If you’ve ever wondered how some of your favorite foods are made, you’re in luck. Many food factories have tours that provide lessons on how the food is made, the history of the company, the science involved in manufacturing, and most importantly, offer up some free samples!
Here’s a list of food factories in the US that, along with a traditional tour, dish out some serious swag.
1. Jelly Belly Factory
Location: Fairfield, CA
Description: The Jelly Belly Factory Tour gives you a behind the scenes look at what goes into making these colorful candies. There’s also a bunch of interactive games, elaborate jelly bean art, and a café with a variety of bean shaped foods.
Swag: After the tour, each guest is allowed three free scoops from the Jelly Belly sample bar, which includes every flavor ever created (including the infamous Bertie Bott’s flavors). You’ll also get a complimentary factory hat!
2. Tillamook Cheese Factory
Location: Tillamook, OR
Description: Unfortunately, the main Tillamook visitor center is currently closed for renovations, but in the meanwhile, there is a temporary visitor center where you can travel through their farm exhibit and learn how their dairy products are made.
Swag: This tour is any dairy-lovers dream, with a sample bar where you can choose from all of Tillamook’s many cheeses and a free samples of Tillamook brand ice cream.
3. Hershey’s Chocolate World
Location: Hershey, PA
Description: Hershey’s Chocolate World is more than just a factory tour — it’s an experience. Instead of exploring the factory by foot, you take a Wonka-esque ride to learn learn about the history of the Hershey Company and what goes into making their addictive candies.
Swag: A free sample of chocolate is included with the factory tour, but, if you really want to make the most of your time at the factory, you can participate in the chocolate tasting experience or create your own candy bar.
4. World of Coca-Cola
Location: Atlanta, GA
Description: The World of Coca-Cola is one of the most entertaining food factories out there. A 4-D movie tells the story of the creation of the Coca-Cola formula, an art gallery showcases its influence on pop culture, and there is even a vault where the secret formula is kept.
Swag: After your tour, you can try samples from a soda fountain with hundreds of different Coca-Cola products, including drinks that are only available in other countries or that are no longer available in stores.
5. Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour
Location: Stowe, VT
Description: At the factory, you can learn about the founding of Ben & Jerry’s and how they find inspiration for their creative flavors. But the real gem of this tour is the flavor graveyard located just behind the factory, where you can visit the gravestones for all of Ben & Jerry’s retired pints.
Swag: At the end of the tour, there is a full service scoop shop where you can try some ice cream. But what is really unique about Ben & Jerry’s is the gift shop where you can find creative items like ice cream flavored lip balm and pint locks.
6. Huy Fong’s Sriracha Factory Tour
Location: Irwindale, CA
Description: At this factory, you can see how the Hu Fong factory makes their beloved hot sauce. You can get an up close and personal look at how the sauce is made, starting with their fresh jalepeños and ending with packaging them in their iconic green capped bottles.
Swag: Along the tour, you get the opportunity to try some Sriracha flavored snacks like popcorn, chips, and even ice cream.
7. Hammond’s Candies Factory Tour
Location: Denver, CO
Description: Hammond’s, the candy company best known for its colorful candy canes and crazy chocolate bar flavors, offers free tours of their nearly 100-year-old candy factory. On your tour, you can learn how a candy cane gets its stripes and watch the mesmerizing taffy pulling machine.
Swag: At the end of your tour, you can take your pick from a variety of candy cane flavors like blood orange and berry blue You’ll also get a complimentary Hammond’s candies hat!
8. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Location: San Francisco, CA
Description: In the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, you can find the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. In this cozy shop, you can take a tour to learn about the history of the fortune cookie (did you know they were created in America?) and see how they fold the cookies into shape.
Swag: The tour includes a freshly baked, unfolded fortune cookie that is far better than any of the packaged kind you find at Pei Wei. There’s also a gift shop where you can find fun items like a package of “adult themed” fortune cookies or a cookie with a fortune you wrote yourself.
9. Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour
Location: Boulder, CA
Description: At the Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour, you can see exactly how their tea gets made from fresh herbs. You can also explore the factories collection of tea themed art and take pictures in their cozy tea nook.
Swag: Free samples from any of Celestial Seasoning’s many teas are available after the tour, as well as a free box of tea to take home. But, according to several guests, one of the best gifts to come out of this tour is the powerful sinus-opening scent of the Mint Room
If you’re looking for something fun and free to do this summer, grab some friends and take a road trip to check out some of these food factories. You’ll for sure be leaving with more than memories.