Maltesers facts for kids
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| Type | Confectionery |
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| Owner | Mars Inc. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1937 |
| Markets | Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Asia |
| Tagline | The Lighter Way to Enjoy Chocolate. |
Maltesers are a popular chocolate candy made by the company Mars Inc.. They are small, round balls with a crunchy, sweet center made of malted milk, all covered in smooth milk chocolate.
First sold in the United Kingdom in 1937, Maltesers are now enjoyed by people all over the world, including in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Their famous slogan is "The lighter way to enjoy chocolate."
Maltesers come in many different types of packages. You can find them in small "fun-size" bags, larger cardboard boxes, and even big plastic buckets. They are also a part of the Revels and Celebrations chocolate assortments. In a 2020 poll, people in the UK voted Maltesers as their favorite candy.
Contents
The Story of Maltesers
Maltesers were invented in the United Kingdom in 1936 by an American named Forrest Mars Sr., and they first appeared in stores in 1937. When they were first created, they were called "energy balls" and were marketed to women who wanted a lighter treat.
Over the years, Maltesers have had several slogans. Some early ones were "The chocolates with the less fattening centre" and "No ordinary chocolate." The ads in the 1930s even claimed the center was much less fattening than other chocolates.
In 2011, Maltesers became a Fairtrade product in the UK and Ireland. This means the company makes sure to pay fair prices for the cocoa and sugar used to make the candy.
Starting in 2016, Maltesers became known for including actors with disabilities in their commercials in the UK. These ads, which were inspired by real-life stories, were praised for being inclusive and funny.
While popular in many countries for decades, Maltesers only officially came to the United States in 2017. The Maltesers sold in North America are made in a factory in Newmarket, Canada.
What's Inside a Malteser?
The recipe for Maltesers changes slightly depending on where they are sold. This is because different countries have different rules and tastes.
In Europe
The main ingredients are sugar, skimmed milk powder, cocoa butter, glucose syrup, barley malt extract, and cocoa mass. They also contain a type of fat from palm trees, lactose (milk sugar), and wheat flour. Emulsifiers are used to help mix all the ingredients together smoothly.
In Canada
The recipe includes sugar, modified milk ingredients, and malted milk powder. The malted milk powder itself is made from malted barley, corn syrup, and wheat flour. They also contain cocoa butter, cocoa mass, and soy lecithin, which is an emulsifier.
In Australia and New Zealand
The ingredients list sugar, milk solids, cocoa butter, and glucose syrup (which can come from wheat). It also includes barley malt extract, cocoa mass, and vegetable fat. Emulsifiers like soy lecithin help combine everything perfectly.
Different Kinds of Maltesers
Besides the classic milk chocolate version, there are many other types of Maltesers to enjoy.
- White Maltesers: These have a creamy white chocolate coating instead of milk chocolate.
- Dark Maltesers: For those who like a richer taste, these are covered in dark chocolate.
- Mint Maltesers: These have a refreshing mint-flavored center.
- MaltEaster Bunnies: Around Easter, you can find bunny-shaped Maltesers. There are also mini bunnies, and some come in orange or white chocolate flavors.
- Maltesers Teaser: This is a chocolate bar with small, crunchy pieces of Maltesers mixed in. There is also a chocolate spread version.
- Merryteaser Reindeer: During the Christmas season, you can buy reindeer-shaped Maltesers.
- Maltesers Buttons: These are flat, button-shaped chocolates with tiny, crunchy malt pieces inside.
- Maltesers Truffles: A fancier version launched in 2018, these are smooth chocolate truffles with a crunchy center.
- Honeycomb Maltesers: These have a sweet honeycomb flavor.
- Raspberry Maltesers: A fruity version with a raspberry taste.
- Maltesers Popcorn: A variety with a popcorn flavor was introduced in 2025.
See also
In Spanish: Maltesers para niños
- Whoppers
- Ovalteenies
