3 Musketeers candy bars: Do you know how they were named?
If you are someone who is fond of candy bars, you know about the world-famous 3 Musketeers bars for sure. Aren’t you? Some of you may have even tasted them. But have you ever wondered where this brand of lip-smacking candy bars got their unusually funky name from? Today, let us dig a little deeper into the backstory of its unique nomenclature.
3 Musketeers candy bars and a French novel of the same name
Bibliophiles who are passionate about 19th century French literature will tell you that the 3 Musketeers bars got their unique name from the French novel The Three Musketeers authored by Alexandre Dumas. For the uninitiated, this is 17th century tale of an adventure seeker named D’Artagnan. The protagonist, on his way to join the Musketeers of the Guard (the royal bodyguards of the French King) comes across three famous musketeers – Athos, Porthos and Aramis and along with them gets involved in a series of thrilling adventures. When famous confectioner brand Mars Wrigley created this bar way back in 1932, it came in three original flavours—chocolate, vanilla and strawberry—in a single package (often regarded as the classic trio!). Do you now get the connect now?
Though there were three flavours, the 3 Musketeers bars were made up of two basic components: A fluffy chocolate nougat and its milk chocolate coating. In fact, some believe that the flavours never existed at all. It was just an advertising tactic. There is another school which would have you believe that the name 3 Musketeers was coined, as this was the third candy bar introduced by Mars, right after Milky Way and Snickers.
An ice cream from Naples may have been the inspiration
Not many of you know, but an ice cream native to Naples, Italy, known as the Neapolitan ice cream may have also inspired Mars’ signature chocolate-nougat covered candy bar. But how? Originally, it was a combination of three flavours: Pistachio, vanilla and strawberry, resembling the shades on the Italian flag. However, in the mid-19th century, when chocolate was gradually becoming a universal favourite, it replaced pistachio. Many still believe that apart from the French novel connection, the 3 Musketeers bars may have also derived their name from the 3 flavours present in the Neapolitan ice-cream.
The World War II connection
In less than a decade after the 3 Musketeers bars were introduced, the World War II had begun. This is when the candy company decided to reduce the manufacturing costs. In fact, the strawberry and the vanilla flavours were completely scrapped off in 1945, to save on sugar which was an expensive item back then, thanks to wartime inflation. But interestingly, they decided to retain the original name. In addition, Mars also retained the brick-like shape (of three layers) of the 3 Musketeers bar.