The science of the 'jelly belly'

Jelly Bellies were on sale the day after V-day. You have to love the 'day after' holidays for the immediate price drops. Convenient.

Anyway - i love jelly belly. I'm not saying i'm big into jelly beans in general, cause i'm more of a gummy candy type of person. But there is something really cool about the chemistry behind the jelly belly. How do they make these things taste so real?

We were talking about it tonight - and came to the conclusion, that by far the JUICY PEAR is the most perfected flavour of the jelly belly collection.

Although, if you have ever tasted the Harry Potter Jelly Belly series - you might think otherwise. I remember dirt tasting pretty narsty - and I think grass tasted like the smell of grass. This series is a mystery to me. Why would you ever want to encapsulate the flavour of vomit, spaghetti, ear wax into a candy coating? How did they find a test group? Did a helpless group of children involve themselves in a jelly belly flavour testing - and unknowingly were being fed the most vile flavours to be inserted into a candy format? They look identical to the original jelly belly. Worst part is that they invent new flavours for this series all the time. It's so funny watching another person try to eat one of these. In terms of candy consuming, eating these might just be the greatest challenge, next to downing a vile of pure sour juice (also a cruel candy invention - makes my jaw seize thinking of it).

We have harry potter jelly bellies in the house - and often, i'm weary of eating the regular ones we have. I am always wondering if someone has switched the flavours around as a cruel joke. Cause the last thing I need to be doing is going to chew on a 'cherry-cola' flavoured jelly belly and coming out with something that tastes like earthworm. :o)