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Panic 0 points 2 weeks ago

TIL: The waxy coating on jelly beans is shellac, also known as confectioner's glaze, natural glaze, pure food glaze, or confectioner's resin. Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug after it drinks tree sap. The bug's dung is scraped from the trees and, through a heating and cooling process, is transformed into flat sheets of dried shellac. The glaze contains lac bug resin and ethyl alcohol, which dissolves the resin. The result is a thick, sticky consistency that resembles a lacquer.

Also, it is harvested by old women in India. In short, jelly beans have a coating of bug shit. Enjoy your candy!