The Mars Bar Project

7/11/11

Been pondering, Parishioners,

‘pon Mars Bars…

Now, while there is great confusion

(Chocolate bars sold as Mars vary in different regions of the world)

due to the various names – apparently known as a Milky Way in the US

and formulations – see lists o’ ingredients at the Institute of Candy Controversies

Dr C & I concerned ourselves with the Australian vershun –

similar to the UK & Canadian.

 

 

Now; we were wondering

whether each Mars bar is unique –

that is, would the pattern of chocolate on the top

be like a fingerprint –

or would they all be the same –

as if stamped from a mould.

To this end,

we purchased four bars –

(while the Mars family may be among the world’s billionaires,

we paid only $1 each for these –

they can afford to absorb the loss…)

two from a batch with a best-before date of 11-06-12

and two from a 21-05-12 batch,

thus covering both intra– and inter-batch variation.

 

 

The results are shown below:

(Click here to see a larger image)

HA!  It appears Mars bars are unique!

Each bar an individual which can never be replicated;

a chocolatey chunk o’ History!

 

 

PS: While researchan this piece,

I ran across (thx WP) The VISIBLE MARS BAR Project:

Detailed analysis o’ British & American Mars Bars,

lotsa pics & some amusing animated GIFs.

 

 

A thorough comparative tasting of UK v US chocolate bars is here

The first reports of deep-fried Mars bars being sold in Stonehaven,  Scotland, date back to 1995.