National Jelly Bean Day: Sweet treats are fun to eat any time of day or night

If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat to eat, today is your lucky day. April 22 is National Jelly Bean Day, an annual holiday that celebrates those tiny, colorful treats Americans love to eat.

Despite their size, the tiny treats that are shaped like little eggs are jam-packed full of flavor. Available in both gourmet and traditional, jelly beans take between six and ten days to make. While once considered an Easter favorite, jelly beans aren’t just for Easter anymore. Today’s jelly beans are available in all sorts of colors and flavors. From sweet and sour to spicy and savory, jelly beans sure are tasty treats that are fun to eat anytime of the day or night.

Did you know United States President Ronald Reagan was a jelly bean lover? In an effort to quit smoking a pipe while Governor of California, legend has it Reagan started eating Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans to help him kick the habit. The company sent him a monthly shipment of the treats. Goelitz introduced the Jelly Belly in 1976 consisting of eight flavors – Root Beer, Green Apple, Licorice, Cream Soda, Lemon, Tangerine, Very Cherry and Grape – which were included in Reagan’s jelly bean shipment until finally the shipment consisted only of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. About 3 tons of Jelly Belly's were shipped to Washington D.C. for President Reagan’s 1981 Inauguration celebration. Jelly Belly’s were provided for all eight years of President Reagan’s term.

Whether you grab 'em by the handful or pick out your favorite flavor one-by-one, jelly beans are just plain fun! In honor of National Jelly Bean Day, why not enjoy a handful or two of delicious jelly beans? Bet you can’t eat just one!

April 22 is also Earth Day!