12/26/2013
The difference between snacks in America vs the rest of the world can be quite significant. This is one of the reasons we decided to create World of Snacks and our International Snack Blog. Our hope is to gain a peak into other cultures through their sweet and salty treats. Sometimes the difference can be massive and other times very small. Today we are going to compare two snacks which on paper seem very similar. We are comparing British Maltesers vs American Whoppers.
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| Let’s start our comparison of these two chocolate snacks with the similarities. Both the British Maltesers and the American Whoppers are chocolate covered malted milk balls. Both snacks were initially released in the late 1930s. Which came first, Maltersers or Whoppers? The Brits won by just a few years. Other than similar ingredients and a similar release date that is about all these two candies have in common. |
Being Maltesers were created first we take a closer look at them first. British Maltesers were developed by Forrest Mars Sr., an American who was raised in Canada! How did he invent a loved British Snack? Mr. Mars had a fallout with his father and decided to take his share of the business abroad. Rumor has it the fallout was related to his desire to take the brand international. Forrest Mars Sr. first developed the Mars bar in the early 1930s and the Mars Maltesers followed shortly after.
The American Whoppers are owned by another snack food juggernaut, The Hershey Company. They were initially developed 2 years after the Maltesers by the Overland Candy Company under the name “Giants.” A merger of several similar sized American candy companies created Leaf Brands and they re-introduced the Giants as Whoppers. The merged company was then bought by a confectionery brand from Finland and latter acquired by The Hershey Company.
Now we know a little about both let’s take a look at the differences between Maltesers and Whoppers. Well simply put, the biggest difference is the taste. In order to get accurate details and non-bias opinions we did a blind taste test with 11 US adult males. This is our second taste test challenge with an American vs British Snack. Last time we look at the US vs UK Kit Kat. In our previous comparison the UK snack won. In the case of British Maltesers vs American Whoppers the US nudged out a win by one vote. Our testers stated that the Maltesers had a richer and better quality chocolate but the malt filling was slightly bland. The testers collectively thought the Whoppers had a sweeter more powerful malt filing but a lower quality and less desirable chocolate. Ultimately the US snack won out because most of the testers preferred a flavor that was more familiar to them. All agreed these two malt chocolate treats are very different.
Starting at the first of the year you will be able to buy Mars Matlesers and other top-selling British Snacks Online when our international store launches. Every month in 2014 we will add a new country and their best cookies, cakes, chip, chocolates, and sweets to our inventory. In February we are releasing American Snacks and Hershey Whoppers will be included. What’s to follow? We are not sure just yet. Let us know what you’d like to see offered by voting for your favorite snacks. If you’d like to be included on special offers be sure to leave your details to the right. Keep on snacking world!
01/01/2014 UPDATE: Mars Maltesers are now available to purchase online in our international store.
