Back in the early 2000’s Just Born released a special Easter edition of their Mike and Ike candies called Mike and Ike Easter Treats. I wrote about that release here last year and always thought it was a pretty cool one. So I was extremely delighted when, a few weeks ago, I was shopping in the Easter candy section of my local Target store and noticed that there was a brand-new version of Mike and Ike Easter Treats. After a decade away, they’d made a comeback!
Today I’m excited to look back again at Mike and Ike Easter Treats’ original edition as well as this new one, while also covering some of Just Born’s Easter seasonal jellybean releases from over the years.
Mike and Ike Easter Treats were first sold just over a decade ago in 2003 – and I’m lucky enough to have a package proof for one of the boxes in my collection:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Easter Treats – 8oz candy box – proof – 2003
And in a welcome candy-comeback, here is Just Born’s new Mike and Ike Easter Treats for 2014:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Easter Treats – 5oz Easter candy box – March 2014
Gotta dig the inclusion of the bunny character on the modern box design – he looks right at home within his contemporary digs.
Just Born first advertised Mike and Ike Easter Treats, along with the rest of their Easter lineup back in 2002. Here’s a look at the promotional flyer that went out showcasing their upcoming Easter offerings:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Easter Treats – Easter promotional sales flyer – 2002
Beyond Mike and Ike Easter Treats, a notable item shown on this flyer is Mike and Ike Jelly Beans. This must not be the earliest Mike and Ike Jelly Beans as the package is described here as a “new, larger size” – but it is the earliest version of them that I’ve ever seen. Here’s a better look at the photo from the flyer:
Just Born Mike and Ike Jelly Beans 14 oz Easter candy package photo – 2002
That 2002 Mike and Ike Jelly Beans package is one I’d love to track down some day – it’s awfully neat to see on this flyer.
While preparing my materials for today’s post I searched for recent vintage versions of Mike and Ike Jelly Beans and was surprised that I was only able to come up with a single recently-vintaged package from 2012. I’m confident they had others in the ensuing years – I just don’t have them.
This 2012 Mike and Ike Jelly Beans package is interesting as it came in the smaller standard Mike and Ike pack size of 2.12 ounces:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Jelly Beans Fruit Flavored – 2.12 oz Easter candy package – 2012
Mike and Ike Jelly Beans are still around and I was able to find two different flavor variety packages this season that sport the new Mike and Ike packaging design:
Just Born’s Mike and Ike Jelly Beans new design Easter packagingn for 2014
Here they are emptied and flattened – I think they’ve done a great job incorporating Easter elements into their new packaging aesthetic:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Jelly Beans – Assorted Fruits – 14 oz Easter candy package – March 2014
Just Born – Mike and Ike Jelly Beans – Tangy Twister – 14 oz Easter candy package – March 2014
While we are on the topic of Just Born and jellybeans today, I thought I would also cover the Hot Tamales variety. I have a pair of retired design packages to show (in two flavors as well) along with the current version. Here they are:
Just Born – Hot Tamales Cinnamon Flavored Jelly Beans – 9oz candy package – 2009
This next package features a black licorice flavored Hot Tamales jellybean – an unexpected flavor to pair with the Hot Tamales brand:
Just Born – Hot Tamales Licorice Flavored Jelly Beans – 9oz candy package – 2009
The backs of those 2009 packages list a third Hot Tamales jellybean variety, Spice. Guess I’m going to have start hunting for that one! Next up is the currently available Hot Tamales Easter Jellybean package (I believe they only offer these in the original flavor now):
Just Born – Hot Tamales – Fierce Cinnamon Jelly Beans – 14oz candy package – March 2014
To round out my Just Born Easter jellybean coverage, I want to present a trio of jellybean packages branded under the Just Born name itself. It’s interesting to note that the packaging designs used on these were introduced over a decade ago and have stood the test of time as they look almost exactly as they did back then. Here they are:
Just Born Jelly Beans Variety of 2014
And here are the trio of packages presented empty and flattened:
Just Born – Jelly Beans – Original Fruit Flavored – 10oz Easter candy package – March 2014
Just Born – Jelly Beans – Licorice Flavored – 10oz Easter candy package – March 2014
Just Born – Jelly Beans – Spice Flavored – 10oz Easter candy package – March 2014
And that’s everything we’ve got today for our coverage of the unexpected return of Mike and Ike Easter Treats along with a whole lotta Just Born jellybeans. See you next time!
Nice to see the return of the Mike & Ike Easter Treats. I loved those licorice Hot Tamales jelly beans – yum! I don’t recall if I tried the spice flavor or not.
For package colors and designs, Christmas candy is definitely my favorite.
For sheer variety of fruity, chewy candies, Easter candy is number one for me. I’m really enjoying these entries.
I bought a package of Hot Tamales cinnamon jelly beans the other day and was sort of disappointed. They’re really just Hot Tamales nubs, and I was expecting more of a thicker/crisp shell.