I'm always happy to see brands team up with good charities, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation is an especially good one. A small amount of sales from each of the MAW-branded products will go to the Foundation; five cents from the sale of the Little Wishes star will be donated. I paid about $1.12 for this at Big W a few weeks ago.
Despite the name being plural, the Little Wishes product is one big 31g milk chocolate star. It feels a lot heavier than it actually weighs, but it is quite big, measuring 6.5cm across the widest point, and about 2cm thick. That said, to an adult it's probably only three or four bites. Although it looks like it would be the classic Dairy Milk milk chocolate, a review of the ingredients list shows that the milk chocolate used here is only 20% cocoa solids (Dairy Milk is 26%). Its scent is fairly mild, a little like milky hot chocolate.
The star is double-sided. On one side it has the Cadbury logo, while the other carries a message. According to the Cadbury site (linked above), some of the messages are:"A Special Wish Will Come True Because of You" and "Make a Wish for Someone Special". Mine says, "Believe in a world where wishes come true" which I think is sweet and whimsical.
Inside, the star is a combination of aerated chocolate (think Aero or Bubbly) and truffle. I didn't realise there was also a truffle centre when I cut the star open for pictures, so I was disappointed to find one half was dense (with big voids around the edges) while the other contained aerated chocolate. Yay for keeping wrappers!
The chocolate itself is unfortunately pretty average. It tastes cheap and boring, like discount chocolate from a substandard brand. It doesn't quite reach the depths of mockolate but it's disappointingly close. If the wrapper didn't say Cadbury, I would not have picked it at all. I was very glad this was only a small bar that I finished while reviewing it as I don't think I could have finished anything larger.
Save your money and make a direct donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation if you were buying this for the charity aspect.
The Cadbury Little Wishes star contains milk and soy, and may contain traces of tree nuts. Interestingly, this bar has been made in the United Kingdom. Do I have any UK readers who can confirm the cocoa solid percentage of your Dairy Milk? If this is what you guys have then I feel sorry for you.
Interesting! I actually really quite liked these, and the size is nice too.
ReplyDeleteGrabbed a 'Starbar' made by Cadbury from Woolies the other day. Think they have been out in the UK before, but new here in Aus.
You're right, the size is good. It's bigger than a Freddo but smaller than a bar. A bit like a Milky Way!
DeleteWe just got the Starbars in at my work too, and I debated on whether or not to review them. They are made in Ireland, and I think they might be a direct import product (like the Cadbury Creme Egg Twisted bar they tried (and epically failed) with this year or last year). I suppose I could pick another one up for review. They are on special at Woolies for $1 this week!
I have been looking for content like this for a research project I am working. Thanks very much.
ReplyDeleteHi Lolly Addict,
ReplyDeleteGreat review, it's very interesting to read an Australian perspective. I'm in the UK and yes Dairy Milk is only 20% Minimum Cocoa Solids. It's quite dire compared to other brands but I have to admit I still love Dairy Milk!
GG
Hi GG,
DeleteWow, just 20%! I suppose if it's what you're familiar with then it doesn't seem so bad. I'm glad to hear you enjoy it anyway. Do you have these Little Wishes available to you?
Yes, I'd really love to know that! I'm heading to the UK for Christmas and I have a lot of little people to get prezzies for. They'd love these, I just want to know if I should bring them or if I can buy them there!
DeleteAh right, can buy them at Tesco and Sainsbury's. Fab. Don't have to pile them into my suitcase (although it does take away from the novelty, if they're easy to find there - oh well, kids don't care too much!)
DeleteYou're kidding me, I searched these out because I tried one recently and it reminded of how good our kiwi cadbury USED to be. These are the last genuine dairy milk products we can buy, being made in the UK, I was given a box of milk trays at xmas and they were insipid tasteless things with an oily texture in the mouth, these little wishes took me to the days when Cadbury was the best chocolate in the world. Please tell me which cheap boring discount chocolate from a substandard brand they most taste like so I can buy a case of it. Man, what a snobby article, you really did kiwis a gross disservice there :(
ReplyDeleteSnobby indeed, I could eat these stars all day.
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