Jelly Babies facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Peace Babies, Unclaimed Babies |
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| Type | Gummy candy |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Region or state | Lancashire, England |
| Created by | Fryers of Lancashire |
| Main ingredients | Gelatin |
Jelly Babies are yummy, soft, chewy sweets shaped like little babies. They come in many bright colors and are a popular treat, especially in the United Kingdom. These sweet candies have a long history, going back to the 1800s! They were first made in Lancashire, England.
A Sweet History of Jelly Babies
Jelly Babies first appeared a long time ago, in 1864. An Austrian person working at a company called Fryers of Lancashire invented them. Back then, they were known as "Unclaimed Babies."
Later, in 1918, another company called Bassett's in Sheffield started making them. They called them "Peace Babies." This name was chosen to celebrate the end of World War I.
During World War II, it was hard to get ingredients, so production of these sweets stopped for a while. But don't worry, they came back! In 1953, they were relaunched and officially named "Jelly Babies," which is what we call them today.
How Jelly Babies Are Made
The most famous maker of Jelly Babies today is Bassett's. They give each different colored baby its own name, shape, and flavor!
- Brilliant is red and tastes like strawberry.
- Bubbles is yellow and tastes like lemon.
- Baby Bonny is pink and tastes like raspberry.
- Boofuls is green and tastes like lime.
- Bigheart is purple and tastes like blackcurrant.
- Bumper is orange.
Before 1989, all Jelly Babies looked the same, no matter their color. But then, Bassett's decided to make them unique with different shapes and names. In September 2007, Bassett's also changed their recipe to use only natural colors and ingredients.
Many different companies make Jelly Babies, and you can even find supermarket brands. Jelly Babies made in the United Kingdom often have a light dusting of starch on them. This starch helps them pop out of their molds easily during manufacturing. However, Jelly Babies made in Australia usually don't have this coating. Like most other gummy sweets, Jelly Babies contain gelatin, which gives them their chewy texture.
