Quick question: When’s the last time you ate a jelly bean? Had you asked me prior to yesterday, I honestly couldn’t have given you an answer—it’s been *that* long. As it turns out, the sweet treat has come quite a long way since my Easter basket years. Six limited-edition Brach’s jelly bean flavors were released earlier this month as part of the brand’s Easter Brunch collection, and they’re unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

Forget grape, lemon and lime—this year, the jelly bean gods have blessed us with saccharine delights such as Blueberry Maple Pancake, Mimosa and Caramel Cold Brew—yes, friends, there’s a jelly bean that tastes like the best steeped iced coffee you’ve ever had.

While they’re not quite as wild as 2022’s Late Night Taco Truck offerings (it was real, look it up), they still provide quite the rollercoaster ride for your taste buds.

The company sent me a bag, so I tried all six of the new for 2024 flavors, and let’s just say, I have some *thoughts.* Watch the video above and keep reading to find out what each one really tastes like.

1. Blueberry Maple Pancake

• Flavor Rating: 7/10

I expected this to taste like breakfast. Instead, I got an instant sugar rush with a hint of cotton candy. Like the experimental gum that turned Violet Beauregarde into a blueberry in Willy Wonka’s factory, however, the taste changed as I chewed, and the maple syrup flavor began to creep in. All in all, I’d say this is good in moderation. It’s too sweet to eat more than a few, but I didn’t dislike it.

2. Chocolate Glazed Donut

• Flavor Rating: 5/10

This one had my taste buds all kinds of confused. I got very little chocolate from it—more of a butterscotch flavor that was punctuated by notes of bubblegum at the end. If I tried really hard, I could maybe concede to a touch of Dunkin’s chocolate frosting. Mixed with butterscotch. It was … OK, but there are (much) better beans in the bunch.

3. Caramel Cold Brew

• Flavor Rating: 10/10

Got a java addiction? Prepare to have your world rocked. This really does taste like coffee! I’m not talking about a wimpy cup of gas station brew, either: This tastes like strong coffee, hold the bitterness. It’s kind of like eating a coffee bean or taking a shot of cold brew for the most delicious pick-me-up. While my boyfriend wasn’t as keen on these, those with an appreciation for a bold cup of joe will dig the flavor as well as the perceived caffeine boost. It’s a win-win!

4. Cinnamon Roll

• Flavor Rating: 3/10

Cinnamon Roll is the only jelly bean in the Easter Brunch collection I found to be truly inedible. Not because it’s bad, per se, but because the cinnamon is of the spicy variety—think Big Red chewing gum or a Fireball shot. Having made myself deathly ill drinking a pint of Hot Damn in my youth (don’t ask), spicy cinnamon is not exactly a flavor profile I mesh with—I would have preferred a softer, more coffee-ready cinnamon. For those who can stomach it, however, it’s not so bad—in fact, my boyfriend said this one was great!

5. Mimosa

• Flavor Rating: 9/10

It was no surprise to me that I liked Mimosa—I adore them in real life, too. The bean version isn’t quite so fizzy—it definitely could’ve done with a little tongue sparkle—but the orange juice overtones were spot on. Maybe because of its citric flavor, it’s not as sweet as some of the others, but for me, that was a bonus, making it far easier for my typically sugar-starved body to digest. A real standout, if I do say so!

6. Berry Smoothie

• Flavor Rating: 8/10

If you’re a fan of the tried-and-true, you’re bound to enjoy Berry Smoothie: It tastes the most to me like your classic, run-of-the-mill jelly bean. It’s sweet, it’s fruity, and true to its name, there are strong notes of berry. Its definitely less exciting than the others (berry isn’t exactly a core shaker to the palette), but it also just might be the one I’d eat the most of in a row, hence its solid flavor rating.

The Final Verdict

If you ask me, the Brach’s Easter Brunch jelly beans are worth it for the Caramel Cold Brew flavor alone. I’d buy the entire bag just for a handful! Since I also enjoyed Mimosa, Berry Smoothie and Blueberry Maple Pancake, however, I think they offer a pretty good bang for your buck. They’re only here for a limited time, so I’d definitely advise stocking up—especially since you can get two 10-ounce bags for less than $20 if you snag them on Amazon, with Prime delivery well ahead of Easter Sunday.

Now. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be over here, chewing through my own Easter basket…

Have you tried the Brach’s Easter Brunch collection? What’s your favorite flavor? Tell me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post PSA: A Caramel Cold Brew Jelly Bean Exists and It *Actually* Tastes Like Coffee appeared first on nicolebjean.

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Of all the simple pleasures I’m missing out on while stuck in Illinois’ mandated state quarantine, my daily iced Americano with ristretto shots from Starbucks (hold the sugar, please), has to be at the top of my list. No matter how many times my boyfriend tries to convince me that the bagged stuff we brew at home is sufficient, for me, it’s just not the same. I want —nay, I need—more! Luckily, I stumbled upon the one thing that’s sure to get me through until I’m once again able to get my preferred java fix right in the nick of time: Copper Cow Coffee Vietnamese pour over packs (from $11.99).

These genius little biodegradable packets, which rip open at the top, are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Each one comes with a pair of genius cardboard tabs that pop out at the sides, allowing you to hang them from the center of your mug.

From there, you simply pour hot water into the open bag and wait for it to drain into your cup (A word of advice: Do so with extreme caution, lest you want to wind up with a nasty burn.) For a Vietnamese-style cup of joe, you’ll want to do this two to three times, while those that are used to the larger pours served in America will want to repeat the process roughly six to eight times (check out the video below to see how it’s done). Essentially, it’s like an über-convenient, portable version of a French press coffee, minus the “press.”

While I was delighted by the innovative design of these handy packs, I was even more pleased by the taste and quality of the coffee found within. I started with the ginger-flavored latte kit ($17 for a 5-pack). I won’t lie—I had my doubts about the flavor. I don’t particularly like raw ginger, and the thought of combining it with coffee? Well, let’s just say my mouth wasn’t exactly watering. And yet, after just one sip of this smooth, incredibly full-bodied brew, I knew I had found something special.

Sustainably-sourced from the central highlands in Vietnam, these beans have none of the bitterness you’ll get from the over-roasted beans at Starbucks. It’s also void of that slightly off-putting fruity flavor found in many an independent coffee shop, striking instead a perfect balance.

What’s more, the ginger that I was so worried about actually enhanced the flavor of my java, adding a subtle, sweet-yet-spicy element that I couldn’t help but appreciate. According to health experts, ginger also just so happens to be advantageous for everything from oxidative stress and inflammation to boosting your cardiovascular function, fighting germs, and protecting against disease—some pretty key functions at the moment, if I do say so myself!

While you can buy these pour-overs on their own, many also come in kits (like the ginger pack) that include sweetener and sugar in the form of condensed milk packets that you can pour right into your cup once it’s finished draining. Watching your figure? These kits contain 100 calories and 17 grams of sugar—a significant improvement when compared to the 240 calories and 31 grams of sugar you’d find in a 16-ounce blonde vanilla latte from Starbucks.

I, for one, am officially hooked: Copper Cow Coffee for the win!

What are some of the things you’ve found that are keeping you going in quarantine? Share in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post The Germ-Fighting Pour-Over Coffee That’s Getting Me Through Quarantine appeared first on nicolebjean.

I’m not sure exactly when it was that society’s obsession with crystals was sparked anew. Maybe it was around the time that Spencer Pratt from The Hills started singing the ancient stones’ praises on Instagram after dropping nearly $1 million on his own collection. Or maybe it happened when Nicole Richie started hawking them for up to $1,495 as part of her latest House of Harlow line.

Whenever it was, at some point along the way, the same healing crystals our ancestors once turned to for their mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing were suddenly back in vogue, taking off like a rocket in an oversaturated market of self-care enthusiasts.

Said to wield curative powers that align with our seven chakras — yellow stones, like light citrine for example, are thought to connect to your stomach, or solar plexus chakra, to aid in digestion and liver issues — these powerful rocks began infiltrating our lives via everything from our jewelry and derma-rollers to our water bottles and …  our rosé?

That’s right! Say hello to Rock Grace —  a new kind of crystal-infused pink drink that looks just like your favorite blush wine. Unlike your standard glass of vino, however, this beverage tastes quite different from anything you’ve ever tried.

The Taste

This drink is full of surprises as far as taste goes. First and foremost, it’s completely non-alcoholic, so instead of using fermented grapes, Rock Grace, which is billed as a “bottled elixir,” is infused with crystals, botanicals and adaptogens (a fancy term for non-toxic plants that help the body ward off stressors) to promote “mental and physical wellness and empowerment.”

But Welch’s sparkling grape juice, this is not! The carbonation-filled sugary combo I expected to hit my tongue after reading its tasting notes was virtually nonexistent — nor did I get the advertised “dry rosé wine” taste found in its description.

Rather, my first sip of Rock Grace — which can only be explained as an extremely light and floral-based beverage — was more akin to the fancy type of cucumber water you might find at an upscale salon.

It makes sense, given the elixir’s minimalistic ingredient list: This top-shelf beverage contains no sugar or sweetener of any kind. In fact, it’s calorie, preservative, gluten, allergen and carbohydrate-free.

So what exactly’s in it? Just seven things make up its entire ingredient list — filtered water, rose water, natural flavors, organic rhodiola extract, organic schisandra berry extract, eleuthero extract and organic raspberry juice concentrate.

The Experience

Once I got over the initial shock that was Rock Grace’s light and airy flavors, I began to focus on the experience surrounding it. It’s recommended that you do a ritual before partaking in this elixir by taking a deep breath as you “inhale strength and exhale anxiety” before saying an affirmation.

From there, the drink begins to work its magic. Rose water, packed with Vitamins A, C, E and B, is said to promote radiant skin, slow aging, and reduce stress, while the antioxidants found in the beverage’s organic raspberries work to keep skin taut.

As for the crystals, each of the brand’s 11 ethically-sourced stone types are “charged” under a new moon before being infused into the drink using an “indirect, proprietary method.”

Each one has its own meaning: There’s agate, for grace and happiness, amethyst to soothe a troubled mind, aquamarine for eternal youth and joy, clear quartz for power, heliotrope for intuition and creativity, Iceland spar for focus and motivation, pyrite for confidence and luck, rose quartz for love and peace, serpentine for wealth, tangerine quartz for strength and perseverance, and, last but not least, Vancouver phantom quartz for cellular regeneration. I don’t know about you, but it sure as hell beats the heck out of the plain old hangovers you get from regular wine, no?

The Verdict

After drinking the bottle — and make no mistake, I did consume the entire thing — I can’t say that I felt any immediately Earth-shattering vibratory patterns from the crystals. What I did feel, however, was an overwhelming sensation of calm and serene. Something about this particular blend of florals had a way of making me feel every bit as relaxed as I might have if i were partaking in a glass of the real deal.

Better still, with no alcohol in the mix, I found I could drink it any time I wanted, day or night, weekday or otherwise, without fear of a headache or a self-induced fog.

Last — but not certainly not least — was the luxury factor. Maybe it was the fact that I was essentially ingesting a bottle of $18 water, but drinking Rock Grace felt every bit as posh to me as indulging in a vintage bottle of cabernet.

For all my doubts, by the time I finished imbibing (er, pretending to!), I was genuinely sad that the bottle was gone — though mainly because it’s not yet available in stores and would need to be reordered.

All in all, I would absolutely double down on this purchase. After all, in this day and age, we could all use a little help where we can get it. If a crystal-infused water is gonna be the difference between having a good day and having a great one? I’ll take it!

Would you try this crystal-infused drink? Tell me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. 

(Cover photo via Kevin Cherello) 

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