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For far too much of their century-plus history, seasonal jelly beans have done little to capture the imagination or the palate. Indeed, the antique slang term “jelly bean” from the early 20th century meant that someone was all style and no substance. Given that jelly beans are little more than corn syrup beneath their candy shells, this makes sense.
In recent years, though, the Easter season has brought about some pretty exciting developments, with many non-chocolate candy brands taking the holiday as their excuse to release limited-time-only jelly bean varieties. Let’s take a sticky stroll through some of the best beans you can find in 2026.
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Starburst Jellybeans
Each individual Starburst bean has a concentrated and distinct flavor; you’d never mistake a Green Apple for a Grape, even if you were blindfolded. The tartness of the fruit flavors also adds to their “juiciness.” “Starburst Jelly Beans are quite popular because they chew quite well, have great texture, and do a fantastic job at capturing the flavor of Starburst chews,” says Scott Cranfill, creator of the jelly bean review blog A Boy and His Beans.
Trader Joe’s Gourmet Jelly Beans
TJ’s does it again. Cranfill notes that his top supermarket favorites are from Trader Joe’s because they are “simply some of the best in the world at tasting like the flavors they claim to represent.” Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director Laurel Randolph is also a big fan of Trader Joe’s beans, but the Sour variety, which are available year-round (and in checkout lanes for easy grabbing).
Brach’s Classic Jelly Beans
The stalwart Brach’s has been producing jelly beans since time immemorial, and their flavor is indeed classic; it has a muted, flatly sweet taste. For some palates, that’s ideal—they’re beloved by many for this reason. I’d never want these classic jelly beans to go away, but I also prefer other brands like Starburst.
Mike and Ike Jelly Beans
This is the rare instance of a jelly bean improving upon its candy inspiration. Mike and Ikes are, after all, gerbil pellets in chewable form; a jelly bean’s proportions make it the superior form factor. These have loads of bright flavor that’s far more pronounced than Brach’s and likely to appeal to the Starburst fans.
Good Humor Creamsicle Jelly Beans
A wild swing for Good Humor to take, but we respect the hustle. Ultimately, these were built to fail, since the flavors of a Creamsicle lend themselves to a frozen novelty on a stick rather than a sticky room-temperature chewable. Still, they earn the distinction of being one of the better stunt candies of the 2026 Easter season, so they earned a mention here.
Welch’s Jelly Beans
No one should be sleeping on these! They’re some of the most nuanced, artisanal beans you’re likely to find at the grocery store. A prominent ingredient is apple juice concentrate, which does imbue a fruitiness that tastes the least artificial of any of the beans sampled.
Trolli Sour Brite Jelly Beans
It’s impressive that Trolli can develop a jelly bean that tastes so much like its Sour Brite Crawlers gummy worms. They’re full of just the right amount of citric acid to be endlessly snackable without exhausting the palate, and each bean boasts a two-flavor combo just like their wriggly progenitor.
Sour Patch Jelly Beans
This is our final bean, and it’s one to get excited about. Sour Patch has pushed the citric acid content to its limit, simulating the tartness we expect from any candy bearing its name.
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