Start your tasty tour at Cerreta’s Candy in Glendale, Arizona. This family-owned company produces mints, creams, caramels and clusters. The factory floor is open and you will see, hear and smell the whole process of producing candy on a self-guided tour. Overhead monitors help explain what’s going on at various stages in the process. The tour is free; a chocolate pizza-making session costs $7.
After stocking up on caramels and mints, head to Ethel M Chocolates in Henderson, Nevada It’s easy to find, thanks to the flashing red neon signs. Here you’ll see how premium chocolates are made plus you can relax in the cactus garden. Your self guided tour starts in the kitchen, where you can observe chocolate being made through glass windows. As you move down the corridor, you will see milk and dark chocolate being poured into coin-shaped molds. Your last stop is the retail store, where you can sample the chocolate of the day free. The tour is free and you can select from the whole Ethel M product line in the retail store.
Last stop on your tour is the Jelly Belly Candy Company in Fairfield, California. While the company has been making candy since 1898, the introduction of the Jelly Belly jelly bean in 1976 really spurred the company’s growth and expansion. A tour guide takes you along the Jelly Belly Candy Trail, where you can observe over 40 flavors of jelly beans being made. The tour is free and at the end you’ll receive a free two-ounce bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans to satisfy your craving. If you have the time, extend your West Coast Sweet Tooth Tour with a stop at Hershey Foods Corporation in Oakdale, California and Boehms Chocolates in Issaquah, Washington.
