Jelly Belly Factory Tour

by Laura Torres | More from this Blogger

15 Aug 2006 09:52 PM

If you love candy, factories, or just want something fun to do if you're in northern California, you should stop by and see the Jelly Belly factory in Vallejo. I've been on the Jelly Belly tour four or five times in as many years, and I never get tired of it. We went recently with my sister and nephew who were visiting from out of town and I was once again impressed.

The tours are well organized, informative and fun, and you get free candy at the end. Try to go on a weekday when the factory is in production. If you go on a Saturday, you won't see the factory in production, but the video presentation is still good. Also, you probably won't have to wait in line or fight crowds.

You do have to wear a silly hat on the tour, but you don't need to be a kid to enjoy the description of the candy-making process and the sheer scale of the factory and the tons of jelly beans it produces.

A favorite thing to see on the tour are the huge pieces of artwork created by an artist whose medium is Jelly Bellies. He creates his portraits of famous people and other subjects by using the candy in a mosaic style. An appropriate portrait is of Ronald Reagan, a well-known Jelly Belly aficionado.

The store at the end of the tour sells "Belly Flops," big bags of misshapen Jelly Bellies for a great deal. They also have a tasting bar so you can sample new flavors before you buy. There is also, of course, a plethora of Jelly Belly merchandise from key chains to T-shirts to the many kinds of candy made by Jelly Belly and its parent company, Goelitz. My favorite are the blackberry and raspberry jelly candies by Goelitz.

For more information, go to jellybelly.com.

Learn more about Laura Torres

Laura Torres is the best-selling author of many books for kids and teens, and a party planner. Check out her website at lauratorres.com.

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