Milky Way vs. 3 Musketeers: Differences & Which Is Better?
Milky Way and 3 Musketeers are commonly known as the most popular chocolate bars across the US. Therefore, the question of which one is better is not strange and it is quite frequent. However, to determine which one is better, you should be familiarized with the different features these chocolate bars possess. So, what are the differences between Milky Way and 3 Musketeers, and how to determine which one is better?
If you look at the labels of Milky Way and 3 Musketeers, you will notice that they have similar ingredients, such as nougat. However, Milky Way consists of a nougat layer on the bar which is topped with caramel, while 3 Musketeers includes a fluffy nougat center with darker chocolate on the outside.
This article is focused on the differences between the two most preferred and the most favorite chocolate bars across the US – Milky Way and 3 Musketeers. I have made my comparison in relation to nutritional facts, ingredients, prices, popularity, etc. You will get the chance to learn something more about these sweet treats, and determine which one offers better features.
Milky Way vs. 3 Musketeers: Comparison
Sometimes, you might have a hard time deciding which chocolate snack would be better for you, so knowing more about the nutritional facts and ingredients included might ease up your decision. Knowing these details might also be really beneficial when you intend to cut on some ingredients in your daily diet; therefore, you might find this article really beneficial.
Mainly, it is important that you understand that although these chocolate bars might seem quite similar, or to some, the same, they have a lot of differences regarding the ownership, prices, ingredients, and nutritional facts.
Which Came First?
Milky Way was the first chocolate bar to hit the market since it was created in 1924. On the other hand, 3 Musketeers came several years later, in 1932, but its ingredients were not the same as they are now. However, both chocolate bars gain quick popularity on the market.
There is no easy way to determine the better chocolate bar between Milky Way and 3 Musketeers. Some differences make them unique, so they might help you decide which one is better for you.
Taste and Flavors
There is usually one dominant flavor in each chocolate bar that makes the one in question quite distinguishable compared to other similar treats. In the case of Milky Way, the dominant ingredient and flavor is caramel. Therefore, those who crave caramel daily would prefer Milky Way over 3 Musketeers. In other words, the main accent in Milky Way is put on the caramel topping, so when you take a bite, the predominant taste that you get is the one of caramel.
On the other hand, 3 Musketeers prides itself on the abundant amount of nougat in the center of the chocolate bar. Nougat is known to be quite sweet, so people who prefer significantly sweet chocolate bars, usually opt for 3 Musketeers. What is more, the nougat in the center is covered with a darker chocolate, meaning that there is some kind of balance in the flavors in this chocolate bar.
Nutritional Facts
When it comes to the nutritional facts and values that these chocolate bars contain, you might not notice any significant differences. If you compare the nutritional labels of one Milky Way bar and one 3 Musketeers bar, you will notice that there are not many differences regarding this section. For instance, both chocolate bars of the same size contain the same amount of calories, as well as the same amount of minerals and other details that are concerned with nutrition.
Ingredients
As I mentioned before, many people consider these chocolate bars quite similar due to the presence of many of the same ingredients, especially those that are dominant in these chocolate treats. For instance, milk chocolate, sugar, egg whites, and cocoa powder are present both in Milky Way and 3 Musketeers, and they are quite dominant in relation to other included ingredients. What is more, they also include artificial flavors that also play an important factor in the content of these chocolate bars.
However, while Milky Way includes only artificial flavors, 3 Musketeers, by contrast, uses natural flavors along with the artificial ones. This might be a game-changer for those who try to eat as healthily as possible. In addition, Milky Way includes caramel as well, making the chocolate bar quite sweet, while 3 Musketeers is based on darker chocolate, which means that there is some sort of balance in the ingredients.
Appearance
When discussing the appearance of the chocolate bars, it is important to note that on the outside, both Milky Way and 3 Musketeers look exactly the same. They are covered with an outer layer of a smooth chocolate surface. Therefore, without cutting them or biting them, you would not be able to tell the difference.
However, if you cut these chocolate bars in two, you will see that the inside appearance is not the same. So, if you examine Milky Way, you will see quite visible layers of caramel and nougat on the inside. On the other hand, 3 Musketeers has only the nougat layer in the center and it is a little bit darker than Milky Way.
Nonetheless, they still have similar tastes regardless of the colors and the layers. That is the main reason why people sometimes have a difficult time differentiating between the two chocolate bars.
Variations of the Chocolate Bars
There are significant variations in the ingredients that are sold across and outside the US. For example, some Milky Way chocolate bars that are sold in different non-US countries do not contain caramel. That is why the Mars chocolate bar is mostly considered the same as Milky Way since it is not sold in the US. [1]
These differences and variations of chocolate bars exist due to the fact the manufacturer has different policies in different countries. Also, the factories where the chocolate bars are produced may use different ingredients. Therefore, it is understandable that there would be some variations.
Ownership
Both Milky Way and 3 Musketeers are produced by the same manufacturer – the Mars Wrigley family, or Mars Incorporation. Since Mars Wrigley is an international company and spread worldwide, some of its products might not be available in all countries. For instance, while 3 Musketeers is widely popular across the whole US territory, it is not so popular around European countries.
Popularity
Discussing the popularity of certain products can be quite delicate and difficult since people have different tastes, and it is not always so easy to determine which product is more popular. However, according to statistics, 3 Musketeers have been quite a popular chocolate bar in relation to Milky Way. [2]
In other words, up until 2020, people have been purchasing more 3 Musketeers chocolate bars than Milky Way, so according to the numbers, it is only fair to say that 3 Musketeers has the “more popular” status.
Vegan/ Vegetarian Features
If you look closely at the ingredients of both Milky Way and 3 Musketeers, you will notice that both of these chocolate bars are not suitable for vegan diets. The presence of milk and egg whites is not something that vegans can tolerate, so there is no option for vegan people to enjoy these sweet treats.
On the other hand, they are perfectly suitable for vegetarians since there is no meat in both of them, which is obvious since we are talking about chocolate bars.
Final Thoughts: Which One to Choose, Milky Way or 3 Musketeers?
Considering the nutritional facts, there are no significant differences between Milky Way and 3 Musketeers besides the amount of sodium. Therefore, there would be no point in selecting one of the two regarding the nutritional values. In other words, there is no right way in which we can determine whether one chocolate bar is better than the other.
Therefore, which one is better would depend on people’s personal tastes. So, if some people prefer the combination of caramel and nougat, their better option would be Milky Way. On the other hand, those who tend to enjoy balance in their sweets would go for 3 Musketeers.
