There's more to Mars, than meets the mouth. (Mars Bar)

Member Name: tobymummy

Product:	Mars Bar
Date:	26/01/08 (1567 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Chocolate!!! Variety of sizes

Disadvantages: Very sweet

No matter how old you are, I'm sure you are all familiar with a MARS bar - In its black, gold and red wrapper, which hasn't really changed much over the years.

The Mars bar was first manufactured in Slough UK. In 1932, as a sweeter version of the American Milky Way (not the milky way we know over here.) Isn't it great that we came up with an idea first, and is still going strong today.

Wrapping
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On the front of the bar, you will see the red and gold mars logo, on a black background. The same logo is printed smaller down each side, with the product description: milk chocolate with soft nougat and caramel centre. The bottom contains barcode and weight, of which this bar I am going to eat, is 62.5g. Other than this, the wrapper is very plain and simple.

If you want to know any more about what's inside, you have to lift the fold of the wrapper underneath. You may not want to have a look, and I wish I hadn't, but as I'm writing this review for you, I feel I should include what I've found. (It's up to you whether or not you want to skip this section and go straight to the chocolate eating bit.)

Ingredients
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Sugar, Glucose syrup, Skimmed milk powder, Vegetable fat, Cocoa butter, Cocoa mass, Lactose, Milk fat, Demineralised whey powder, Fat reduced cocoa, Barley malt extract, Emulsifiers (E442, Soya Lecithin) Salt, Egg white, Hydrolysed milk protein, Flavouring.

*Contains traces of Peanuts

Soft Nougat 33%
Caramel 27%
Milk Solids 14%

Now anyone can work out that these figures don't add up to 100%, so what else is there included?????

Nutrition Information
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Per bar ~ 284 kcal ~ 1194kj ~ 2.6g protein ~ 11.1g fat ~ 43.6g carbs
100g ~ 455 kcal ~ 1910kj ~ 4.1g protein ~ 17.7g fat ~ 69.7g carbs


The MARS bar
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Whether you tear the end off or rip the whole wrapper off, inside you'll find a light brown chocolate covered bar, measuring 11cms (4.5in) x 2.5cms (1in) and almost 2cm (3/4in) high. The top of the bar is uneven, and rough in texture, this is where the thick chocolate has set after being made.

As I take my first bite, the chocolate on top cracks a little. The bar is easy to bite through, and as you pull the bar from your mouth to enjoy what you have bitten, a piece of caramel goes stretchy and drops on your bottom lip.

The nougat makes the bar light, and smooth. When chewing, the 3 flavours all mix into one, giving you a smooth light chocolaty taste, without being too chewy. You will definitely notice the sweetness in your mouth, which I feel was enough. Any sweeter and it would be too sickly.

Personal Opinion
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I do enjoy the occasional Mars bar. The chocolate is mild and creamy, and not at all bitter tasting: it's not at all heavy going, which I think you would get if you didn't have the nougat or caramel.

I normally store chocolate in the fridge or freezer; if you do this with a Mars bar, the caramel hardens, becoming almost toffee like and the chocolate more crispy. It means that you can leave each bite in your mouth that little bit longer, to savour the taste before it all melts.

Every bite, from the first to last, will give you the same tastes, and while giving you an enjoyable sweet snack, it won't fill you up.

I bought my bar singly from a supermarket and paid 43p for it. Prices do vary depending on where you buy from, and if you buy a multi-pack too.

Sizes and packs vary, but do range from:
~Tiny ones found in a Celebrations tin
~Fun size 19.7g - in multipacks
~Snack-time 36.5g - in 10s or 20s
~Regular size 62.5g singly or in multipacks
~King size 84g

Personally I feel that the king size is too big for me, but would be more than happy to carry a snack or regular size bar in my bag. Whatever size you choose, slip one into your bag, for a great chocolate treat.

Just don't take too long eating it, as, with all chocolate, it melts in your hand if you hold it for too long.

What do you do with yours?
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Apart from eating a Mars bar as a chocolate snack, you can use them in some recipes, such as;

~ Deep fried Mars Bars - A Mars bar, coated in batter and deep fried in oil or beef fat. This invention started in Scotland with reports stating the first one was battered and sold in 1995. I've never tried these and don't think I ever will!!

~ Chocolate crispy cakes - melt a mars bar and mix in either rice krispies or cornflakes. Spoon the mixture into cake cases or on a flat try and portion up. Chill to set.
I have tried these on numerous occasions, you get the great taste of Mars, but with the crunch from the cereal you added, and the caramel gives them a slightly chewy twist.

The Mars History
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Mars bars have come a long way since their first appearance in 1932. Although the basic recipe has remained unaltered, the size and main components have changed, including a lighter nougat and a thinner layer of chocolate on top.

Various slogans have been used to market the Mars bar, including "A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play" then more recently "Pleasure you can't measure"

Mars changed its name to "Believe" back in July 2006, to support the England Team during the Fifa world cup.

Since 1932, many Mars varieties have been produced; some as limited editions and others which will be around for a while, these different varieties include:
Dark and light, chocolate bar
Midnight, chocolate bar with plain chocolate
Mars eggs, around at Easter
Mars milk drinks
Mars ice creams
Mars Planets.

Mars is now famous around the world, and is a favourite in Australia and New Zealand as well as over here. Which one is your favourite?

Thank you for reading my review. I'm off shopping now and will get a few to keep in the cupboard, for when I need a sweet treat.

Nicola x 26/01/08

since been published on another review site under my other name - nicolaks1

Summary: A chocolate bar, for an anytime snack. And it's not from outer space