Mars And Hershey Candies

[jonniebkk]

Maybe more of a gripe but why are the candies produced/distributed Hershey and Mars candies in Thailand so bad tasting and small in size compared to neighboring countries. The Thai versions of Snickers, M&Ms, Mars, Twix, Kit-Kat and all their other candies are bad tasting (overly salty for one) and tiny tiny in size when compared to the same candies in Malaysia and Singapore. The ones in Thailand are really bad but the others are great...just like back home. "One would think the same distributor would be the same for the whole area but the Thai ones must be made just for the Thai market.

[mikethevigoman]

Maybe more of a gripe but why are the candies produced/distributed Hershey and Mars candies in Thailand so bad tasting and small in size compared to neighboring countries. The Thai versions of Snickers, M&Ms, Mars, Twix, Kit-Kat and all their other candies are bad tasting (overly salty for one) and tiny tiny in size when compared to the same candies in Malaysia and Singapore. The ones in Thailand are really bad but the others are great...just like back home. "One would think the same distributor would be the same for the whole area but the Thai ones must be made just for the Thai market.

Copies perhaps ! seriously though i found the same of the n american ones, not sure why, but they just dont have the same taste do they, i bought cadburys in foodland the other day, also different and bland, perhaps our palets have been ruined by spices !

[lannarebirth]

I dont know if I'm right or not, but it appears these chocolate companies use a different formulation for tropical countries. Perhaps to achieve less melting of the package contents. Whatever the reason, you're right, it is not tasty.

[ozzydom]

Chocolate confectionary made for the tropics is a different blend,one of the main additives is a different emulsifier to raise the melting point ,oddly enough the Cadbury chocolates sold in Sihanoukville are made in Australian factories and are great,luckily there is no quota on the amount of choccy,s you can bring back.hehe.

You can even get Scottish canned sardines and herrings over there.

[ozzydom]

Oh yeah, and the prices of Cadbury chocolates in Cambodia is comparable with Oz.

[geriatrickid]

Many companies produce products targeted for the tastes of a specific market. Mars has a manufacturing facility in Packchong, Nakhon Ratchasima. I wouldn't be surpised to see a heavy reliance on palm oil instead of the usual hydrogenated vegetable oils used in EU and NA. This has a big impact on texture and taste. As well, the artificial flavourings may be different.

Or maybe they just use the same production machinery for their Pedigree and Whiskas dog & cat food...................

Strongly suggest you consider chocolates imported from the EU. I find them to be of higher quality, flavourful etc..

[jonniebkk]

The higher-melting point recipes for tropical countries makes sense...but doesn't explain the taste and size differences with the Singapore and Malaysia versions of these candies. The last time I was in Singapore and Malaysia, it was pretty darn hot and humid there too

Yeah, but keep it quiet or they will impose a 1 candy bar duty-free limit

[PadThaiGuy]

I notice the Heinz Ketchup is different too. Very sweet.

Regarding Chocolate...I go for the Japanese stuff.

Morinaga or Meji.

Better than Hershey.

[fennielyn]

Thank God they left my beloved, Reese peanut butter cups the heck alone or I'll scream blue bloody murder.

Did anyone notice that there are 2 versions of Tim Tams as well? There's a smaller-packaged and cheaper-priced one from Indonesia and then you have the regular Originals that'sgoing for 99b. The former has the most ghastly taste ever.

[Ulysses G.]

They f___ up "mayonaise" too, by loading it with sugar!

[Thaiboxer]

I miss the king sized Snickers, Milkyway and Three Musketeers you can buy in the States. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are rare but they seem to taste as good as those back home. The quality of the American brands here seem the same to me...just the prices/sizes that are different. As another poster says, all the spicy food here has probably distorted our taste buds.

[torrenova]

I basically gave up on chocolate out here though the Ritters Sport Alpine stuff is ok. The rest is practically inedible and far too expensive for what it is.

I also bought some cadbury's chocolates in a box some months ago only to find they too had been poisoned and were not like "back home".

I actually miss the loose sweets and simple things like children's selections. I am sure only because I cannot have them.

[lannarebirth]

They f___ up "mayonaise" too, by loading it with sugar!

[mikethevigoman]

Maybe more of a gripe but why are the candies produced/distributed Hershey and Mars candies in Thailand so bad tasting and small in size compared to neighboring countries. The Thai versions of Snickers, M&Ms, Mars, Twix, Kit-Kat and all their other candies are bad tasting (overly salty for one) and tiny tiny in size when compared to the same candies in Malaysia and Singapore. The ones in Thailand are really bad but the others are great...just like back home. "One would think the same distributor would be the same for the whole area but the Thai ones must be made just for the Thai market.

I know its not chocolate but i have to tell you this one, david beckham after a top game was asked " what do you think of todays tactics ?, " he replies " i think they are a nice tast and make your breath smell nice ' ,the interviewer chirps up " thats tic tacs you thick c@nt " !

[Ulysses G.]

I thought that I was getting old and losing my taste for chocolate, because, around here, it just doesn't taste good to me. This thread has been an eye opener!

[chaiyapoon]

Totally agree that chocolate or chocolate coated candy/bisquits are crap in Thailand and long may it remain so,as I will continue to keep my weight down.Not to mention the local population some of who are starting to look more and more overweight.

[Aries74]

Totally agree that chocolate or chocolate coated candy/bisquits are crap in Thailand and long may it remain so,as I will continue to keep my weight down.Not to mention the local population some of who are starting to look more and more overweight.

May be they use the wrong ingredients, too moisture or the milk. Milk does not taste good either in Thailand. M&M melt in your mouth not in your hand, in Thailand it's definitely melt in your hand not in your mouth.

[scousemouse]

Maybe more of a gripe but why are the candies produced/distributed Hershey and Mars candies in Thailand so bad tasting and small in size compared to neighboring countries. The Thai versions of Snickers, M&Ms, Mars, Twix, Kit-Kat and all their other candies are bad tasting (overly salty for one) and tiny tiny in size when compared to the same candies in Malaysia and Singapore. The ones in Thailand are really bad but the others are great...just like back home. "One would think the same distributor would be the same for the whole area but the Thai ones must be made just for the Thai market.

Copies perhaps ! seriously though i found the same of the n american ones, not sure why, but they just dont have the same taste do they, i bought cadburys in foodland the other day, also different and bland, perhaps our palets have been ruined by spices !

i agree , any chance of some compensation .

[lazeeboy]

Maybe more of a gripe but why are the candies produced/distributed Hershey and Mars candies in Thailand so bad tasting and small in size compared to neighboring countries. The Thai versions of Snickers, M&Ms, Mars, Twix, Kit-Kat and all their other candies are bad tasting (overly salty for one) and tiny tiny in size when compared to the same candies in Malaysia and Singapore. The ones in Thailand are really bad but the others are great...just like back home. "One would think the same distributor would be the same for the whole area but the Thai ones must be made just for the Thai market.

all chocolate in thailand taste rotten ,used to english chocolate for me much better but it melts to easy in the heat ,i think most are from aus ,too expensive here anyway .

[Goshawk]

next time you see a kit kat, take a look whats written on the wrapper.. "international recipe"

they're imposters !!

[onethailand]

Did someone say Reese's?

[taxout]

Within the past two years or so, Mars changed the formulation of the "chocolate" used in M&M's and Snickers sold in SE Asia. Before, it was real chocolate, made with 100 percent cocoa butter. Now, they've replaced much of the cocoa butter with vegetable fat -- think Crisco. Just read the ingredients label.

This stuff wouldn't qualify as "chocolate" in the US -- they'd have to call it "chocolatey" or "chocolate-flavored" or some such -- so the original formulas are still used on Mars products sold in the US. The M&Ms and Snickers filled with vegetable fat sold in Thailand are made in Beijing.

I think they thought no one would notice. Well, I did, and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one.

Yet Mars still have the nerve to pretend they care about quality:

"Quality was and still is the foundation of our success. Today, our goal is quality in everything we set out to achieve, the products we make, the services we provide, the people who make up the Mars team.

"For Mars, quality is measurable. Quality means guaranteeing consumers that our brands will live up to their expectations - time after time, without deviation."

www.mars.com/global/About+us/The+Five+Principles/Quality.htm

Edited October 22, 2007 by taxout

[technocracy]

Oh yeah, and the prices of Cadbury chocolates in Cambodia is comparable with Oz.

But is the taste comparable to the original and best Cadbury's chocolate from the UK?

The chocolate in Oz isn't as good as the UK - close but definately not as good. It's <deleted> expensive in Oz also!

The M&Ms over here as someone said certainly melt in your hand - the colour goes bloody everywhere - put them in a white bowl and see the multi-coloured stain left.

If I want something cocolatey personally I go for the local products in general they are not only far better value but just as tasty. I don't know if they have the Viet made Beng Beng choccy bars in Thailand (I'd think so . . just never looked) but they are a good substitute for the Mars crap! Also I refused to pay the best part of £1 for a bloody bag of M&Ms or Snickers!

But then again if I want a sugar load I do like the local desserts (nam wan) and many of the sticky rice based sweets.

Edited October 23, 2007 by technocracy

[cdnvic]

I dont know if I'm right or not, but it appears these chocolate companies use a different formulation for tropical countries. Perhaps to achieve less melting of the package contents. Whatever the reason, you're right, it is not tasty.

I got that identical explanation regarding Australian chocolate in comparison to the same brands sold in Canada. So it rings true to me.

[torrenova]

As for milk, i have yet to find acceptable milk in all of Asia.