wlswarts's Full Review: Cantaloupe Jelly Belly (2 lbs.)
As I near the end of my reviews of un-bulked Jelly Belly jelly beans, I find myself snacking on them (look for some brand new flavors to be reviewed in the next few days!) and I am reminded of some of the best flavors. A few of them continue to surprise me and near the top of that list - if not at the top - would have to be the Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys. Cantaloupe has never been the strongest flavor in the world and so the fact that Jelly Belly would not only make a jelly bean that tasted perfectly of it, but make one that was so good, is incredible. And for those who don't want to risk on the giant bulk box, the two-pound bag is still a great way to go!
For those who might never have had Jelly Belly jelly beans, these are easily the best jelly beans on the planet, packing a lot of flavor into a very small size. Unlike most jelly beans which are only vaguely flavored and are more based on colors, Jelly Belly jelly beans have a wide variety of actual flavors, like cappuccino, pina colada (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_449538985604 ), Dr. Pepper (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_450144407172 ), or their signature flavor Buttered Popcorn (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_444919221892 ).
Who needs two pounds of Cantaloupe flavored Jelly Bellys? I think they are ideal for anyone who likes the taste, but not the texture of cantaloupe. Or those who like the taste of cantaloupe and want a concentrated version of it.
Basics
Cantaloupe is a flavor of Jelly Belly jelly beans. Jelly Belly jelly beans are approximately one half inch long by one quarter inch wide and they are roughly bean-shaped. These little candies are marketed to taste precisely like Cantaloupe and they taste not just like wishy-washy common cantaloupe, but the Alpha Cantaloupes. These are the Cantaloupes that kick the other cantaloupe's rinds!
Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys are available in a wide variety of quantities and those looking to stock up ought to check into the ten-pound box (at: http://www.epinions.com/content_460284595844 ) as opposed to this lesser two-pound bag. Still, this is not the least environmentally responsible package as it is essentially a small bag of jelly beans. That said, there is the more responsible and voluminous ten-pound box for those who truly love Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys.
Cantaloupe flavored Jelly Bellys are fairly easy to recognize and distinguish from other Jelly Bellys, though they are similar in color to the Orange Juice (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_454371020420 ) Jelly Bellys and the Tangerine (reviewed at: http://www.epinions.com/content_457603714692 ) ones. All three are a translucent orange color and . . . actually, I have no idea how I do tell them apart, though the Tangerine ones are more a dull (pale) orange and the Orange Juice just appear somewhat more orange. They can be distinguished from the Orange Sherbet ones easily, though, as these are translucent, while they are a bright, opaque orange.
Ease of Preparation
These are jelly beans, not supercondensing cantaloupes to make a mutant Alpha cantaloupe without the aid of genetic engineering or radioactive spiders. In the case of the two pound bag, one might want to put them in a candy dish of some form as opposed to always going into the bag.
Taste
Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys actually have a pretty solid cantaloupe scent. Indeed, smelling these Jelly Bellys en masse adequately prepares the consumer for the flavor they will be enjoying in moments. In fact, one might be surprised to recognize that such a bland flavor as cantaloupe does have a recognizable aroma, but these instantly evoke memories of cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe tastes like cantaloupe, so it is the highest, simplest honor I can imagine for a Jelly Belly jelly bean to say that Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys taste exactly like the fruit whose name they bear. These have a fruity, slightly sweet, mellon-y taste and even that slight taste of water in each and every bean. It might not be the most inspired flavor, but they sure get it right!
As well, Cantaloupe flavored Jelly Bellys do not diminish in taste when you eat vast quantities of them. No, these taste like Super Cantaloupe bite after bite, never fading and that is quite incredible. The enduring quality of the taste helps make the two-pound bag have added value, though one does not recommend eating them all in one sitting. But if you did, they would all taste as good . . .
Nutrition
Again, these are jelly beans, so anyone looking to them for nutrition needs to understand they are based upon something that is bland but it does not bare the nutrition of the melon upon which it is named. Jelly beans, even Jelly Belly jelly beans, are not a legitimate source of nutrition. These are a snack food, a dessert, and are in no way an adequate substitute for a real meal. A serving is listed at thirty-five beans, with each Jelly Belly jelly bean having approximately four calories. This means that in a single serving, there are 140 calories, which is 12% of your daily recommended intake. These have none of the vitamins or other good properties of actual cantaloupes.
The thing is, Jelly Belly jelly beans are not as bad as they could be in the nutrition area. They have no fat and no protein, but for those who have ever dated a Vegan, these are Vegan compliant because they contain no gelatin! They have only one percent of the daily sodium with 15 mg and they are gluten free! The main ingredients are sugar, corn syrup and modified food starch, so it's not like this is an all-natural food, but they could be far, far worse.
Storage/Clean-up
Jelly Belly jelly beans have a shelf life of approximately one year. Actually, some of my Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys did go stale and all that changed was that their shell became harder than usual; the flavor was still perfectly retained! These might, for some reason, be susceptible to going "bad" quicker. They remain freshest when they are kept in an airtight container (the bag should be sufficient if it is kept closed) and they ought to be kept in a lukewarm environment. Storing them in hot places is likely to make the beans stick together and be gross. Kept in a cool, dry place, the beans retain their flavor perfectly.
As for cleanup, unless one allows the Jelly Belly to get hot to the point that the waxy coating on the bean melts, the dyes on these do not bleed or denature, so there is usually no cleanup necessary, not even washing one's hands after eating them (always wash your hands before eating Jelly Bellys, even ones that taste like something that usually tastes like water!). I've never had Cantaloupe Jelly Bellys stain anything.
Overall
Cantaloupe Jelly Belly jelly beans are a perfect embodiment of a bland fruit and were it not for the slightly stale element to some of the ones in my bag, these might have been perfect. Despite being slightly more expensive in the lesser bulk of the two-pound bag, it is very easy to recommend these!
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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