North America Canada Théophile Viau first manufactured these as "Empire" biscuits in Montreal, and introduced them at a hockey game in Westmount in 1901, but in 1927, in order to lower costs, he removed the vanilla and renamed the product "Whippets". Today, Whippets are produced in
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, by
Dare Foods which bought the Viau bakery. They are currently available with both dark chocolate and milk chocolate coatings, and twelve varieties of flavors. "Viva Puffs" are similar to Whippets; they are produced by Dare Foods in two flavours. Viva is a trade name; these confections have been known in Canada for at least 50 years as "chocolate puffs". The cookies are similar to Mallomars of
New York City. They also bear a striking resemblance to
Tunnock's Tea Cakes as well as
krembos. However, the Tunnock tea cake does not have the same kind of chocolate nor filling. An episode of the Canadian science program ''
How It's Made'' showed the production process behind the cookie. However, many aspects of the production process (the amount of marshmallow filling, the ingredients, etc.) were not revealed. The show's narrator described these aspects as "classified information".
United States In the United States, Mallomars are produced by
Nabisco. A
graham cracker circle is overlaid with extruded marshmallow, then coated in a thin shell of
dark chocolate. Mallomars were introduced to the public in 1913, the same year as the
Moon Pie (a confection that has similar ingredients). The first box of Mallomars was sold in
West Hoboken, New Jersey (now
Union City, New Jersey). Mallomars are generally available from early October through to April. They are not distributed during the summer months, supposedly because they melt easily in summer temperatures, though this is as much for marketing reasons as for practical ones. Devoted eaters of the cookie have been known to stock up during winter months and keep them refrigerated over the summer, although Nabisco markets other chocolate-coated cookie brands year-round. (Those brands include Pinwheels, which also combines chocolate, cookie, and marshmallow.) Eighty-five percent of all Mallomars are sold in the
New York metropolitan area. They are produced entirely within Canada, at a factory in
Scarborough,
Ontario.
Denmark In Denmark, the treat was originally made using cream (hence the Danish name —"cream buns"); however, the filling was later made from egg whites to help industrialize production and improve shelf life. In Denmark, the confection is known as a
flødebolle (cream bun) and was in some parts, mostly in the Copenhagen area of Denmark, historically known as a
negerbolle (negro bun) or
negerkys (negro kiss). In the 1960s through 1980s, the term
negro was phased out by all major producers due to its use as a racial slur. Denmark also markets a variation shaped more like a patty, hence the name
bøf (steak). Note that the Swedish word
negerboll is used for a similar but different confection (
chokladbolle, known as
havregrynskugle in Danish). Denmark is one of the largest producers of chocolate-coated marshmallow treats, producing approximately 800 million of these every year. The largest Danish producer,
Elvirasminde, produces roughly 650 million treats; the company sends 400 million abroad and leaving the remaining 250 million to be eaten by the Danish population, putting the amount of
flødeboller eaten at 45 per Dane per year. In Denmark, chocolate-coated marshmallow treats are traditionally handed out in school by children on their birthday. They are found in any supermarket, and most confectioners will have delicacy versions. It is also a popular addition to ice cream cones, offered at most shops selling ice cream. Usually they are placed on top of the last ball of ice cream with whipped cream and jam (or
guf, a topping made of whipped egg whites with sugar and fruit flavouring). Sometimes they are even found in restaurants. Many baking enthusiasts see them as a challenge, and it was a technical challenge in
Den store Bagedyst (The Great Bake Off) on Danish TV. These popular treats are sold in packages of six to thirty pieces. In
Flanders, the confection is known as
negerinnentetten. The word can either be translated as "negress's tits" or could originate from the French word for head, , as the French word for this confection used to be , which is French for "negro's head". This is also the probable origin of an alternative name
negertetten. Nowadays manufacturers market the confection under a different name, as the aforementioned terms are considered to be offensive.
Germany In Germany, the (; "Choco-kiss") was first made commercially in 1920, although the first mention of them dates to 1892. Industrial manufacturing started in the 1950s. The sweets are made all year long, with approximately one billion made per year, placing average consumption at about one dozen per person per year. They are available in supermarkets and bakeries, and are traditionally sold at fairs. The interior is always egg white foam, sweetened with sugar, but there are also varieties using
sugar substitutes available on the German market. Sometimes they are consumed pressed between two halves of a bun, which is also referred to as a ("mud roll" or "squished bread roll")mostly by children. The original colloquial names were ("
moor's head") and ("negro's kiss"), but after eventually concluding that these names had racist connotations most companies changed the product-name to ("chocolate kisses"), ("foam kisses") or to brand-specific names like
Dickmann's.
Switzerland In
German-speaking Switzerland, they are still sold as . In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, as well as in France, they are known as
têtes choco ("chocolate heads"); they are more commonly referred as in France, which is also a racial slur.
Great Britain These differ from the domed biscuit or wafer based styles and contain a higher proportion of thicker rippled chocolate, topped with a half walnut.
Scotland In Scotland, this confection is known as a chocolate teacake; however, the confection is entirely unlike the usual English
teacake, a
sweet roll with
dried fruit which is served toasted and
buttered. Teacakes are generally served in the afternoon alongside a traditional
British tea. There are several manufacturers of chocolate teacakes in the UK, though the best known is
Tunnock's, a Scottish company founded in 1890. It was invented by
Sir Boyd Tunnock in 1956. He developed the idea of using
Italian meringue. He made a biscuit base, hand piped the mallow onto the base and covered it in
milk chocolate. Popular throughout the UK, the Tunnock's Teacake enjoys iconic status in Scotland, evoking memories of childhood, or symbolising "home" for Scots around the world. There is an online appreciation society for the Tunnock's teacake and Dundee University also has an appreciation society for the Tunnock's teacake. The opening ceremony of the
2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow featured giant dancing Tunnock's teacakes. The product itself consists of a small round
shortbread base covered with a hemisphere of
Italian meringue, a whipped
egg white concoction similar to
marshmallow. As this soft white fondant is based on egg white rather than gelatine, it is much more delicate than marshmallow. This also means that a Tunnock's teacake is suitable for vegetarians, unlike any marshmallow-based alternatives. The Italian meringue is then coated in a thin layer of milk or plain
chocolate and, in the case of Tunnock's, wrapped in a distinctive red and silver
foil for the more popular milk chocolate variety, and a blue and gold wrapping for the plain chocolate type. Several competing brands to Tunnock's, such as
Lees' Foods, also include jam in the centre of the teacake. The marshmallow filling is also firmer. In 2013, British café chain
Costa Coffee introduced the giant marshmallow teacake, which is around three times the size of a standard teacake, with a chocolate biscuit base topped with marshmallow and raspberry jam in the centre. An argument about whether the teacake is a biscuit or a cake led to an action in the
European Court of Justice by British company
Marks and Spencer. The
UK tax authorities eventually accepted the company's argument that the teacakes were cakes (chocolate covered biscuits are taxed, cakes are not) but refused to repay most of the
VAT. The European court ruled that in principle the tax should be repaid and in a further hearing before the UK
Law Lords in 2009, after 13 years of litigation, Marks and Spencer won full repayment of the tax they had paid from 1973 to 1994, amounting to £3.5 million. This case was fought with
Jaffa cakes.
Netherlands In the Netherlands, it was referred
Negerzoenen ("negro kisses") until 2006. In 2005, the
Foundation for Honor and Reparation of Payments for Victims of Slavery in Suriname fought to change the name, which happened shortly after. One of the largest producers changed the name to
Zoenen ("kisses") and others followed. This led to some controversy, since the Dutch word
neger was perceived by some as more neutral compared to the English equivalent
negro, though both terms are now widely considered pejorative and racist. These are often packaged with nine per box, creating the play on words
Negen Zoenen ("nine kisses").
Finland In
Finland, the name originated from Germany, and they were named "Negro's Kisses" (
neekerinsuukot) in 1951. The name was changed to "Brunberg's Kisses" (Brunberginsuukot) in 2001, after the manufacturer
Brunberg from
Porvoo; the name was changed for the same reasons as in Denmark, Germany, and other countries.
Eastern, Central and Southeastern Europe Hungary In Hungary, the product is called
négercsók ("Negro kiss") and was first introduced in 1980 by the New World Farming and Food Industry Co-operative Society (Hungarian: Újvilág Mezőgazdasági és Élelmiszeripari Szövetkezet) to great success. The production was based on a Danish example, with Danish machinery. Production gradually declined in the 1990s when local confectionaries and food factories had to face heavy competition from abroad.
Russia Zefir (, may also be spelled
zephyr or
zephir) is made from fruit and berry
purée with
added sugar and whipped egg whites. It is commonly produced and sold in the countries of the former
Soviet Union. The recipe is a merger of the traditional Russian
pastila with French
meringue. The name given after the Greek god of the light west wind
Zephyr symbolizes its delicate airy consistency. The consistency is similar to that of marshmallows, Schokokuss or krembo. The form typically resembles traditional meringue. However, in contrast to commercial meringue, it is never crisp. Both pure and chocolate-coated versions are widespread. In contrast to the other confectioneries of this type, it has no biscuit base.
Slovenia In
Slovenia, these confections are known as
indijančki (literally "little
indians"). They are also known as
zamorčki ("little negroes").
Slovakia In
Slovakia, these are known as
čierny princ (literally "black prince").
Poland Warm ice cream () is a Polish dessert or confection that could be seen as a version of the chocolate-covered marshmallow treat.
Serbia Produced in
Serbia by
Jaffa, the
Munchmallow has a biscuit base and a soft mallow filling covered by a chocolate flavoured coating, and is very similar to the original Glasgow version.
Southeastern Asia Philippines In the
Philippines,
Fibisco has "Choco Mallows". Likely to allow for better shelf life in the
tropical climate, its "hard chocolate shell" is actually a soft chocolate covering that does not completely melt at room temperature.
Southern Europe Portugal In Portugal, these confections are known as
bombocas. Sold by different brands, usually the supermarket ones. They are sold in three main flavors: meringue (white interior), strawberry (pink) and vanilla (yellow). They are being called
beijinhos in the last few years.
Latin America Argentina In Argentina, the confections were first commercialised in the 1970s and known as "Angelito negro" (Little Black Angel) and later, "cremocoa". They were manufactured by Terrabusi and are no longer in production, as in the country only the Uruguayan "ricarditos" are available.
Bolivia In Bolivia, Chocolates Condor is the traditional manufacturer of "Beso de Negro" (Negro Kiss). The confection is similar to the German Schokoküsse in its use of a sweetened egg white foam filling rather than a marshmallow-based filling. There have been attempts to introduce variations in flavor, but the "classic" version remains the most popular.
Peru In Peru, the confections are known as "Beso de Moza" (Girl's Kiss), sold by
Nestlé. Currently there is a contest between
strawberry and
lúcuma flavors to become permanent versions of the product.
Colombia In
Colombia and
Ecuador, it is called
Beso de Negra (Black Woman's Kiss) or "
Chocmelo", a portmanteau of chocolate and
masmelo (marshmallow). However, these last ones do not always have a cookie as its base. In 2020, during the
George Floyd protests,
Nestlé announced it would
rename the confectionary and remove the image on its packaging of a
black woman with bare shoulders and a colorful dress.
Brazil In Brazil, the dessert is known as Nhá Benta. It is manufactured by the Kopenhagen chocolaterie. Other variants exist in Brazil. Examples include Cacau Show's Montebello (does not contain the waffle base), and the one that popularised the international formula for the masses in Brazil, the Dan-Top. The cookies are sold in a variety of flavours, including coconut, lemon, passion fruit, caramel, boysenberry, tonka bean and coffee. It is also known as "teta-de-nega" ("black woman's tit").
Uruguay In Uruguay, it is known as "Ricardito"; the confection is meringue covered in chocolate, and is manufactured by Ricard.
Oceania Australia Arnott's Chocolate Royals are a chocolate coated-marshmallow treat of Australia, which are available in milk and dark chocolate varieties, and are similar in appearance to a Tunnock's teacake. Unlike Tunnock's, however, Royals have a thin layer of jam between the biscuit and marshmallow; they are also smaller in size compared to a Tunnock's teacake. Previously, there is a variation on the chocolate-coated marshmallow treats which are coated in desiccated coconut, sold by Betta Foods under the Eskimo Snowballs name, before it was discontinued. Similarly, such treats are sold through supermarkets, such as
Coles under the name Snow Drops.
New Zealand Since the 1960s, the New Zealand biscuit manufacturers
Griffin's have made MallowPuffs, a chocolate biscuit that is described as a "light fluffy marshmallow sitting on top of a shortcake biscuit, covered in luxurious milk chocolate". The marshmallow in MallowPuffs tends to be more dense and rubbery than in some similar products (such as Tunnock's chocolate teacakes). They come in a variety of flavours, including Cookies and Cream, Hokey Pokey, Toffee, Rocky Road, Double Chocolate and original chocolate. The slogan from a national advertising campaign for MallowPuffs, "Have you done enough for a MallowPuff", became briefly popular in the 1990s.
Southern Africa South Africa In South Africa, a similar confection is Sweetie Pies, originally made by Cadbury's; it is now produced by Beyers.
Middle East Iran In
Iran, this is considered a popular treat for children. The local version is sold under several brands, all commonly called (; literally meaning "winter ice cream"). Previously it was called Negrogis, after the company for which manufactured it in the country.
Levantine countries In
Levantine countries such as
Syria,
Lebanon, and
Jordan, it has historically been called (; slave head), however it has since been renamed to
Sambo. In
Lebanon, a local variation went on sale in the 1950s under the name
ras el abd (slave's head) by
Gandour; however, it has since been changed to
Tarboush or
Tarboosh (Fez) but continues to be referred to by the former name in public.
Israel ,
mocha and
vanilla flavors
Krembo or
creambo (, a contraction meaning literally "cream-in-it"), is the name of a chocolate-coated marshmallow treat that is popular in
Israel, especially in the winter as an alternative to ice-cream. "Krembo whipped snack" consists of a round
biscuit base (17% of total weight), topped with fluffy
marshmallow creme-like foam (53%), coated in a thin layer of
compound chocolate (about 30%) and wrapped in colorful, thin aluminium foil. Over time, different flavorings have been attempted for the foam by the different manufacturers, but the most popular have always predominantly been the
vanilla flavoring and, to a lesser extent, the
mocha flavoring. During the 1980s and 1990s, smaller manufacturers introduced additional flavours such as banana and strawberry but failed to achieve a significant market share. Today Strauss controls 54% of the krembo market in Israel. Krembos are exported to the United States and Canada, and sold mostly in kosher shops and import stores. In 2005,
Strauss signed an agreement with
Unilever to export ice cream and krembos to the United States and Canada due to a demand for products of this type with strict
kosher certification. Under terms of the agreement, they may be sold only in kosher supermarkets and import shops. The distributor in
North America is Dairy Delight, a subsidiary of Norman's Dairy. In 2007,
Nestlé introduced an ice cream variation of krembo called
lekbo (, "lick inside"). The average krembo weighs and has 115
calories. According to the fine print on packing foil, per 100 g of krembo there are 419 calories, 3.2 g protein, 64 g carbohydrates (of which 54 g are sugars); 16.7% fats (of which 13.9% are poly-saturated fatty acids, less than 0.5% are trans fatty acids) and 67 mg sodium. ==Other variations==