With This Drink Mars You're Really Teasing Us! (Maltesers Instant)

Member Name: J-Bird

Product:	Maltesers Instant
Date:	28/03/08 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ??

Disadvantages: The disappointment of discovering it is nothing like Maltesers and then wondering what to do with it

As I was perusing the aisles of my local supermarket one evening, I thought to myself 'hmmmm, I fancy a nice hot drink this evening, wonder what's on offer?' and because I mostly act on my random thoughts, I trundled off to aisle 6 to see what I could find.

Cue Ironside music, my eyes focused in on a bright red container with Maltesers hot chocolate plastered on the side of it like it was a beacon calling to me. So without any further ado I chucked it into my trolley and continued with my shopping.

Following a tiresome grocery put-away session, I decided to reward myself with a nice hot Maltesers drink, mmmmm.

~Packaging~

The 300g container, which is actually different in shape to the picture above (mine is taller but pinches in around the 'waist' of the tub - perhaps mine is a newer version?), is shiny and red with the standard Maltesers writing and what looks like melted brown chocolate around the base.

On the back of the container you can read instructions, ingredients, nutrition information (boasting only 99 calories per serving), and manufacturing information.

~The Product~

Like most hot chocolate drinks, this is a brown powder which you add to hot water, stir and voila - a hot drink.

It is very simple and easy to use.

~Nutrition Info and Ingredients~

For one serving made with 220ml of hot water there are:

99 Calories (5% of Guideline Daily Amount)
16.1g Sugars (17.9% GDA)
2.4g Fat (3.4% GDA)
2.1g Saturates (10.5% GDA)
0.24g Salt (4% GDA)

Ingredients: Sugar, Dried Glucose Syrup, Whey Solids, Malt Extract, Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Galaxy Chocolate, Hydrogenated Coconut Fat, Skimmed Milk Powder, Stabilisers, Flavourings, Anti Caking Agents, Salt, Lactose, Milk Proteins, and Emulsifiers. Phew.

~Instructions~

This product can be made in 2 ways:

1)By adding 5, yes 5, heaped teaspoons into a mug, adding hot water, and stiring.

2)By ading 5 heaped teaspoons into a mug, mixing with water, and microwaving (60 secs, stir then 30-60 secs in 650w microwave).

~Other Info~

Maltesers instant hot chocolate is produced for Masterfoods by Aimia Foods Limited.

It should be stored in a cool, dry place and has a shelf life of 18 months from the date of manufacture.

It costs £1.93 in Tesco.

You can read about this product (and other Mars drinks) by going online at www.drinkmars.com

~My Opinion~

I opened my Maltesers drink and was greeted by a nice chocolately smell. Now if I had've been blindfolded and asked to guess which confectionary item the smell reminded me of, I probably wouldn't have guessed Maltesers, however it was still nice.

Following the instructions, I made a steaming hot cup of Maltesers Drink and.....was severely disappointed.

Written on the back of the container are the words 'suitable for Maltesers lovers' and 'yummy Maltesers flavour'. Now I've had my fair share of Maltesers sweets in the past (and possibly someone elses share too), but this did not have a yummy Maltesers flavour. I wouldn't say it was the worse thing that I have ever swallowed, but the main reason that I bought it was because it was supposed to be like Maltesers.

Ok, so we've estalished that the container lied, but even as a hot drink I found it to be weak tasting (despite 5 heaped teaspoons of powder), and certainly not as nice as a standard Cadbury's Hot Chocolate, or Options Chocolate drink.

Would I recommend this product? No. Please don't be fooled into buying it because it claims to taste like Maltesers, instead buy yourself a nice Options drink, or alternatively a big bag of Maltesers chocolates.

Summary: Don't bother!