Friday, March 30, 2007

SweeTart Jelly Beans

SweeTart Jelly Beans PackageAfter the review of Lifesavers Jelly Beans, I kept hearing that the SweeTart Jelly Beans were also very good. (Actually, readers have been telling me this for a year, but I was hoping to catch them on sale after Easter last year, but wasn’t so lucky.)

So I went out last night looking for them. Luckily they were on sale ($1.50 a bag instead of $2.29) at RiteAid. I carefully chose a bag that looked like it had lots of yellow ones in it (the others looked very pink).

image

Unlike the Lifesavers Jelly Beans that made up flavors to include in the bag, the SweeTart Jelly Beans stick to the regular SweeTart flavors: Grape, Cherry,  Orange, Lemon, Green Apple and Blue Punch.

The colors are typical of an assortment of highlighter pens (well, the purple one just wasn’t photographing well, it’s much more lilac that the photo makes it appear). They’re matte and opaque. They’re also not terribly regular in size and shape, with the colors sometimes looking a little faded in spots and other little bloops of other colors in them.

These beans are different. They candy shell on them isn’t like any other jelly bean I’ve had. Instead of just being a flavored sugar shell, these feel different. They’re a little crumbly and a little cool on the tongue. The ingredients lists dextrose as one of the main ingredients. Dextrose is the same sugar used to make SweeTart and other compressed sugar candies.

It takes a little getting used to, because at first it feels like the bean is past its prime or something. But then I really started to enjoy cleaving off parts of the shell in my mouth before chewing the rest up. They’re kind of like Lemonheads in that respect, except not as sour. The jelly center isn’t really flavored, but does have a slight tang to it (yes, I managed to just nibble off the shell on a few of them). The jelly center is the same for all of them as far as I can tell (Jelly Belly uses specific flavored centers for their beans, which is one of the reasons they’re so flavorful).

I really liked the orange and lemon, but found the grape to be a huge disappointment. It was completely missing that “malic acid” flavor of the grape SweeTart. The green apple also seemed a little weird, just not quite complete. The blue punch was much better than I expected and of course the cherry was just bitter to me. Though all of them are a bit tart, they’re not really sour like a SweeTart is. I can say from experience here that there’s no tongue damage from eating a third of a bag for breakfast (which there definitely would be with the regular chalky SweeTart).

I’m not as fond of these as I’d hoped, so they’re not going to knock the Lifesavers Jelly Beans off the current favored spot for the special Easter jelly beans. Part of it is the lack of visual appeal, they just look old. I also wanted them to be more tart. But I have to give them props for making me eat my jelly beans in a different way. I still have another bag of the SweeTart Ducks, Chicks & Bunnies (I finally found them at Walgreen’s) ... it’s gonna take a big candy innovation for something else from SweeTart to knock them off the top spot.

Related Candies

  1. Smarties Jelly Beans
  2. Wonka Nerds Jelly Beans
  3. SweeTart Hearts
  4. Wonka Sour Nerds
  5. SweeTarts: Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies (2006)
  6. Starburst and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Name: SweeTarts 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: Nestle
Place Purchased: Rite Aid (Los Feliz)
Price: $1.50
Size: 14 ounces
Calories per ounce: 95
Categories: Jelly, Sour, Canada, Nestle, Easter

POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:29 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. Good lord, it’s SO hard to read your blog and resist the urge to eat candy afterwards! Must… resist… the candy bar… in… my desk drawer…

    Comment by Ari (Baking and Books) on 3/30/07 at 9:09 am #
  2. hi, i’m from italy and i read your blog everyday. your reviews are lovely and they always make me want to eat chocolate!
    unfortunately we don’t have reese’s here, but i suggest you to try [if you find them] lindt’s marc de champagne, creme brul?e and orange chocolates.

    very good job.

    kia.

    Comment by kia. on 3/30/07 at 9:21 am #
  3. I had just opened a bag of these when I clicked to your blog review. It took about half a bag for me to get used to them a few years ago, so you may still grow to love them.

    Along with the most wonderful Easter candy of all, the Cadbury mini-egg, these make my candy season.

    Comment by jenreads on 3/30/07 at 9:40 am #
  4. Oh, I’m so sad! I feel I led you down a non-tart path lol. I still love love love them and like jenreads, I hope you learn to love them too : )

    Comment by Nix Smith on 3/30/07 at 11:01 am #
  5. We got a ton of those on sale after Easter last year at Ralph’s.

    Comment by Grace on 3/30/07 at 3:01 pm #
  6. My favorite Jelly Beans of all time are Starburst Sour Jelly Beans. They are the perfect level of sour and just so addictive.
    Have you ever tried Trolli Gummy Beans? They’re a cross between jelly beans and gummies. I really love eating those when i can actually find them. I think their Dinosaur Eggs are the same product under a different name.

    Comment by cheryl on 4/01/07 at 5:13 am #
  7. We did an unscientific jelly bean tasting at work last Easter, and the hands-down winner was Smuckers.  They taste like actual fruit!  I think they’re made by Brachs.

    Unfortunately my plan to get a ton of them on sale didn’t work out so well as they go stale and hard quickly…

    Comment by Michaela on 4/01/07 at 4:10 pm #
  8. I have a love/hate relationship with these. I really don’t consider them jelly beans b/c the outer coating is such a different texture. I wish there was a candy with just that outer coating. The slightly sour fairly soft thing. Like chewy sweet tarts but softer and easier to eat.

    Comment by g on 4/02/07 at 6:47 am #
  9. Cybele's avatar

    Ari - mmm, candy drawer ....

    Kia - I don’t know if they sell those varieties here in the States, but I love orange and chocolate. Thanks for reading.

    jenreads - I’m working on it, but I don’t think it helps that I keep eating “traditional” jelly beans at the same time. It just messes with me.

    nix - no need for that! I’m happy I tried them. I think I just want a smaller bag.

    Grace - I think I saw them last year too! Of course now that the cat’s out of the bag on Candy Blog, folks will be scooping them up now.

    Cheryl - I haven’t seen the Starburst Sour or the Trolli Gummi Beans! I’m on the prowl now.

    Michaela - I looked at the Smuckers last year when I ended up picking out the Starburst ones. But I couldn’t find them this year. (I just put up the review for my consolation prize, Spiced Jelly Eggs.)

    g - yes! here’s what it’d be ... a cross between these, Narbles and Lemonheads!

    Comment by Cybele on 4/04/07 at 8:21 am #
  10. first comment ever

    Comment by fruitopia25 on 6/13/07 at 4:15 am #
  11. Someone please help me locate these sweetart jelly beans!  My friend and coworker LOVES them and now she is going through a serious crisis of an ailing mother and greiving father.  I just know that in a small way these jellys would give her a little relief. HEEEELLPP!!!!

    Comment by Karen on 6/26/07 at 5:15 am #
  12. BOUGHT JELLY BEANS FOR MY CHILD, AND WHEN I OPENED THEM, THEY WERE HARD AS PELLETS.
    WAS DISAPPOINTED, GRANTED THE PRICE WAS REASONALBLE, BUT HE COULD HAVE BROKEN A TOOTH ON THEM
    I THREW THE WHOLE BAG AWAY
    AND I DON’T THINK I WILL BUY ANY FOR A LONG WHILE
    I GUESS QUALITY CONTROL AT THE PLANT IS WAS MADE AT WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS MISTAKE
    HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL
    TOO MUCH NONSENSE GOING ON WITH THE PRODUCTS WE THE CONSUMER BUYS
    JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW

    Comment by Roberta Rousey on 11/24/07 at 3:43 am #
  13. I hate to tell you this, but if you thought these jelly beans were the same consistency as Lemonheads, you got a stale bag.

    I found one bag in Feb. and one in March, and they were both properly textured and delicious. Tried last week and everyone was out of them.

    They’re now #1 on my short list alongside Life Savers jelly beans and Smuckers Jelly Beans.

    I can’t afford Jelly Belly, so I stick to the cheaper brands. Too bad they’re only out at Easter time.

    Comment by A Noun (is a person place or thing) on 3/23/08 at 4:27 am #
  14. Bought those sweet tart jelly beans, was not pleased with them at all, when my grandchildren said they tasted funny, I ate one, and was a nasty taste, it almost made me throw up. it was old tasting, so I threw all that my grandkids had away, did not want any of them to get sick. my son cannot afford that big of a doctor’s bill,
    I think you need to recheck this product. to me it is not up to standard, will tell all I know about what happened on this easter sunday, thanks for making it nauseating.

    Comment by Jo Ann Rousey on 3/23/08 at 11:07 pm #
  15. We got these again this year and loved them just as much! Not sure what was so yucky about the ones you got, Jo Ann, maybe you just didn’t like the texture? As a few people have mentioned, the texture is not like a regular jelly bean.

    Comment by Nix Smith on 3/24/08 at 12:20 am #
  16. I Looovvveeeee these jelly beans!!!! I think they should come out with something similiar to sell year round! The beans melt in your mouth and are perfect>>>not too sour and not to sweet!!

    Comment by Trinity Borofka on 3/26/08 at 8:11 am #
  17. i fell in love with these jelly beans 2 years ago - target had them at christmas.  last year when i found them again at target i bought a dozen bags - so had them for awhile.  now this year i have not found them anywhere in our area.  i hope to find them online and buy a bunch !!!!!

    Comment by linda coleman on 11/23/08 at 1:14 pm #
  18. I think the Sweet Tart Jelly Beans are DELICIOUS!! I crave them after Easter and buy lots of bags from the commissary when they go on sale. I have seen on an Ebay site that there is a Halloween version too but have never seen them in stores. I wish they would sell them year round. I think anyone who doesnt love them or thinks they taste old like one woman said has no taste buds. I used to love the regular Starburst jelly beans and still do and the Life saver and Jolly ranchers are good too, but there is something about the texture of the Sweet Tart ones I love!! I dont care for Jelly Belly that much they are over priced and usually too hard and chewy plus some of the flavors are gross or too over powering. I wish they sold the Sweet Tarts ones all year round then again I might be big as a house if they did. LOL.

    Comment by Nick on 1/30/09 at 12:22 pm #
  19. I could not find any of the Sweet Tart Jelly Beans last year.  Can someone tell me a chain store that they found them at.  I am surfing the web trying to find them this year.  They are great after a migrain when you don’t feel like eating anything.  The sweet and sour is great.

    Comment by Snan on 3/03/09 at 9:45 am #
  20. i just love these jelly beans but i could not find any around easter they were the only candy i wanyed for easter i went everywhere everyone seem to be out of them a real disappointment cant wait for next easter im hoping to find them on line if anyone know a site please tell me thank u

    Comment by danielle on 4/18/09 at 1:41 pm #
  21. I really loved this candy. I keep trying to find a way to get them off season but I just can’t seem to find it. If there is anyone that has any tips, I’d love to hear ‘em.
    Thanks!

    Comment by fred on 10/10/09 at 2:05 pm #
  22. These are my absolute all time favorite candies.  I cannot wait until the Easter season just so I can have them again.  I am like many others who will buy lots and lots of bags so that I have them through the summer at least. 

    I will point out, however, that I despite the YELLOW ones.  Whenever I take a handful of candies, I did through and throw the yellow ones directly in the trash.  They taste like a mouthful of Lemon Pledge to me.  The rest of the flavors are pure bliss.

    Comment by Valerie on 1/24/10 at 10:43 am #
  23. I am so sorry but, have to say this is the first blog of yours I have read and think you are way off.  Are you a chocolate lover?  If so let those of us that are not review such things….these are amazing!  I have turned several friends onto them over the last few years and mid summer they will make a comment wishing they/we had some to share!  Love, love, love them!!!

    Comment by paula on 2/23/10 at 7:04 pm #
  24. i CRAVE sweet tart jelly beans - i am one of those who hoards them after easter so i have at least one bag a month to hold me through the year. so i was bitterly disappointed this year when i opened my first bag and realized that somewhere along the line, something has changed in the flavor and texture of my favorite indulgence! they are not nearly as good - i can not put my finger on it, but i will not buy another bag this year. is it just me or does anyone else taste a difference??

    Comment by anne on 2/27/10 at 7:12 am #
  25. Can i purchase the Sweetart jelly beans in bulk?
    If so please email me the cost and the amount.
    thanking you in advance
    Eugenia

    Comment by Eugenia Tucker on 3/12/10 at 1:06 pm #
  26. Does anyone know if i can get these in Canada? If so, where?

    My family went to Syracuse about a week ago and my mom brought back a bag ... they’re freaking amazing.

    Comment by Samir on 3/24/10 at 2:41 pm #
  27. I got these and I have to say I think the texture is horrible. They just totally feel like they’re disintegrating in my mouth and it isn’t pleasant at all. SweetTarts are one of my all time favorite candies, yet these jelly beans taste like plastic. I will definitely stick with the Starburst jelly beans next time.

    Comment by Ginger on 4/06/10 at 5:47 pm #
  28. These are the only jelly beans I ever eat. I wait for the whole year until they put them out for easter and then stock up for the rest of the year. grin I LOVE them!

    Comment by Elizabeth on 2/17/11 at 7:04 pm #
  29. Hi, I love Sweet Tarts.  Do you know if they make Sweet Tart jelly beans?  I think it would be a good idea for Easter.  Thanks, bye.

    Comment by Bill on 8/29/11 at 12:25 pm #
  30. You can order SweetTart Jelly Beans and the SweetTart gummy bears year round! I buy them online at The Candy Warehouse. Here you go:
    http://www.candywarehouse.com/sweetartsbeans.html
    Enjoy!!!

    Comment by Scott on 11/12/11 at 1:01 pm #
  31. Two years since the last comment on this post, thought I’d add another one.

    These are my favorite of all the Easter jellybeans, although I’ve always been a sucker for anything SweeTarts. The lemonhead-like coating is so perfect for jellybeans, I wish other ones had it.

    Can’t wait for Easter to roll around so I can stock up on these once more!

    Comment by Sean the Candy Man on 9/10/13 at 3:46 pm #
  32. Starburst used to be my favorite jellybean, until they came out with sweettart brand, To me they aren’t sugary. Delicious.

    Comment by Joanne on 2/28/16 at 3:16 pm #
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