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Maltesers were originally known as 'Energy Balls' and were invented by Forrest Mars Sr. in 1936. Despite the name, Maltesers bear no connection to Malta or anything Maltese. In fact, the name actually came from the combination of the words, 'malt' and 'teasers'.
Nowadays, Maltesers ... Read review
Advantages: Different from most chocolates, nice malty flavour, pleasant texture Disadvantages: Can be sickly
...and were invented by Forrest Mars Sr. in 1936. Despite the name, Maltesers bear no connection to Malta or anything Maltese. In fact, the name actually came from the combination of the words, 'malt' and 'teasers'.
Nowadays, Maltesers are made by the Mars group and are popular not only in the United Kingdom but also in Ireland and Japan. Interestingly, countries like the USA and Australia have their own versions of Maltesers too. ...sure most people are familiar with Maltesers, but for those who aren't, let me tell you a bit about them. Maltesers consist of a spherical malt centre, surrounded by a thin layer of milk chocolate. The manufacturers of Maltesers are not keen to divulge information on exactly how they are made, but it is thought that the malty centre is formed by making small pellets of a dough-like mixture which are then placed in a low pressure container. This enables ... more
As I was perusing the Ciao catalogue of confectionery (chocolate to you and me!), I came across an entry for Maltesers. This, in itself, is not surprising. What is surprising was that I had not written a review on Maltesers before now! I have reviewed quite a few other well-known chocolate bars, but somehow managed to overlook one of my favourite chocolate sweets. So today, I shall finally write my review on the humble Malteser.
BACKGROUND
Let's start with a bit of trivia...
Maltesers were originally known as 'Energy Balls' and were invented by Forrest Mars Sr. in 1936. Despite the name, Maltesers bear no connection to Malta or anything Maltese. In fact, the name actually came from the combination of the words, 'malt' and 'teasers'.
Nowadays, Maltesers are made by the Mars group and are popular not only in the United Kingdom but also in Ireland and Japan. Interestingly, countries like the USA and Australia have their own versions of Maltesers too.
WHAT ARE MALTESERS?
I'm sure most people are familiar with Maltesers, but for those who aren't, let me tell you a bit about them. Maltesers consist of a spherical malt centre, surrounded by a thin layer of milk chocolate. The manufacturers of Maltesers are not keen to divulge information on exactly how they are made, but it is thought that the malty centre is formed by making small pellets of a dough-like mixture which are then placed in a low pressure container. This enables the bubbles in the mixture to expand and results in the formation of round, crunchy balls. These are then coated in chocolate and polished to give them a shiny appearance!
PACKAGING
Maltesers are sold in various sized packets, ranging from the small treatsize packets to the large bucket-type containers. However, whatever size you buy, the main appearance of the packaging remains the same. It is always bright red, with "Maltesers" written across the front in bold, white lettering and lots of chocolate Malteser balls (some half-eaten) scattered randomly over the top.
THE EATING EXPERIENCE
Because of their honeycomb centres, Maltesers are actually quite delicate. It seems a shame to have to bite into the intricate, bubbly centre, but it's just one of those things that has to be done! It's up to you how you eat them, of course. You can either munch them or let them melt slowly in your mouth. Sometimes I like to let them melt on my tongue, but more often than not, I bite off the chocolate layer and munch the inner honeycomb ball. It's quite a challenge to do this without biting straight into the crunchy centre, I can tell you!
So what do Maltesers taste like? Well the chocolate on Maltesers is quite sweet and reminds me of Nestlé milk chocolate. It is perfectly enjoyable, but it is the honeycomb centre which makes Maltesers unique, so it is this bit which deserves the most mention.
The inner centre is deliciously crunchy and has a bubbly appearance to it. When you first take a bite, it tastes quite sweet, but after a few seconds, this sweetness is replaced by a malty, creamy aftertaste. If you choose to let it melt in your mouth, you'll find that the crunchy centre quickly turns into a gooey mass, which dissolves on its own.
Although Maltesers look light, they can actually be quite sickly. The milk chocolate and malty inner centre can make for a sickly combination, so take care not to eat too many at a time. They are, however, very moreish and even the most strong-willed among us will find it hard not to want to keep eating more.
NUTRITION & DIETARY INFORMATION
100g of Maltesers contains:
Energy = 505 kcal (calories) Protein = 7.9g Carbohydrate = 62.8g Fat = 24.7g
Maltesers that are made here in the UK are suitable for vegetarians, because they contain whey powder from suppliers who use rennet approved by the UK Vegetarian Society. However, those made on the continent may contain whey powder which originates from calves. As long as there is a 'U' after the best before date, then you can be sure that the Maltesers have been made in the UK and are therefore suitable for vegetarians.
Unfortunately, I cannot say whether they are suitable for those with nut allergies or not as the box gives no information.
PRICE
A 146g box of Maltesers normally sells for around £1.15, but I was recently lucky enough to buy one for a mere 98p in my local branch of Tesco. The larger gift box (400g) retails for around £2.98 and the standard 37g bag for 39p.
CONCLUSION
Maltesers are undoubtedly one of the finest chocolates ever invented. They are simple little creations, but are one of the few chocolates that even today remain popular with people of all ages. Overall, I rate Maltesers very highly and personally find them one of the tastiest chocolates around.
Advantages: Unique crunchy and chocolate taste Disadvantages: Not enough in the packet
...have my father working for Mars Confectionary. So every week he would bring a bag full of 'rations' home with him and always included in it was at least one bag of Maltesers, which I used to fight with four elder and stronger sisters for.
About the company:
Mars Confectionary have specialised in chocolate since the early 1900's. They make a variety of chocolate bars of which the Mars Bar in the most famous, but is supported by Twix, Snickers, Maltesers, ... ...This product like all the Mars range has been supported with extensive Television Advertising campaigns. Maltesers were first produced under the name 'energy balls' in 1936 and are still made in the Slough factory it was made in back then. These days the product comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, you can get fun size packets, tubes and boxes as well as ice cream bars and even white Maltesers.
Packaging:
This for me has not changed in the past ...
CPTDANIELS 18.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mars Maltesers
Advantages: You can eat them without making a mess Disadvantages: not very filling
Masterfoods make many wonderful products but I was curious to learn more about these products so I wrote away to Masterfoods requesting some information about their products. They very kindly sent me an informative booklet. I can now spout utterly useless trivia about their products. Trivia such as Maltesers is the number one bite-sized brand. Clearly Maltesers are very popular but why? I had to investigate for myself.
Maltesers have been around ... ...bars. Apparently (and this is a direct quote from the information Masterfoods sent me) their “unique product design makes Maltesers appeal to children and adults of all ages”. I will admit that during my lifetime I have eaten my fair share of Maltesers. This is largely due to the fact that when at school no end of term party seemed to be without the ubiquitous box of Maltesers (although in later years that was replaced by Celebrations and similar ...
jammy_banana 31.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mars Maltesers
Advantages: delicious Disadvantages: might get too addicted :)
...since. They are made by Mars Confectionary. They are one of the most popular sweets around…so popular that there are even malteser chocolate drinks and ice creams. Yummy!!! I don’t suppose it will be long before they are toppings for McDonalds McFlurrys…mmmmmmmm
Did you know that maltesers come 6th in the top 10 sweets in the UK? Well they do, which isn’t surprising!!
Maltesers come in different sized packs and boxes and ... ...you buy them. Newsagents and supermarkets will be cheaper than the cinema and filling stations. They come in red, easy to spot packs. You can also find them in variety packs!!
Maltesers don’t fill you up either, as they are so light, and they also practically melt in your mouth so that’s perhaps why loads of people eat them.
There are many different ways to eat maltesers. You can bite them and be done with it, suck all the chocolate ...
Baywatch_Fan2002 05.08.2002 (20.08.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mars Maltesers
Advantages: Taste delicious Disadvantages: Go too quickly
...were first produced by the Mars confectionary company in 1936 as a new sweet sensation. In fact, they share their birth year with Quality street. They were an instant hit with the public who soon snapped them up. The war and rationing halted production of these type of delicacies but they soon made a reappearance after rationing was abolished.
They continue to be a favourite with people today.
Advertising.
In recent years, advertising seems to ... ...You often see adverts with friends playing daft games with each other to get more maltesers.
A good example is a girl navigating for a friend who is driving her car. She keeps getting her to turn right so that the maltesers roll along the edge of the windscreen and over to her side.
Another popular one is 2 receptionists trying to eat them while making telephone calls.
Quite a novel approach. They seem to portay that Maltesers are lusted after ...
andycharger 19.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mars Maltesers
Advantages: They melt in one's mouth Disadvantages: You may hate chocolate
...it's part of the bigger Mars confectionery family. For those who like a bit of background: Cast your minds back to 1911 and whilst that would make you very old, you might remember Frank Mars and his wife Ethel (lovely name, Ethel) making and selling a variety of butter-cream candies from a kitchen of their home in Tacoma, Washington. A few years on in 1920, Frank came up with the idea of producing a version of chocolate, malted milk that could be ... ...at that time, as the Mars bar. It was an immediate success.
Maltesers came along later as well as other renowned brands such as Snickers (Marathons to old gits like me in days gone by) & the more US-centric M & Ms. Malteser does appear to be a product designed for the British market judging by the number of websites offering to import the product into the US.
There's so many things you can do with a Malteser <>
...
Marandina 31.08.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mars Maltesers
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Advantages: A great tasting white chocolate Malteser. Disadvantages: Quite sweet.
---WHITE MALTESERS---
I love Maltesers. I think the combination of textures is just great and the fact that they are made in a sphere shape makes them fun to eat. In production since 1936 Maltesers are still made today in the same factory in Slough where it started all those years ago. Their idea was to use the goodness of malted milk and chocolate to bring the consumer a great taste with good ingredients and all wrapped up in a fun ball shape.
Maltesers come in all sorts of sizes and packaging with several great variations to flavour. I like the box you can buy at the cinema; it somehow seems more fun to eat them from the box as the Maltesers roll around inside. There is even a large ball shaped container now, though I haven't come across this yet and Mars advertise this as 'Just for fun'. I think their huge ...
Advantages: Now available all year round. Disadvantages: Not enough in the bag!
at work and I strongly suggest you do the same!
Allergy Advice.
Pack states that (amongst other ingredients) they contain:-
Wheat flower
Full cream milk powder
Skimmed milk powder
Maltesers are made by the Mars Group and their website can be viewed at www.mars.com and clicking on Mars Directory at the bottom of the page. On this site you will find loads of information of the various goodies Mars make, however, for some strange reason there is no information concerning all things small and spherical which is oddly frustrating. ...
Advantages: A CHOCOLATE YOU CAN DRINK Disadvantages: HAVING ONE LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE
I love to have a hot drink before bed, usually its ovaltine, but last night we had something a little different something that I would and could drink quite easily morning noon and night, because it was so nice.
It?s called Maltesers instant, they are made by Mars. It?s a hot chocolate drink and it?s not too sweet and it?s definitely not a bitter chocolate. It actually tastes like they have taken a packet of maltesers and melted them down put them into a cup and added a little spot of milk, it really is that simple.
You can make these either by boiling the kettle or filling a cup with water and putting it in the microwave and depending on your personal preference add milk and sugar to your liking.
They come in a small red sachet with the words maltesers written all over them and these sachets are in a red box designed to look ...
