Jelly Belly Factory Tour: Discover How Jelly Belly Candy Co. Products Are Made
Visitors to the Fairfield, Calif., area can take a flavorful 40-minute Jelly Belly factory tour to learn the secrets behind creating the brand's distinctive flavors. Each Jelly Belly factory tour features the sweet and salty smells of buttered popcorn, toasted marshmallow and green apple Jelly Belly jelly beans.
The Jelly Belly Candy Co. has a tradition of family and candy-making that dates to before 1869, when the Goelitz family emigrated from Germany to the United States. After years of successful candy-making in America, the Goelitzes decided to expand to include a variety of jelly beans and by 1967, the Jelly Belly brand caught the eye (and taste buds) of then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who took the candies with him to the White House and aboard Air Force One after he was elected president.
The factory tour is open to anyone and is offered daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tours are free and depart from the main entrance area every 10-15 minutes. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. Souvenir photos are taken during the tour and are available for purchase in the Jelly Belly candy store. Reservations for a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory are not required.
The company offers a more in-depth private factory tour, called Jelly Belly University, where guests will be provided with a lab coat and gloves before embarking on a confection-rich behind-the-scenes adventure. The Jelly Belly University tour is offered for groups of up to six people and is priced at $47 per person. Each tour runs from 60-90 minutes and the participant receives a Beanology T-shirt and a discount card for shopping in the Jelly Belly candy store.
The candy store offers many other Jelly Belly treats, including toys, collectables, gift sets and dozens of Jelly Belly beans that visitors can select from and create a custom beans bag to take home. In the Jelly Belly café, bean-shaped hamburgers, cheeseburgers and pizza are available, along with a variety of regular-shaped sandwiches, salads and frozen desserts.
HelloFairfield Tip: To learn more about the history of the Jelly Belly Candy Co., visit the website and Facebook page.
Posted by Jennifer Pruett
