What is inside a Smartie?
The inside of a Nestlé Smartie is, in fact, real milk chocolate. The confectionery consists of a smooth milk chocolate center encased in a hard, colorful sugar shell. This sweet combination has been a popular treat in many countries for decades, known for its distinct texture and flavor. Nestlé confirms that its Smarties are made with sustainably sourced cocoa as part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, aiming for 100% certified sustainable cocoa beans.
The ingredient list for Smarties typically includes:
- Milk chocolate: Made from sugar, skimmed milk powder, cocoa mass, and cocoa butter.
- Sugar shell: A crispy outer layer made with sugar, glucose syrup, and starch.
- Emulsifiers: Including Lecithins, to bind the ingredients together.
- Natural colors: Sourced from fruit and plant concentrates like spirulina, carotene, and red radish.
- Flavorings and Glazing Agents: Such as carnauba wax and beeswax, which give the shell its smooth, polished finish.
The American vs. International Smarties Confusion
A major source of confusion comes from the fact that the name “Smarties” refers to two completely different products in different parts of the world.
- International Smarties (by Nestlé): These are the milk chocolate candies with the iconic sugar shell. They are widely sold in the UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.
- American Smarties (by Smarties Candy Company): The product sold as Smarties in the United States is a small, tangy tablet candy that is essentially compressed dextrose powder. It contains no chocolate at all and is more akin to the candy known as 'Rockets' in Canada.
This discrepancy is due to trademark and copyright differences, meaning a child asking for "Smarties" in London and Los Angeles would receive two entirely distinct confections.
How Smarties are Made
The manufacturing process for Nestlé Smarties is a fascinating journey that transforms cocoa beans into the colorful treats we know. The process involves several steps:
- Chocolate Production: Real milk chocolate is created from cocoa beans sourced through sustainable initiatives like the Nestlé Cocoa Plan. The cocoa mass and cocoa butter are combined with sugar and milk powder.
- Forming the Centers: The melted chocolate is cooled and formed into small, disc-like shapes, which will become the core of each Smartie.
- Panning: The chocolate centers are placed into large rotating pans. As they tumble, a sugar and cornstarch syrup is added in layers to build up the crisp outer shell.
- Coloring: Natural colorings, derived from plant extracts and concentrates, are added to the tumbling candies to give them their vibrant shades. For example, spirulina concentrate is used to create the blue shade.
- Glazing: A final layer of glazing agents like carnauba wax and beeswax gives the shell its characteristic shiny finish.
- Packaging: The finished Smarties are sorted and packaged, with the final product now often using recyclable paper packaging as part of Nestlé's sustainability efforts.
Smarties vs. M&M's: A Comparison
While Smarties and M&M's are often compared due to their similar appearance as candy-coated chocolate disks, they have several key differences beyond their country of origin.
| Feature | Nestlé Smarties (International) | M&M's (International & US) |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Smooth milk chocolate. | Milk chocolate (standard), peanut, pretzel, etc.. |
| Shell Texture | Thicker, crunchier, crispier sugar shell. | Thinner, harder candy shell. |
| Flavor | A lighter, sweeter milk chocolate taste, with some variations like the orange-flavored ones. | Typically a richer, more robust chocolate flavor for the plain version. |
| Coloring | Exclusively uses natural colors and flavors, from plant and fruit concentrates. | While some products may use natural colors, M&M's have traditionally used artificial food dyes. |
| Packaging | Switched to fully recyclable paper packaging in recent years. | Uses plastic packaging in many markets. |
| Origin | Created by Rowntree's in England, now produced by Nestlé. | Created by Mars, Inc. in the United States. |
Conclusion
For those wondering if Smarties are real chocolate, the answer depends entirely on which product is being discussed. The popular, colorful candy sold by Nestlé around the world contains a center of genuine milk chocolate. It’s a confectionery product defined by this chocolate core and its signature crispy shell. However, the American version of Smarties is a completely different product—a simple, pressed sugar tablet without any cocoa content. The chocolate-filled Smartie distinguishes itself further from rivals like M&M's through its unique shell texture and the use of all-natural colorings.
