The interior jelly traces its origin back hundreds of years to a candy called Turkish Delight, while the shell is essentially the same as that developed in the late 17th century for Jordan Almond candies. The two were brought together around the beginning of the 20th century. It was not until 1930 or so that jelly beans became an Easter candy, presumably from their resemblance to Easter eggs. Their egg-like shape was then associated with the Easter bunny, who gave out eggs on Easter.