Jelly Bean Flavors

I have taken it upon myself to eat at least one half of each of the 20 flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans in the package I have come across and report on each of them.


Blueberry - Manages to actually taste somewhat like blueberries. Not half bad.

Bubble Gum - Does indeed taste quite like bubblegum. Exactly like bubblegum. The only thing that proves it is not in fact gum is that you can't blow bubbles with it.

Buttered Popcorn - Who thought this would be a good idea for a candy? The first bite does taste surprisingly like buttered popcorn. And then you realize how gross it is and immediately spit it out.

Coconut - Tastes like coconut. So if you're a fan of coconut....

Cotton Candy - This doesn't actually taste like cotton candy... which is pretty much just fluffy sugar. It is actually quite sweet and a little fruity. One of my favorites, especially since it is pretty easy to identify.

Green Apple - Tastes exactly like green apple flavor. Not really like green apples though. Don't expect it to be sour. But it is pretty yummy.

Juicy Pear - Despite looking like faded spinach, this does actually taste a little like pear. Really strong pear. Like maybe the kind you would cook with or something. Really though, it's definitely edible.

Sunkist Lemon - Tastes somewhat like every other lemon candy around that isn't too sour.

Lemon Lime - Tastes kind of like the lemon one. Maybe a little more limey?

Licorice - If you like black licorice.... I do not. Still not as bad as the popcorn one though.

Orange Sherbet - It's like orange... something. Not sherbet exactly.... But something. Still, it's edible.

Peach - Mmmmm peach candy. Yummmmmm. Kind of a weird aftertaste though.

Pina Colada - Out of all the jelly beans in my pack, there are more of this kind than any other. Why is that? I mean, a pina colada is an alcoholic drink. It's not like there could have been too many kids clamoring for this flavor. It tastes somewhat like pineapple? Definitely not as strong as some other pina colada flavored things. It's a pretty even balance between coconut and pineapple on this one.

Sizzling Cinnamon - DEATH. Especially when you think you're getting a nice cherry and you make the mistake of eating a whole one. I do not understand those people who like cinnamon. And still this is not as bad as the popcorn.

Strawberry Cheesecake - Not the best strawberry cheesecake interpretation ever. Not terrible either. I mean, how could it be, it's almost entirely made out of sugar. But still. Could be better. I had such high expectations.

Sunkist Tangerine - A very average jelly bean. Kind of what you expect it to taste like. Pretty forgettable.

Toasted Marshmallow - Oh lord. This just looks like a bad idea. It's not as bad as it looks though. Not really sure how toasted it tastes, but there is a marshmallow taste in there somewhere.

Tutti-Fruitti - Uhm, so this tastes vaguely like the gum they give you in the dentist's office.... Just sayin'.

Very Cherry - An old classic. Just don't mistake it with cinnamon.

Watermelon - My favorite part about this is by far the fact that the outside is green and the inside is red. That's pretty awesome. It also tastes kind of like fake-watermelon flavor. Which is ok since real watermelons taste kind of like sweetened water.

In review:
Best - Cotton Candy, Green Apple, Bubble Gum, Very Cherry
Worst - Licorice, Sizzling Cinnamon
Gag Worthy - Buttered Popcorn

Awesome Easter Candy

As Easter candy slowly disappears from the sale shelves of my local grocers, I find myself missing those candies that only come around during this time of the year.
The all-time favorite: Cadbury Creme Eggs
I think if I wasn't afraid of what people would say about me I would stock these year round and never stop eating them.

Fond childhood memory: Brach's Easter Hunt Eggs, Marshmallow Version
I honestly have no idea what these are called now. I think they used to be Bunny Basket Eggs? I was shocked to find them this year, and even better they now come individually wrapped so they don't dry out and break your teeth. Compact marshmallow-ness on the inside, some sort of flavored sugar thing on the outside. So much better than Peeps or the other marshmallow Easter candy available.

Old Reliable: Reese's Eggs
Not sure why these taste better than regular Reese's, but I swear they do.

10 Facts About Avocados

1. The name avocado comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacatl which apparently meant testicle and was a reference to the shape of the fruit. Aren't you going to think about that now every time you eat an avocado?

Interestingly enough, the word guacamole comes from ahuacamolli which is basically avocado sauce. Or you know, testicle sauce.

2. 100 grams of avocado is roughly 160 calories. About 75% of that is from fat. Avocados also have more fiber than any other fruit and more potassium than bananas. They are also good for your cholesterol. Yay.

3. Avocado can be dangerous to dogs, cats, birds, horses, and other animals. It can cause colic in horses when large amounts are consumed, which can lead to death if not treated. This kind of makes me mad at avocados, because in the grand scheme of things horses = more awesome than avocados, although it's a close race sometimes depending on the ripeness of the avocado and whether or not horses behave.

4. Avocados are most common used as a base in dips like guacamole, on toast or in sandwiches, in sushi rolls, in omelettes, or eaten plain.

5. A single avocado plant cannot bear fruit unless it has another plant to cross pollinate with. So if you're growing them, best to plant two.

6. California produces about 90% of the avocados grown in the US. The US produces about 40% of worldwide avocado exports. Mexico and Indonesia produce the most avocados a year, with the US coming in third.

7. Avocados are also referred to as "butter pears" or "alligator pears."

8. The avocado tree is in the same family as cinnamon. Can't you see the similarities? Although apparently some people think they taste good together.

9. After it is picked an avocado takes 7-10 days to ripen. Putting it in the fridge will slow this down, while putting it in a bag with other fruit will speed this up.

10. Avocados had a long history as a sexual stimulant and used to not be purchased or eaten by people who wanted to appear sexually pure. So guacamole was only for the sexy people. Yum.

Avocados are awesome. If you want more random facts, and to read some of these again, look here.