Snacks Across the Pond

Next up from the package of awesomeness that Kerri sent are Whoppers. I must admit that I’ve had Whoppers before, on my last visit to the US. Picking out some sweets to eat I noticed these, looking to be identical to our own Maltesers. That is, the chocolatey balls of sweetness look identical, the package itself is a curiosity, being a milk carton. As Whoppers are marketed as ‘malted milk balls’ I am assuming that the milk carton packaging is intentional. I never though of Maltesers as being milky, though. And there’s a reason for that.

Although there is a distinct resemblance to Maltesers, Whoppers are not Maltesers. The basic idea is the same, with a small ball of sugar surrounded by a milk chocolate shell, and I like the idea. Whoppers, however, unlike Maltesers, are actually milky in flavour. There is a certain sweet, milkyness to them, which can go by unnoticed if Whoppers are eaten in isolation to the UK sweet, but is quite obvious if Maltesers are tried side-by-side with this US snack. The difference in flavour is notable whether one crunches down on the chocolatey ball, or lets the whole ball melt in the mouth and dissolve down one’s throat. I’m torn between the two methods of eating them myself. The first causes an explosion of flavour that combines the milky, malty centre with the chocolate, but ploughs through them at an alarming rate; the second prolongs the whole experience, allowing the chocolate and then the malty ball to be savoured in all their glory, and makes the packet last for longer too.

I got Chrid, who had not tasted Whoppers before, to try them out and his reaction showed a benefit of the milk carton packaging, in that the sweets can be chugged, like milk, straight from the carton. Dammit, don’t Bogart the Whoppers.

I can’t say whether I prefer Maltesers or Whoppers. I like both, but haven’t got any Maltesers handy to compare them to directly. Whoppers are jolly nice, and great for a snack. The large packet size is, I would say, a good thing. Instead of being compelled to eat a whole albeit small bag of Maltesers in one sitting, the milk carton packaging allows one to dip in for a handful every now and again and close the packet up, just as one would a normal milk carton, without the balls spilling everywhere. The packaging also allows for a lot of space to add recipes for pies and milkshakes, with the Whoppers acting as textured sugar, so I doubt I’ll try them out, as well as a wonderful claim that the sweets contain ‘30% less fat’ along with small print that this is in relation to ‘the average of the leading chocolate candy brands’ that makes it so vague as to be nearly meaningless. It’s a nice thought, though.