Think about it – what do candy companies do with the candy they make that turns out less-than-perfect? I’m talking defects like maybe the M on an M&M was printed upside-down, or that Whopper has that chewy gunk in the middle. Well, in the case of Jelly Belly jellybeans, the rejects are sold as “Belly Flops” at their factory for about half price (but with all the great taste).
I found a website the other day that will sell you these “Belly Flops” online and the price is 50% the cost of the perfect beans. They have lots of different “mixes” of beans too – probably no Bertie Bott’s mix though.
They also have an ebay store and ebay auctions if that floats your boat. So if you love Jelly Belly jellybeans and are looking to save a few bucks, Flops might be the thing for you.
UPDATE: I received a shipment of Belly Flops from JBFlops.com so I can now vouch for them. YUM! I was surprised to see how many of them look fine. Sure, there are a fair amount of doubles (two or more stuck together) but the majority seem just fine – aside from missing the Jelly Belly stamp on them.
I bought a bag of belly flops when I was Jelly Belly last December.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/typetive/109948527
They’re $8 for two pounds there (buy two and get one free!) and they had about five different assortments. I ended up buying one that had way too much juicy pear and popcorn. And some of the jelly beans were seriously deformed. I still have one that’s as big as my thumb.
As far as saving money goes, I prefer to buy just the flavors I like instead of getting a bunch of stuff I’m not fond of.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:40 pmWhat I liked better than the Bellyflops on my visit were the uncoated jelly beans. They need to sell those!
http://uncannyvalley.org/uv/jelly-belly-factory/
March 9th, 2006 at 3:13 amHey, thanks for sharing! Jelly Bellys are my #1 absolute favorite candy. Their sour mix is the best variety. Anyway, i thought you had to visit the factory to get the flops. Thanks for sharing this, because i buy jelly bellys by the pound!
RESPONSE: You’re welcome!
March 9th, 2006 at 8:14 am-Brian
I’m sad nobody commented on my M&Ms joke. Was it not funny or did nobody catch it?
–Brian
March 9th, 2006 at 8:39 amOcean state job lot (CT) has something similar, but made by Gimbal’s candy company.
March 9th, 2006 at 7:59 pmBrian,
Thanks for the info on the ‘flops’. Was at the factory today and bought some, but was afraid to eat vomit or earwax or something else gross! Turns out they’re great, and I can’t find anything wrong with most of them. (Maybe that’s because I jsut eat them too fast??)
By the way, M&Ms don’t print the M’s upside down – the sometimes accidentally use thew ‘W’ stamper!
RESPONSE: LOL! –Brian
August 17th, 2006 at 7:41 pmHey thanks for the information. My kids and I love to try to figure out the flavors without looking. I just love Jelly Belly beans and if I get too many popcorn flavored ones I will be in 7th heaven, popcorn is my favorite JB and I cant seem to get enough of them in the mixed bags.
Yvonne
May 17th, 2007 at 11:59 amYES I LOVE POPCORN AND PEAR I would love that!!!
July 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pmFunny, but I purposely choose extra pear and popcorn when I make a mix! I love those flavors together, but then again, I’m a very adventurous food experimenter! (Yes, I’d like to try candy-coated bugs and stuff, bring it on). I’d love to buy some flops but uhh, am kinda leery of the dreaded Vomit Bertie Bean. I mean, that is STILL the nastiest thing I’ve put in my mouth in a very, very long time…oh my god.
And yes, Brian, I caught your M&M joke, and in fact, stopped, re-read it and went, “What? He’s got to be kidding, right? Sure he is!”
February 27th, 2008 at 2:25 amI am pretty sure I got a Bertie Botts bean in my bag of belly flops….it tasted like fresh cut grass.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:55 pmJelly Belly Belly Flops don’t forget to read the fine print on the bag they may cause upset stomach or have laxetive effects. They sure did that to me.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pmMy parents just did the Jelly Belly tour and they brought me home 4lbs of some irregular Belly Flop goodness. It actually inspired me to write a little something about it as well…of course I had to link to this article, too!
Ryan
August 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pmI visited the Jelly Belly Factory on my honeymoon, and picked up 3 bags of Belly Flops (I wanted 6 but my enthusiasm was curbed!!) Discovered some Dr. Pepper and 7up beans which are pretty darn fine!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:34 amI have two words for you “food rainbow” aka the discount grocery outlet chain. Thats my local source for belly flops. Oh, and as I’m writing this my husband claims to have found a robitussin flavored one.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:12 am