Sample Something Sweet at the Jelly Belly Factory

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

What better way to celebrate this sweet holiday than with a trip to the famous Jelly Belly Factory? And what makes the trip even more irresistible is the cost; hint hint, it’s free! For decades, people have been bringing their kids to the Jelly Belly Factory, and schools have even gotten in on the fun with fieldtrips, so they can learn how jelly beans and other candies are made.

Did you know a single jelly bean takes more than a week to make?

The guided tours at the Jelly Belly Factory are 40 minutes long and hosted throughout the day. The factory is open seven days per week, and only closes in observance of major holidays. In general, tours take off every 15 minutes from 9 AM-4 PM, but you may have a bit of a wait on a busy day spring break and summer vacation). On every tour, attendees will learn how jelly beans, chocolates, taffy, and other treats are made.

The best bet is to head to the factory in Fairfield during the week when the candy machines are fully operational. While tours do happen on weekends, not everything is up and running. In all, there are more than 150 different types of candy made at the factory, and while the focus is on the infamous jelly bean, it’s only the starting point for this full-fledged factory!