How long does it take to make a jelly bean?

It takes 7 to 21 days to make a Jelly Belly bean, and we're not kidding! It's an involved process carried out by master candy makers using both modern methods and age-old techniques.

The basic ingredients of jelly beans include sugar, corn syrup, and pectin or starch. Relatively minor amounts of the emulsifying agent lecithin, anti-foaming agents, an edible wax such as beeswax, salt, and confectioner's glaze are also included. The ingredients that give each bean its character are also relatively small in proportion and may vary depending on the flavor.

The parts of a jelly bean are the soft, inner core and the hard outer shell. Creating the outer shell is what takes time. The cores are softened, and coated with sugar. This process takes place over a period of days in a panning machine. The final coats are vegetable wax to give the candies their shine.