Which President’s favorite treat was Jelly Beans? While JFK drooled over Boston Cream Pie and Barack Obama had a soft spot for coconut cake, Ronald Reagan was all about his Jelly Belly jelly beans. The love affair started in 1966 when Reagan ran for Governor of California and ditched pipe smoking in favor of popping Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans. This nifty habit stuck, and the Herman Goelitz Candy Company was more than happy to supply him with his sugary stash.
Let’s just say those beans were as much a part of office supplies as paper clips.
During his governorship, he went through about 24 bags a month. And as President? Hold on—720 bags each month! That’s around 306,070 beans spread across the White House and beyond. Even visitors and heads of state received presidential jars of these beans, complete with the Presidential Seal.
And his favorite flavor? Well, that would be licorice.
