Rolo and Malteser both come as small, round-ish chocolates, but bite into one of each and the centres could not be more different, one flows, one crunches.
Two rival companies, two small chocolates
Rolo started life as a Mackintosh's and Rowntree's product before ending up under Nestle. Maltesers belong to Mars Wrigley. Despite often sitting next to each other on the same shelf, they come from directly competing companies, and the recipes reflect two completely different ideas about what a small chocolate should do in your mouth.
Flowing caramel vs crunchy malt honeycomb
- Rolo — a chocolate cup filled with soft, semi-liquid caramel that flows slightly as you bite. The chocolate shell is there mainly to hold the caramel, which is the star of the sweet.
- Malteser — a light, dry, aerated malt honeycomb centre with a papery crunch, coated in a thin layer of milk chocolate. There is no liquid or chew here at all, the texture is entirely about that crisp, airy snap.
Maltesers' odd diet-food origins
Maltesers have an unusual backstory for a chocolate sweet: when they launched in 1936 they were originally sold as energy balls, and were later marketed specifically toward women watching their weight, the logic being that the aerated malt centre used less actual chocolate per sweet than a solid piece would, making it feel like a lighter treat even though it was still sugar and chocolate.
Which one to pick
If you want a soft, caramel-led bite, Rolo is the one to go for. If you prefer something crunchy and lighter in the mouth, Maltesers are the better call.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the centre of a Rolo and a Malteser?
Rolo has a soft, flowing caramel centre inside a chocolate cup. Maltesers have a crunchy, aerated malted honeycomb centre, completely dry and light rather than soft and flowing, coated in a thin chocolate shell.
Were Maltesers originally marketed as a diet product?
Yes. When Maltesers launched in 1936 they were marketed as energy balls and later positioned toward weight-conscious women, on the idea that the airy malt centre meant less chocolate, and fewer calories, per bite than a solid chocolate.
Which company makes Rolo and which makes Maltesers?
Rolo began as a Mackintosh's and Rowntree's product and now sits under Nestle. Maltesers are owned by Mars Wrigley, so despite sitting side by side at the till, the two come from rival companies.