Jelly Beans

[2RIVB]

I thought this might be of interest. I was watching Food Network, and they were talking about Jelly Beans. They stated that they were a popular treat during the 1860's, and often sent to the troops as a "moral booster" (they're words, not mine). Any info on this? What varieties were availible then? Might be something that we are failing to represent. Is this just my curiousity getting the best of me?

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Jelly Beans

I've seen a couple of references on the web that say that confectioner William Schrafft of Boston took out newspaper ads suggesting that the folks at home send jelly beans to the troops (Union) in 1861.

Other candies that have been around since before the Civil War include Necco Wafers (they were called "Superior Wafers" at the time but the same company, New England Confectionary Company still makes them today, and Altoids, but it's anybody's guess if they made it to this side of the Atlantic by the Civil War. Wonder how much space was taken up by Altoids in the blockade runners.

Jelly beans are much under-represented in the hobby. :sarcastic


Ron Myzie

[Hank Trent]

Re: Jelly Beans

Virginia Mescher has done extensive research trying to track the 1861 jelly bean reference down to a primary source. So far, no luck. Hopefully she'll post here with more information, but I'd say it's a definite urban legend alert, unless someone can come up with a copy of one of those ads, or another reference to jelly beans in the period. And if you do, be sure to share it with Virginia Mescher. :)

Also, remember that modern candy companies like to talk about their long heritage, without mentioning all the changes that have taken place in appearance, colors, flavors, etc. over the years. Kind of like saying that Brooks Brothers was making suits during the war, so it must be accurate to purchase a Brooks Brothers suit today and wear it. Well, um, no, not without researching the actual product, in addition to the company.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[CavLt]

Re: Jelly Beans

I've seen a couple of references on the web that say that confectioner William Schrafft of Boston took out newspaper ads suggesting that the folks at home send jelly beans to the troops (Union) in 1861.

Other candies that have been around since before the Civil War include Necco Wafers (they were called "Superior Wafers" at the time but the same company, New England Confectionary Company still makes them today, and Altoids, but it's anybody's guess if they made it to this side of the Atlantic by the Civil War. Wonder how much space was taken up by Altoids in the blockade runners.

Jelly beans are much under-represented in the hobby. :sarcastic


Ron Myzie

I can recall seeing a tv program (probably on the food network) where a rep from the company that makes Necco wafers was interviewed and made mention of how long they have been making this candy. While the recipe is basically the same, originally they came in a different form and in bulk for the candy counter. Also, they really don't know what the flavors were as the related company records have been lost (they think probably chocolate). So, what we have today is most likely not period correct. :wink_smil

Jay Johnson

[2RIVB]

Re: Jelly Beans

Just watched the food network again. They talked about Necco Wafers. The Presidnet of the company stated that they are made in the same, original flavors, as they have always been made. Also, he stated the they are packaged in the same manner, aside from the difference in wrapping material.

[37NC]

Re: Jelly Beans

another period candy (if you can call them candy) is the marsh mallow. The start popping up in the south eastern states in the early 1850's but were in Egypt for centuries. Except todays Marsh Mallows use Gelitan instead of sap.



Sgt. Dan Curran
37th N.C. Co A

[Michael McComas]

Re: Jelly Beans

Just watched the food network again. They talked about Necco Wafers. The Presidnet of the company stated that they are made in the same, original flavors, as they have always been made. Also, he stated the they are packaged in the same manner, aside from the difference in wrapping material.

What he didn't say is that Necco wafers are made right across the street from a nuclear reactor. I've heard the green ones glow in the dark. :)

[BrianHicks]

Re: Jelly Beans

A few other period confectionaries are Lemon Drops and Horehound drops. Horehound has been used since ancient egyption times in a variety ways, from medicinal herbs, to tea, to candy.

Horehound, Hoarhound

Horehound, Marrubium vulgare, is a member or the mint family native to Eurasia. A bitter, aromatic herb that has been used as a cough remedy for thousands of years, horehound is said to take its name from Horus (son of Osiris and Isis) the Egyptian god of the sun. Horehound was also a common remedy in ancient Rome, and may have been named after the ancient Italian town of Maria urbs. Other authorities say the Latin name stems from the Hebrew "marrob," meaning bitter juice; it was one of the bitter herbs eaten at the feast of Passover. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region, but can now be found world-wide.

The entire flowering plant is considered medicinal when fresh; the flowering branches are medicinal when dried. Horehound stimulates digestive juices and production of bile by the liver. It also has an expectorant action, helping to loosen phlegm. Horehound tea is still regarded as an effective cure for colds in certain countries, and is commonly used in liqueurs and aperitifs.

In folk medicine, Horehound has also been used for whooping cough, asthma, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, lung inflammation, diarrhea, jaundice, painful menstruation, constipation, sores, and wounds. Its effectiveness for these conditions has not been confirmed.

Juice extracted from the leaves is used to flavor liqueurs, candy, cough drops and syrups, and horehound honey used to be as popular as horehound candy.

[tenfed1861]

Marsh Mallows

Sorry to sould like someone from "Dude,where's my car",but SWEET.I like marsh mallows,just wish I had a period recipe to make them.
Cullen Smith
Bluegrass Rifles

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Jelly Beans

Hmmm....very interesting.

A couple of years ago I wrote to Necco, after I saw something on their packaging that suggested that they had been around since 1850-something. I asked the very questions being discussed here -- what were the flavours and appearance of the CW-era candies, and how were they packaged. They replied back that they were called "Superior Wafers", the appearance was pretty much the same, except that they didn't say "Necco" on each piece, the flavours were probably different, and they were not packaged the same as they are today -- they were shipped in bulk; I suppose to be sold out of jars as "penny" candies are today in places.

I haven't suggested that they are 100% authentic but if you absolutely positively feel that you need to tote something sweet along with you, I figure that Necco wafers beat Snickers bars or M & Ms. :tounge_sm

Ron Myzie

Just watched the food network again. They talked about Necco Wafers. The Presidnet of the company stated that they are made in the same, original flavors, as they have always been made. Also, he stated the they are packaged in the same manner, aside from the difference in wrapping material.

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Jelly Beans

Hank Trent sent me this thread and thought I may be able to help. I have done extensive research on jelly beans and period candies for several years.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any primary documentation that indicates that jelly beans were available in the 1860's. I think the National Confectionery Association started the rumor that William Schrafft made jelly benas in 1861. William Scharfft did begin his candy business in Boston in 1861, but there is no indication that he made jelly beans. I repeatedly contacted the Association and offered them my doucumentation but they never replied. Instead they did change their website to indicate that no one knows when jelly beans were developed.

Other candy companies that were members of the Association used the infomation on jelly beans and they have not changed to the updated information.

The earliest primary documentation that I have found for jelly beans was in April, 1898. There was a story in the _Brooklyn Daily Eagle_ that mentioned a fireman's dog named Jelly Bean. The first advertisement I have found for jelly bean candy appeared in the _Brookly Daily Eagle_ Oct, 1898 and they cost 45 cents per pound. After that advertisements start to appear in various newspapers.

I have, in my book collection, several confectioner's recipe books (1864,1878, 1884) but there were no instructions for jelly beans. Recipes for jelly beans did appear in _Twentieth Century Candy_ by Charles Apell (1912), and _Complete Confectioner_ by E. Skuse (1900) but did not appear in any earlier editions of Skuse's book. Skuse did indicate that this type of candy was a Yankee (American) invention.

In looking through grocer's handbooks, jelly beans did not appear in any edition until 1911. I have also looked at a number of lists of candies in the 1850s-1860s and jelly beans did not appear in any of them.

If anyone can find earlier primary documentation for jelly beans I would appreciate them sharing it. A number of people have looked through war-time Boston newspapers and did not find any reference to jelly beans.

As for Necco Wafers, I have corresponded with the company several times and they have been very helpful. From what they have told me, the original Necco flavors/colors were; lemon/yellow, orange/orange, lime/green, clove/purple, cinnamon/white, licorice/black, and wintergreen/pink. (Chocolate was not mentioned.) Oliver Chase developed the machine to made the lozenge cutter in 1847 and they were called Peerless Wafers or Chase Wafers and NECCO was not stamped on the candy until 1901 when three candy companies merged to form the New England Confectionery Company. According to a NECCO, in some correspondence the wafers were sold in bulk but she did not give a date as to when they were packaged in the glassine rolls.

Incidentally, Oliver Chase's brother, Daniel, invented a lozenge printing machine and started making Conversation Hearts in 1866.

Marshmallows were originally made from the marsh mallow root. They were a medicinal product used to soothe throat irritations. The only recipes I found for "marshmallows" were in medical book. I did find one reference to "Marshmallow paste" in the _Italian Confectioner_ by Guglielmo Jarrin and he did not recommend using marshmallow root but used gum Sengal, apple juice and sugar and it was flavored with neroli oil (orange blossom). The French were the first to use marshmallow root for culinary purposes and was made by whipping egg whites, sugar and the mucilage from the marsh mallow.

Sorry to have been so long-winded on my first post to the forum but I hope I have answered people's questions.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Jelly Beans

Rats! Now I've got to take all those Jelly Belly's back out of my haversack. :cry_smile

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Jelly Beans

Virginia,

Many thanks for the additional information. It's beginning to look like one never gets the same / whole story from Necco. It seems as though the info given out is contingent upon which clerk in the PR department fields your communication. :(

Ron Myzie

Hank Trent sent me this thread and thought I may be able to help. I have done extensive research on jelly beans and period candies for several years.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any primary documentation that indicates that jelly beans were available in the 1860's. I think the National Confectionery Association started the rumor that William Schrafft made jelly benas in 1861. William Scharfft did begin his candy business in Boston in 1861, but there is no indication that he made jelly beans. I repeatedly contacted the Association and offered them my doucumentation but they never replied. Instead they did change their website to indicate that no one knows when jelly beans were developed.

Other candy companies that were members of the Association used the infomation on jelly beans and they have not changed to the updated information.

The earliest primary documentation that I have found for jelly beans was in April, 1898. There was a story in the _Brooklyn Daily Eagle_ that mentioned a fireman's dog named Jelly Bean. The first advertisement I have found for jelly bean candy appeared in the _Brookly Daily Eagle_ Oct, 1898 and they cost 45 cents per pound. After that advertisements start to appear in various newspapers.

I have, in my book collection, several confectioner's recipe books (1864,1878, 1884) but there were no instructions for jelly beans. Recipes for jelly beans did appear in _Twentieth Century Candy_ by Charles Apell (1912), and _Complete Confectioner_ by E. Skuse (1900) but did not appear in any earlier editions of Skuse's book. Skuse did indicate that this type of candy was a Yankee (American) invention.

In looking through grocer's handbooks, jelly beans did not appear in any edition until 1911. I have also looked at a number of lists of candies in the 1850s-1860s and jelly beans did not appear in any of them.

If anyone can find earlier primary documentation for jelly beans I would appreciate them sharing it. A number of people have looked through war-time Boston newspapers and did not find any reference to jelly beans.

As for Necco Wafers, I have corresponded with the company several times and they have been very helpful. From what they have told me, the original Necco flavors/colors were; lemon/yellow, orange/orange, lime/green, clove/purple, cinnamon/white, licorice/black, and wintergreen/pink. (Chocolate was not mentioned.) Oliver Chase developed the machine to made the lozenge cutter in 1847 and they were called Peerless Wafers or Chase Wafers and NECCO was not stamped on the candy until 1901 when three candy companies merged to form the New England Confectionery Company. According to a NECCO, in some correspondence the wafers were sold in bulk but she did not give a date as to when they were packaged in the glassine rolls.

Incidentally, Oliver Chase's brother, Daniel, invented a lozenge printing machine and started making Conversation Hearts in 1866.

Marshmallows were originally made from the marsh mallow root. They were a medicinal product used to soothe throat irritations. The only recipes I found for "marshmallows" were in medical book. I did find one reference to "Marshmallow paste" in the _Italian Confectioner_ by Guglielmo Jarrin and he did not recommend using marshmallow root but used gum Sengal, apple juice and sugar and it was flavored with neroli oil (orange blossom). The French were the first to use marshmallow root for culinary purposes and was made by whipping egg whites, sugar and the mucilage from the marsh mallow.

Sorry to have been so long-winded on my first post to the forum but I hope I have answered people's questions.

[JR Myzie]

Re: Jelly Beans

As long as we're topic...sort of...could Ms Mescher please give some suggestions as to what confections would have been available to soldiers? Is there something that was very common that could have been made at home and would ship well to soldiers in the field? If we can't have jelly-beans or authentic Necco wafers, maybe we can try come up with some sweet alternatives. Any suggestions and non-copyrighted recipes would be immensely appreciated.

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Jelly Beans

As long as we're topic...sort of...could Ms Mescher please give some suggestions as to what confections would have been available to soldiers? Is there something that was very common that could have been made at home and would ship well to soldiers in the field? If we can't have jelly-beans or authentic Necco wafers, maybe we can try come up with some sweet alternatives. Any suggestions and non-copyrighted recipes would be immensely appreciated.

Using advertisements from newspapers, almanacs and some period cookbooks, I found a number of candies listed. A sampling of those candies are: gum drops, fruit flavored drops (hard candies), vanilla and chocolate cream drops (a fondant like cream filling covered in chocolate), licorice drops, hoarhound drops, fruit candy (cocoanut and fig), almond and peanut candy (similar to nut brittles), mottoes or kisses (small candies with riddles or proverbs wrapped in tissue paper, similar to our fortune cookies), cough candy, sugared nuts (almonds), French burnt almonds, hard candy sticks in various flavors, sugar toys (clear molded candy in numerous shapes), lozenges in various flavors, rock candy (both clear and brown), pipe candy (lozenge paste extruded in pipe form like macaroni), maple sugar cakes, molasses candy, comfits (sugar covered seeds), candied fruit and fruit peel, Everton toffee, and smooth almonds (like Jordan almonds).

Most candy was store bought but there were some recipes in period cookbooks for basic candies. I'll look later and see if I can find some recipes and post a sampling. If you can find a reprint of _The Cook's Own Book_ (1832), there are a number of candy recipes in there but most of the other cookbooks only had a few candy or confection recipes in them. The candy in the store ledgers was not described; only "candy" was listed and the price.

Rock candy, gum drops, hoarhound drops, lemon drops (but not in the shape of a lemon), plain stick candy (not striped), and Jordan almond in white or colors would probably be the easiest to locate and transport. Bon bons would probably not travel well and would have been expensive.

I hope this helps.