a pectin jelly bean. 

    Love your blog.  The only problem with it, is that it makes me hungry.  grin

    Comment by elissa on 3/16/06 at 12:00 pm #
  3. I’m pretty sure I have the distinction of being the only person alive who looooves buttered popcorn jelly bellys.  I hear they have a buttered toast variety now too, and I bet I"d like it, but I have yet to find it.

    Comment by K. on 3/16/06 at 12:15 pm #
  4. Our neighborhood traditionally has an easter egg hunt for the kids, with parents donating filled eggs. I remember that last year we got some with the Life Saver jelly beans, and I remember them being flavorful (compared to ‘traditional’ jelly beans that all taste bland and the same) yet different from Starburst, but I can’t remember how the two brands compared!

    Comment by Tricia on 3/16/06 at 1:09 pm #
  5. I, too, have been on the Jelly Belly factory tour.  There I learned that the buttered popcorn flavor is the number one selling bean.  You are not alone!

    Comment by Jenny F. on 3/16/06 at 1:39 pm #
  6. I’m partial to the traditional Brach’s ones myself, though not the spice ones.  I’ve tried the Starburst, Smuckers, Lifesavers and sweeTart ones, and of course Jelly Belly. The others are pretty good, but just don’t taste like jelly beans should. The sweeTart ones have a really weird texture that I couldn’t decide if I liked or not, but I couldn’t stop eating them for some reason.  In fact, I think I might have to go buy more.

    And K:  I have tried the buttered toast jelly bellies. They’re strange to me.  They really taste like buttered toast, but personally, I don’t think jelly beans should taste like buttered toast.

    Comment by g on 3/17/06 at 7:51 am #
  7. Recently learned they had dr.pepper, vanilla, french vanilla and toasted marshmallow. Loved all of them and I normally hate jelly beans. smile

    Comment by Eliza on 3/17/06 at 8:35 am #
  8. Grape flavored anyhing can go away as far as I’m concerned.

    Comment by Scott on 3/17/06 at 9:32 am #
  9. Cybele's avatar

    Eliza - I like the Jelly Belly toasted marshmallow too!

    g - the only one I’m interested in trying at this point would be the SweeTart ones, but not until they’re on clearance. I do miss the spice ones ... though not the clove.

    Elissa - I saw that Jelly Belly also makes traditional pectin beans too (available year round).

    K - yes, I tend to buck the popularity contests and the buttered popcorn is one of my least favorite bean flavors. But oddly enough, it means that I’m a great person to have as a friend because I’ll glady give you mine.

    Cheryl - I’m curious about the sours too, I think I’d like them very much.

    Comment by Cybele on 3/17/06 at 9:29 pm #
  10. I love starburst jelly beans!!!  I won’t eat normal ones only starburst!

    Comment by Madeline Curtis on 4/09/06 at 8:06 am #
  11. I tried the starburst jelly beans this year.  I found the flavors very tasty and fruity.  I like that there are fewer flavors that mix well together.  I do prefer the pectin jelly beans for their flavors and soft insides.

    Comment by Nic on 4/28/06 at 2:06 pm #
  12. I love Jelly Bellies!  Even the grapes are edible, which makes them unique.  Borders sells them, and wwhen I get a gift certificate there, I always buy some beans.

    Comment by E on 6/24/06 at 7:25 am #
  13. Jelly Belly is my favorite brand of jelly beans. I love the pink grapefruit, and I’ve recently discovered the kiwi flavor, which is delicious. It taste like a real kiwi, but you’ll never end up with a really sour one like you sometimes do with fresh kiwis. The taste is so fragnant, and not overly sweet.

    Comment by Trish on 11/17/06 at 5:55 pm #
  14. I think they should start selling jelly beans in norway too.. I miss jelly beans!!! raspberry Love your blog wink

    Comment by Camilla on 12/18/06 at 10:10 am #
  15. I can get raging ill from eating too many jelly beans. The heck if that will ever stop me smile

    Comment by Jennifer on 3/12/07 at 7:09 pm #
  16. Wow—I can’t believe I’m accessing this post exactly one year after it was published. Anyway, O wanted to say that I really love Starburst jelly beans too and agree with everything you wrote. I’m all stocked up for Easter now with several bags of Starburst in my pantry!

    Comment by Mishmash Musings on 3/15/07 at 1:23 pm #
  17. Really? Grape or Cherry are the BEST! If they quit making grape flavored candies, I’d probably lose about 20 lbs, no joke.

    Comment by ld876 on 4/06/07 at 7:25 pm #
  18. These Jelly Beans are really good i didn’t even know that they were Starburst Jelly Belly’s until I read the side of them. They are really good and i would definatly buy them again

    Comment by Cassidy on 4/11/07 at 12:03 pm #
  19. These have been in the UK for a good 10 years now, they were known as Starburst Joosters however I havent seen them around for the past few years. It seems that Blackcurrant has been substituted for grape and grapefruit, the most iconic flavour, has completely disappeared off the map.

    Comment by Max on 7/16/07 at 2:49 am #
  20. I LOVE Starburst jelly beans.  Unfortunately the stores in this area quit selling them.  I can’t find them anywhere!  I’m hoping they will come out at Easter.

    Comment by Regina on 1/04/08 at 6:34 am #
  21. its my fav candy and i luv it

    Comment by Catie on 4/30/08 at 1:28 pm #
  22. Hi, I love Starburst Jelly Beans. I live in M?xico City and I don?t know where to find them here altough I?ve looked everywhere. I?ve read that they are made in Mexico, would you be so please to tell me where I can buy them.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you
    Have a nice day. Regards from Mexico D. F.
    Rosa Mar

    Comment by Rosa Maria Rebollo on 9/04/08 at 5:24 pm #
  23. Dear Starburst Company:

      I would like to make a new type of straburst.You should have the starburst diped into the sour powder just like the sour skittles. If you you like that idea contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!Hope you like my idea!


        Alex

    Comment by Alejandra on 10/04/08 at 4:11 pm #
  24. Alex- but they already have a sour Starburst out…granted it’s not dipped in sour powder, but still.

    Also, this is just a candy review site, not a manufacturer’s site.

    Comment by Temperance on 10/06/08 at 2:00 am #
  25. HOW DO MAKE SOUR STARBURT U GUYs?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Comment by bob? on 1/21/09 at 10:43 am #
  26. Please send me some coupons in the mail please and thakn yo very much

    Comment by Eleanor Blevins on 2/01/09 at 2:41 pm #
  27. I would love these! and people this is a CANDY REVIEW SITE not a site

    Comment by Suys on 6/24/09 at 1:50 pm #
  28. These are yummy but ok!!!!!!

    Comment by Kaylyn on 9/26/09 at 12:40 pm #
  29. You can’t eat just ONE!!

    Comment by stacy on 9/28/09 at 1:53 pm #
  30. Does ANYONE know where I can get my hands on some Buttered Toast flavored Jelly Bellies?  I’m DYING for them!

    Comment by Kiki on 1/12/10 at 10:01 am #
  31. Why are Starburst Jelly Beans made in Mexico??????

    What really goes in them now that they are not made in USA???

    Comment by Scott on 4/06/11 at 1:04 pm #
  32. Starburst Jellybeans are the BOMB.COM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by JJ on 4/02/14 at 12:13 pm #
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