Fun Facts about Jelly Belly

• Jelly Belly beans were the first jelly beans in outer space when President Reagan sent them on the 1983 flight of the space shuttle Challenger.
• The original eight flavours of Jelly Belly beans introduced in 1976 were Very Cherry, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Lemon, Licorice and Grape.
• Very Cherry remained the most popular flavour of Jelly Belly beans for two decades until 1998, when Buttered Popcorn moved into first place. In 2003 Very Cherry moved back into top position by a mere 8 million beans.
• The name Jelly Belly was inspired by the rhyme with Leadbelly, a 1920s blues singer.
• Blueberry flavour was created for Ronald Reagan's presidential inauguration in 1981 when over three tons of Jelly Belly beans were consumed during the festivities.
• A portrait of President Ronald Reagan made from 10,000 Jelly Belly beans hangs in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
• During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, Jelly Belly beans were served in the Oval Office and on Air Force One. A holder was designed for the plane so the jar of Jelly Belly beans would not spill during turbulence.
• Jelly Belly beans were invented in 1976. They were the first jelly beans to be sold in single flavours and to come with a menu of flavours.
• It takes 7 to 21 days to make a single Jelly Belly jelly bean.
• The first jelly bean was created by an unknown American candy maker in the 1800s. An 1861 advertisement recommended sending jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War.
• Enough Jelly Belly beans were eaten in the last year to circle the earth more than five times.