The Calorie Breakdown of Refresher Sweets
Refreshers sweets, produced by Swizzels Matlow, are a popular retro treat known for their fizzy sherbet centres. However, the term "Refreshers" covers several distinct products, and their calorie content varies significantly. This guide delves into the specific nutritional information for the most popular types of Refreshers, helping you understand their calorie load.
Classic Refresher Chew Bars
The iconic Refresher Chew Bar is a staple of the sweets aisle. These individually wrapped bars come in various flavours, with lemon and strawberry being the most common. The calorie count is fairly consistent across flavours.
- Lemon Refresher Chew Bar: An 18g bar provides about 75 calories. Per 100g, this works out to approximately 410-413 calories.
- Strawberry Refresher Chew Bar: Similarly, an 18g strawberry bar contains roughly 75 calories, or 413 kcal per 100g.
- Sour Apple Refresher Chew Bar: The Sour Apple flavour also clocks in at around 74 calories for an 18g bar, with a per 100g value of approximately 409-411 kcal.
Refresher Squashies
Refresher Squashies offer a softer, chewier alternative to the classic bar. Because of their differing ingredients and texture, their calorie content is also distinct from the chewy bars.
- Original Squashies: According to nutritional information, Refreshers Squashies contain approximately 361 calories per 100g.
- Original Squashies (Lemon & Strawberry): Another source corroborates this, listing 361 calories per 100g for the original lemon and strawberry flavour combination.
Fizzy Sherbet Refreshers
Before the chew bars and squashies, the original Refreshers were small, fizzy sherbet sweets sold in rolls. These classics have a different nutritional profile than their modern counterparts.
- Classic Sherbet Sweets (per 100g): These sweets contain approximately 383 calories per 100g, with the vast majority coming from sugar.
Comparison Table: Refreshers Calories per 100g
| Product Type | Calories (kcal) per 100g | Primary Sugar Content | Primary Fat Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresher Chew Bar (Lemon) | ~410-413 | High (88g) | Moderate (5.7g) |
| Refresher Squashies | ~361 | High (82g) | Very Low (0.1g) |
| Fizzy Sherbet Sweets | ~383 | High (88.7g) | Low (1g) |
Understanding the Nutritional Information
The most significant observation from the nutritional data is that all Refreshers varieties are very high in sugar and carbohydrates, which is typical for most confectionery products. The calorie differences mostly stem from the varying amounts of fats, which are present in the chew bars but almost absent in the gelatine-based Squashies.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Sugar is the Main Contributor: Overwhelmingly, the calories in all Refreshers sweets are derived from sugar. For instance, a Refresher chew bar contains around 88g of carbohydrates per 100g, almost all of which are sugars.
- Fat Content Varies: Chew bars contain a moderate amount of fat (around 5.7g per 100g) due to vegetable oils in the ingredients. Conversely, Squashies have a negligible fat content.
- No Significant Protein or Fibre: Refreshers offer minimal to no protein or dietary fibre, meaning they provide energy primarily from simple carbohydrates with very little nutritional value beyond that.
- Moderation is Key: Given their high sugar and calorie density, Refreshers, like all sweets, should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The individual wrapping of chew bars can help with portion control, while bags of Squashies make it easier to overindulge.
Conclusion
In summary, the number of calories in refreshers sweets depends on the specific product. Chewy Refreshers bars contain around 75 calories per 18g bar, while the softer Squashies have approximately 361 calories per 100g. The classic fizzy sherbet sweets sit between these two, with around 383 calories per 100g. All varieties are high in sugar and offer minimal nutritional benefits, highlighting the importance of enjoying them as an occasional treat rather than a regular snack.
For the most up-to-date and comprehensive product information, you can always visit the official Swizzels website to check their nutritional tables.
