This bar could go into the category of exactly the same bar made in a different part of the world, except for one important detail. Unlike the Mars Bars made in most western countries, this bar is much smaller. It’s also not smaller like those small bite sized mars bars you see on Halloween or for kid’s lunches, this bar has almost the exact same proportion, but smaller. It really begs two questions, one is does size mater. The other is why would someone make a smaller version of a classic bar.

The first question is easy to answer, the size of this bar matter a great deal. The main issue with this bar being smaller is the ratio of chocolate to nougat and caramel. I assume to keep this bar from falling apart you have to have a certain amount of chocolate. If the chocolate is too thin, with the soft fillings, the bar would probably collapse. So the coating on this bar is just about as thick as the classic Mars Bar, however because it’s smaller that means you’re getting a lot less filling. What this leads to is a very chocolate forward Mars Bar that isn’t as soft as the original. I wouldn’t say this has ruined the bar, but I think I prefer more filling.

The other question is why Mars would make a smaller Mars Bar. The first reaction would be to give people choice of sizes, however in many parts of South East Asia (mainly Thailand though), this is the only size of Mars Bar you can get. That leads me to believe that it’s either a price issue, keeping it small keeps the bar cheaper, or it’s based on the portion sizes for other snacks in South East Asia. That basically means if other candy bars are smaller, it makes sense to avoid going huge. Surprisingly (at least for some people from western countries out there) many cultures don’t really like the idea of having huge portions all the time.

While I can’t say this bar is as good as the classic Mars Bar, it’s a fascinating alternative. I would say this bar is perfect for those wanting to have smaller portions, or for those who prefer chocolate over caramel and nougat.