Mars Bar (Mars Bar)

Member Name: Scottyboy_Peanut

Product:	Mars Bar
Date:	24/05/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nougat, caramel and chocolate all in one bar.

Disadvantages: Not as good as it used to be,

The Mars Bar has been with us since 1932 when the first of its kind rolled of the production line at the Mars factory, Slough.

For such a long standing product to remain so popular with consumers it must have something to it that is very appealing. There is a lot to like about the humble Mars Bar.

The Mars Bar is simply a block nougat which is approximately two thirds of the bar which is topped with a later a caramel which makes up the other third of the bar. This is covered in a Galaxy chocolate. It's an excellent combination and most people are likely to find it very tasty.

It used to be my favourite chocolate bar and was what fuelled my college days and early working life. I would eat about two a day and always be ready for more.

I say used to be my favourite chocolate bar because it no longer is. Back in 2002 the recipe was changed and they have never been the same since. Strangely, I haven't met many people that remember this event and even fewer that care.
I do however remember an article in a national newspaper about a man that was filling his freezer with Mars Bars in case he didn't like the new recipe. I wish I had thought of that! By the time I knew a new recipe was to be used the classic Mars Bar was already disappearing from the shelves..

So what has changed from turn the classic Mars Bar into the new Mars Bar? Very little actually, but what changes were made have lessened its appeal to me.
The nougat has been made lighter and fluffier. Pre 2002 the nougat was solid, quite heavy and darker in colour, now the texture is more like the centre of a Milky Way. Not quite as light as that but definitely very different to how it once was.

The proportion of chocolate was also reduced post 2002. There used to be a thick layer of chocolate on top of the caramel layer, now it is relatively thin. On a cold winter's day the classic Mars Bar would put up some resistance as it was bitten in to such was the thickness of the chocolate. In the summer, it would coat the inside of the wrapper and give me something to lick after the main Mars Bar course. With the modern day Mars Bar there is no such pleasure. If it is hot and you eat a Mars bar it is likely you'll be biting into exposed caramel

When I had my first new recipe Mars Bar I disliked it enough to vow never to eat another one. I upheld that vow until earlier this when I was given one and I thought it would be impolite, and maybe the cause of an argument, to decline.

So having eaten one for the first time in ages I can only say that my initial reaction so many years ago was maybe a little over the top. It was actually quite tasty. The softer nougat wasn't quite to my taste but definitely not how I had remembered it from my first taste. The texture and taste of the caramel was infinitely more familiar to me than the nougat, it was as nice as it always was. The lower proportion of chocolate on top didn't bother me as much as it did from that first bite either. Overall, I enjoyed it.

I've bought a few packs of five since and the more I eat them the more I like them. Maybe my memories of the classic Mars bar are finally fading and I will gradually become accustomed to the replacement.

It is no longer the king of all chocolate bars that it used to be, but it is still a very enjoyable snack.

Summary: Still one of the best chocolate bars