Europeans have an appreciation for malt beverages. I’m not talking about beer, I mean malted milk. One of the most popular is Ovomaltine, which is sold as Ovaltine in the United States.
Of interest to Candy Blog readers though is the line of confections made by Wander, the Swiss company that makes Ovomaltine. I picked up this 100 gram (3.5 ounce) Ovomaltine Milk Chocolate Bar, called Schweizer Milkchschokolade mit Ovomaltine in Germany.
The front of the wrapper is bold and uncomplicated, just the familiar logo of the drink and some squares of chocolate.
The bar isn’t really that attractive. The squares all bear the logo for the Ovomaltine, but the inclusion of the actual malted milk powder makes the surface of the chocolate bar itself a bit dusty looking. The segments are nicely sized and scored for easy breaking and sharing.
Ovaltine is not just a flavoring for milk, it’s also supercharged with vitamins and minerals. The chocolate bar is no different, though it’s not exactly the same as swallowing a couple of multivitams there are a few B vitamins and minerals in there.
The bar smells just like a jar or Chocolate Ovaltine. There’s a light milky and malty note to it along with that scent of B Vitamins. I don’t know what that smell is, but it reminds me of baby formula.
The bar is grainy, the flavors are bold, the malt is front and center. The milk chocolate is passable, it’s smooth but barely gives a cocoa kick to the bar. There’s a strange umami quality to the whole thing, it’s not too sweet but still tastes like a treat. I would definitely eat this bar regularly if I could find it.
While in Amsterdam in January 2011, I also picked up this bar called Wander Ovolino, though I don’t recall where (I think it was at Jamin). It was a little on the small side but very light. The center was a creamy, malty nougatine. I would have bought more but I never saw them at the stores again on my trip. It had more of a hazelnut note to it instead of the sort of multivitamin flavor that Ovaltine sometimes has.
If you want to know more about the origin of Ovaltine, here’s a good article from Slate shortly after Nestle scooped up the rights to the powdered mix in the US. Also, Wikipedia explains why it’s called Ovaltine in English speaking regions instead of Ovomaltine ... there was a typo on the trademark registration. More importantly, in France they have a version that’s spreadable like Nutella or Speculoos. Please, someone send this to me!
Related Candies
- Brach’s Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs (2012)
- Target’s Market Pantry Malted Milk Balls
- Nestle Milo Bar
- Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate Malted Milk Eggs (Plus a Bonus)
- Villars Swiss Milk Chocolate
- Mighty Malts
Name: |
Ovomaltine Milk Chocolate |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Wander |
Place Purchased: |
Kaufhof (Berlin, Germany) |
Price: |
1.35 Euro (about $1.80 USD) |
Size: |
3.5 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
145 |
Categories: |
Candy, Chocolate, Malt, 7-Worth It, Switzerland |
We have Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream in Germany too. You’re lucky you missed it. It’s rather dangerous. Also, better than both bars you mentioned are the Ovomaltine wafer/cream bars. Oh, and the Ovomaltine muesli is pretty good too…
http://www.ovomaltine.de/startseite-de/ovo/riegel/knusperschnitte/produkte.htm
Ovaltine? More like round-tine.
Be… sure… to… eat… your…. Ovaltine!
</pointless “A Christmas Story” reference>
Looks like you can buy it online. All of the Ovomaltine products are under $10. :D
http://www.austriangrocery.com/search?keyword=ovomaltine&submitButton=Search
You HAVE to try the one with the cream and wafer. It is seriously amazing.
Yessss! I love me some malted milk. I like Horlicks the best. I’ve tried some Ovaltine treats in France but nothing like that chocolate bar!
hey do you know if i can buy choc ovo chocolate bar in berlin ?
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