Saturday, May 1, 2010

Hershey’s Mexican Made Miniatures

Hershey's Miniatures (Mexico & USA)Last year I found out that Hershey’s was moving the manufacture of their classic Miniatures mix to Mexico. It took me several weeks to find a bag of the new ones and a bag of the old, American made ones.

The big difference in the packaging is easy to spot. The American made version was mostly clear so the mixture was easy to see and the center of the package had the brand and product information. The new Mexican made version is yellow and extremely easy to spot on the shelf. It’s still consistent with Hershey’s branding, but now opaque so no way to tell if the bag was light or heavy on a particular variety you liked.

The packaging on the inside, the little paper-backed foil wrappers were absolutely identical.

American & Mexican Hershey's Miniatures

Beyond the bag and the small notation that they were made in Mexico, it’s hard to say that there’s any difference at all. I bought both bags expecting to find that something substantial was different.

So let’s just consider this post a photo comparison, because I couldn’t detect any difference otherwise.

Mexican Hershey's Milk ChocolateNow, I don’t know that much about Hershey’s and the manufacture of their actual chocolate any longer. A few years ago they stopped roasting their own beans and sub-contracted that out. So they don’t even make their chocolate from bean to bar any longer. Further, I don’t know if they actually make the chocolate in Mexico, or just melt and mold it there. My guess is that or something in between. The Hershey’s chocolate flavor is more milk than chocolate. According to this article from the Washington Post, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate is only 11% cocoa. The rest is sugar and milk. But it’s the milk that’s hard to duplicate, American milk does have a distinctive flavor. 

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate is sweet, soft, fudgy and a little grainy. It has a distinctive tang to it, rather like yogurt or even feta cheese on a bad day (it can give it an off smell, like spoiled milk or baby vomit). There are caramel notes to it, a little peppery bite. It’s more confection than chocolate.

American & Mexican Hershey's Milk Chocolate

No difference in texture, taste or appearance between Mexican and American

Mexican Hershey's Special DarkHershey’s Special Dark is the newest bar of the bunch. Hershey’s has made semi-sweet chocolate since the early days, but the Special Dark wasn’t introduced until 1971.

The smell is woodsy and sweet with a little dash of burnt black coffee. The texture is a bit on the chalky side, not quite a dry finish but not mouth watering either. The cocoa butter doesn’t feel like it supports the chocolate flavors and there’s a fair bit of dairy oil in there, which tends to wash away flavor as far as I’m concerned. This could be a lot better, but probably never will be. The fact that it’s such a small piece is the only good thing about it.

American & Mexican Hershey's Special Dark

No difference in texture, taste or appearance between Mexican and American

Mexican Hershey's KrackelHershey’s Krackel bar as a single product is no longer available. I’ve seen bags sold at the Hershey’s stores (at Hershey World and the Hershey’s stores at Times Square) that are just the Krackel miniatures. But they don’t just make a regular sized Krackel bar any longer.

It’s a great idea, and was probably even better in its original version which was crisped rice and nuts in milk chocolate. It was introduced a year after the Nestle Crunch bar, probably to be a little different, but somewhere along the way they were the same product but different makers. The Krackel bar as sold now is a mockolate product, made with chocolate adulterated with vegetable oils instead of all cocoa butter. The flavor suffers as does the texture and I have little interest in these any longer. They’re more chocolatey than something from R.M. Palmer but also far too expensive for the cheap product that they are. Sweet, cocoa-ish but with a nice crunch.

American & Mexican Hershey's Krackel

No difference in texture, taste or appearance between Mexican and American

Mexican Hershey's Mr. GoodbarMr. Goodbar has also gone through some changes over the years. Once a fantastic and simple milk chocolate bar studded with oodles of fresh roasted peanuts, it’s become a sad imitation of that. (Literally, it’s imitation chocolate.)

Hershey’s moved to a more nutty flavor profile, which seems to involve the scent of burnt peanuts being incorporated right into the milk chocolate, which is then diluted by some extra vegetable oils. It’s bitter, now has too much salt and lacks a satisfying mouthfeel and the nuts always taste too darkly roasted for me.

American & Mexican Hershey's Mr. Goodbar

No difference in texture, taste or appearance between Mexican and American

It’s a testament to the manufacturing facility in Mexico that they can absolutely duplicate the American versions that we’ve been eating for decades without any noticeable differences. So that gives me confidence about the factory there, that it’s the same standards that we expect.

I can’t say for sure that all Miniature Mixes are made in Mexico, but all the ones that I can find on store shelves in my area are ... but I’m closer to Monterrey, Mexico than Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it could be a regional thing. If you want to support American jobs then I say find a candy mix that is made in the USA. My biggest reason for not buying these is that they’re just not that good. Half the candy in the package is mockolate for chocolate prices. Read the whole package before buying if you care. I listed a few in the “related entries” that are also made in Mexico.

Related Candies

  1. Wonka Fruit Marvels
  2. Classic Gums: Black Jack, Clove, Beemans & Teaberry
  3. Hershey’s Special Dark Miniatures
  4. Hershey’s Miniatures
  5. Now & Later
  6. Yummy Earth Organic Pops
  7. Short & Sweet: Butterfinger Jingles and Mint Miniatures

POSTED BY Cybele AT 1:46 pm Tracker Pixel for Entry     CandyFeatured NewsHead to Head

Comments
  1. Way to go Hershey sending jobs to Mexico.  You suck!

    Comment by candyman99 on 5/01/10 at 6:00 pm #
  2. I did not know that Hershey doesn’t actually roast their own cocoa beans any longer.  If anyone has been to see their “factory tour” ride at HersheyPark, then I guess that whole thing is now based on fraud.  It shows them taking the beans, roasting them, then the chocolate liquor and cocoa butter. 

    I don’t know what’s going on with this company, I’d rather pay a nickel more to have chocolate made 80 miles from me than in Mexico, although I will admit some stuff I buy seems incredibly fresh (must be the local stuff).

    Comment by Paul on 5/03/10 at 5:49 am #
  3. I will never buy another Hershey’s candy bar that is not made in the USA! Shame on you Hershey’s for going to Mexico for the cheap labor then sending bars back to the USA. You said you were doing this because of the growing market in Mexico!

    Comment by Scott Martin on 8/22/11 at 4:50 am #
  4. Let me throw in a comment about manufacturing.  For many years, I have bought a bag of Hershey Miniatures and a bag of Peter Paul Mounds for Halloween.  (Aside:  I live on a short cul-de-sac off of a busy street with no sidewalks.  We have had five trick-or-treaters in the last eighteen years.  Guess who eats the treats.)  This year I have noticed that small pieces are frequently broken off of the edges, and especially the corners of the bars.  This is especially true for Krackel and Mr. Goodbar.  All of those little broken crumbs undoubtedly add up to lots of wasted product on the equipment and the floor!  I also have a bar that has two punctures through the wrapper and into the bar that was apparently made by the manufacturing equipment.  Additionally, the wrappers don’t seem to be sealed as well as in the past.

    Comment by Halloween Muncher on 10/31/11 at 10:28 am #
  5. No longer the “GREAT AMERICAN CHOCOLATE BAR”
    Shame on them. Shame on us for buying it.

    Comment by Steve Daley on 3/07/12 at 8:33 am #
  6. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE between USA made and MEXICAN made/handled Hersheys? 
                    It is this:
    There are FAR LESS restrictions, and saftey regulations in Mexico than in the USA.

    I WON’T EAT IT!!!

    The USA should, if they aren’t, INSIST that Mexico be listed as the place of production, on all Hershey packages coming out of Mexico.  I don’t think this is happening.

    A very rich company - well worth BOYCOTTING.

    Comment by Betty on 1/20/13 at 5:34 pm #
  7. I just found out that Hershey candy is made in a third world country with lax health laws and a really corrupt government that hates the USA..that being Mexico. I, too, will NO LONGER buy Hershey candy made in Mexico, nor any Hershey products for that matter!

    Comment by Charles Mason on 2/17/13 at 6:17 am #
  8. stop it!! I work in Hershey´s Mexico and do not understand your racist comments. Stupid people saying if it is “made in mexico” they wont buy it..

    Comment by Pamela on 8/20/13 at 9:58 am #
  9. Cybele's avatar

    Pamela - I don’t think they’re racist. They’re nationalist.

    Milton Hershey created public works projects funded with his own money (the company’s money) during the depression. He founded the town as a utopia where he expected loyalty from his workers in exchange for stability, safety and comfort.

    While the man has been dead since the 1940s, the company still promotes these ideas for marketing purposes though they no longer subscribe to them. The same thing happened with Cadbury in the UK, which was also founded on utopian principals but is now owned by Kraft.

    Comment by Cybele on 8/20/13 at 10:05 am #
  10. People are ignorant thats it…
    The regulations are the same or even better because if not the product is returned and cant cross the border…

    I live in Mexico and have studied International Marketing.

    Comment by Victoria on 8/21/13 at 10:14 am #
  11. I use to love the flavor of Hersey’s Chocolate. I tried a bar a week ago and did not enjoy it. I decided if I am going to enjoy a candy bar it will be Swiss chocolate. Mexico needs employment. If it had more employment we would probably have more employment here for US. Citizens. If you are going to make Hersey Candy then make it to taste like the original Hersey Chocolate.
    A former Hersey chocolate lover
    Elnorarose

    Comment by Elnora Charaba on 9/27/13 at 5:34 pm #
  12. The best cocoa you can get is mexican… Swiss chocolate exists thanks to mexicans.. Read a little of history. If you guys dont like the taste maybe is because you where used to bad cocoa. Its not about employment or politics. Dont blame mexicans blame your own people. There is more to it.

    Comment by Victoria on 9/28/13 at 8:43 am #
  13. I live in a neighboring city of Oakdale, CA, where Hershey’s closed their plant and moved it to Mexico.  I knew several people who worked there and lost their jobs because of this.  I haven’t bought any Hershey products since.  I don’t care if they are still open back in PA or anywhere else in the USA, I only care that many great people lost their jobs here just so Hershey could make lower quality products while paying lower wages.  When does the bottom line ever become enough???

    Comment by Glenda on 10/10/13 at 2:59 pm #
  14. When Hershey took their manufacturing plant to Monterrey, Mexico, I swore I would never eat another Hershey product.  Hershey made good money off the people in that plant, then yanked over 600 jobs out of a small town economy.  It’s taken years to struggle back to where Oakdale was and Hershey is to blame.  If you think it only affected those employees, think about the almond growers, dairymen, local businesses who lost business because no one had money to buy the basics, much less any luxuries. If it says Hershey on it, it won’t enter my home. Beware the Nestlé products like Rolo and and Kit Kat that Hershey produces for them.  Hershey can kiss my right ear!

    Comment by Karen on 12/08/13 at 7:56 pm #
  15. I noticed reeses taste different i can’t believe we have our candy made elsewhere its crazy stupid taking jobs out of USA considering most of your product is bought in the USA maybe people should not buy your products.

    Comment by carl d simmons on 12/24/13 at 2:47 pm #
  16. I guess the new song should say ” Hershey’s, the great mexican chocolate bar!!!!

    Comment by Clark on 5/04/14 at 5:45 pm #
  17. Rats!!

    Comment by Danny Ray on 6/03/14 at 3:57 pm #
  18. when I was a kid I bought candy bars for a Nickel. Now they are like a buck fifty. I ain’t buying anymore until they come back down to a Nickel in America. Ha!

    Comment by Danny Ray on 6/03/14 at 4:06 pm #
  19. Just curious where does the WATER come from that they use in Mexico to make the Chocolate? I hope not Mexican water you’ll really being making some chocolate.

    Comment by Franny on 6/14/14 at 6:21 am #
  20. By the way is there any price difference between the chocs sold in Mexico and the ones sold in the US? Just curious to know

    Comment by Bini on 6/06/15 at 11:12 am #
  21. Hershey discontinued roasting beans about 7 or 8 years ago. Cocoa beans are roasted by Cargill in Mount Joy, PA. Cargill purchased “Wilbur” out of Lititz, PA and they roast under the “Wilbur” name. The funny thing is, the trucks run from the Cargill plant to the Hershey plants, right past the Mars factory in Elizabethtown where they roast 100% of their own beans. I guess that’s why Mars chocolate is so much better. They roast their beans and use Wisconsin milk.
    The other decision Hershey has made is to move much of its packaging to Mexico. Many US manufactured products are shipped to Mexico for packaging and then returned to the US for sale. I believe they do this for a lot of their non-chocolate products as well such as Twizzlers. The company has evolved to contradict many of the values that M.S. Hershey pushed when he built his company and school for orphans.

    -To the Mexican beans comments. The highest quality beans come for the equatorial regions of the globe. Usually within 10 degrees N/S of the equator. You can grow cacao in many other areas, but the quality isn’t/cannot be there. It’s like wine from NY. It may taste OK, but it is no France/Italy/Napa.
    Garbage in, garbage out.

    Comment by Matt on 9/18/15 at 8:22 am #
  22. Just bought 2 bags of Hershey’s miniatures, and noticed they were manufactured in Mexico, returning them to Walgreens post haste ... I don’t buy Non-American food products… Hasta la vista Hershey ...

    Comment by John on 11/20/15 at 3:44 pm #
  23. Hershey also sent the York Peppermint Patties to Mexico to be manufactured.  It really is time to hurt them, Hersheys, and buy another chocolate.  It doesn’t matter if the other chocolate is manufactured outside the U.S., Hershey was an American institution and has let the American worker and the public down.  Goodbye Mr. Goodbar!

    Comment by Diane on 12/04/15 at 4:51 pm #
  24. I’m done with Hershey Co! Shame on them. I will no longer buy any item produced by their company, whether it be made in the USA, Mexico or anywhere. The bag of miniatures I bought last week were disgusting so I looked closer at the bag & found out it was manufactured in Mexico.

    Comment by Barabajabel on 12/20/15 at 11:14 am #
  25. I just purchased some mints and will return them because I do not purchase anything from Mexico.

    Comment by Jim avis on 4/01/16 at 7:52 pm #
  26. Just returned a bag of the Hershey dark mini chocolates - the packaging & candy have gone way downhill. They mini bars have no chocolate flavor and were chalky, and gritty.
    Then I noticed that it didn’t have the Hershey PA address and logo; instead it said “Made in Mexico”. To me it looked like knock off / imitation Hershey’s candy, which I didn’t know existed until I mistkenly bought the dark chocolate mini bars.
    If they are truly Hershey’s, they need to stop making them, as they are no longer a good product.

    Used to love the chocolate mini bars, what a bummer.

    Comment by zab on 9/04/16 at 2:48 pm #
  27. Just bought a bag of York Peppermint Patties , they looked and tasted strange . I didn’t realize they were made in Mexico . I threw them in trash , a lesson learned about Hershey’s . Too bad , now it will be Swiss chocolate candy .They’re more expensive but certainly worth it and in my opinion most likely safer.

    Comment by reba tsokos on 9/25/16 at 11:17 am #
  28. This is so sad! How am I supposed to visit Hershey PA now? The chocolate ride, the whole experience is now ruined. I really hope things change after the new year.

    Comment by Jennifer on 11/30/16 at 5:44 pm #
  29. Hershey and York have been taken off my list for nearly two years now. I will not and do not purchase
    any of their candy. They have closed plants from the United States and Canada and taken their jobs for candy manufacturing, packaging
    To MEXICO and other countries—while still trying to obtain TIF subsidies, They were once an American company to be proud of. Today small companies who still care about quality , taste and the enjoyment of the candy
    have risen to become the preferred makers and retailer of American Made Chocolate . Buy Local from
    people who care.

    Comment by Mike on 12/06/16 at 10:40 am #
  30. Sad day in Hershey land. I learned about this year’s ago in Long Beach CA. The cocoa nut is grown all over the world so buy American or Swiss if possible. Much better.

    Comment by Jeff on 3/05/17 at 4:43 am #
  31. HERSHEY`S THE GREAT AMERICAN CHOCOLATE BAR! Oh my BAD, I mean YOUR BAD. hershey`s the SORRY EXCUSE of a chocolate bar. Must have MILTON rolling!

    Comment by patrick fasnacht on 3/08/17 at 9:50 am #
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