For those who this Easter season are mourning the demise of Russell Stover pectin jelly beans
They were the best, the very best. And now they’re gone.
I’m speaking, of course, of the world’s best jelly beans, IMHO the only type of jelly bean worth eating. I’ve written about the original Russell Stover version here. But a couple of years ago they became difficult to find, and by last year it was clear they were no longer being made. They’re still not being made, and I doubt that will change.
But these are almost the same. Maybe they even are the same. I don’t know, because I’m going on memory, and memory can play tricks on us. But even if not exactly the same, they’re close enough – although significantly more expensive and only obtainable through online order.
I bring you the pectin jelly beans from the Vermont Country Store:
The ones in the photo are mine, safely arrived and prior to the big feed. You can order some here. And no, I don’t even get a commission, just the joy of spreading the word as a public service.
An astute and kindly reader also let me know the pectin jelly beans are available here as well. They’re even a little less expensive – but alas, they’re out of stock for this year.
Enjoy. Your dentist will thank you.
Every years at this time I look carefully in the candy aisle for a chocolate marshmallow bunny for my husband. He’s even begun to come with me to look for himself. Alas, they don’t make them, just as they don’t seem to make chocolate marshmallow Santas any more.
From what I looked up, seems that pectin is too expensive now, and pectin jelly beans’ appeal “too selective”, to justify Russell-Stover’s continued production of them.
My favorite Easter candy is the Cadbury creme egg, and I think two main reasons why: they are only available briefly in the year, and they are too sweet to eat more than one at a sitting.
I like just about any filled chocolate though. And I also like still having my teeth, so I try to stick to holiday occasions.
So pectin is the secret ingredient of the best jelly beans?
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Commercially produced pectin is a white-to-light-brown powder, produced from citrus fruits for use as an edible gelling agent, especially in jams and jellies, dessert fillings, medications, and sweets; as a food stabiliser in fruit juices and milk drinks and as a source of dietary fiber.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectin
Seems to me I used to have to add pectin to some fruits to make jam or jelly.
You will think me uncouth, but I am perfectly happy with Brach’s jelly beans, particularly the pink ones.
Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans and claimed they helped him to quit smoking a pipe. They were on the table or desk whenever he had meetings with ambassadors/diplomats, etc. He had a specially designed glass jar filled with jelly beans and adorned with the presidential seal. He gave each of his guests one of these jars filled with jelly beans before they left. Very unique presidential gift. On the downside, his favorite was licorice. Just my kidding, nothing wrong with that flavor.
It’s funny, a quick search returned a number of sources of pectin jelly beans. Sarris Candies, Gardner Candies, and even a specialty line of Jelly Belly. The local Mennonite and Amish stores have many varieties of jelly beans, many of which use pectin instead of gelatin. Perhaps the Russell Stover versions were superior, but I can’t say I ever experienced them. I could be deadly with a big batch of jelly beans, so I intentionally don’t keep them around.
As a licorice aficionado, most licorice jelly beans are meh at best, but I have lucked onto some very fine ones, just can’t remember where I bought them. I pick up a few from time to time but maybe don’t actually try them until some weeks have passed and the sales transaction has been brain dumped.
Dan D:
If you follow the link to my older post on the subject, I discuss Jelly Belly type jelly beans. They are nothing like Russell Stover. They are way too small to be succulent, which is (was) the hallmark of Russell Stover pectin jelly beans. They really don’t resemble each other at all. Most pectin jelly beans are like the Jelly Belly type. And regular non-pectin jelly beans are awful and not worth eating.
The good pectin kind are addictive, though, and I only used to get them around Easter for that reason. Many many years ago they included licorice, which I never liked but I bet you would have.
One’s candy ration should be exceedingly spare and have samples of only the best: Heath Bar, Andes mints, Hershey with Almonds, and caramel. Jelly beans of any kind are blech.
I managed to snag a Star Wars jelly bean dispenser at a hobby store in Lafayette. And put it the pastor’s office at the church where I served for five years. Kids loved stopping by on the way out and getting a few.
The challenge was the heat. Church got warm during the week and jelly beans got soft and sticky. Had to clean out the dispenser a few times.
I occasionally work in the various Vermont Country Store locations. Guess I’m gonna have to see if I can pick some up the next time.
There are a number of places you can get pectin jelly beans. candy nation also sells them. https://www.candynation.com/pectin-jelly-beans?srsltid=AfmBOop_vN20COO9XoqVcxjWzq7eOA3f2tFrGfCk68LLsWPB6LpggEn4
Jelly Belly actually also makes a pectin jelly bean. Useful since candy nation is currently out of stock. https://zazoli.com/products/jelly-belly%C2%AE-pectin-jelly-beans-in-store?srsltid=AfmBOooxvyM9SrcS3OVnHLcg9G3WRsIV6vmJ6jvN58OTalgStisA-mKg