Smarties Review: Why These Colorful Little Buttons Still Hit Harder Than Most Modern Candy

There are days when everything feels optimized. Your calendar is optimized, your inbox is optimized, even your snacks have been reduced to high-protein, low-carb fuel. Efficient? Sure. Fun? Not so much.

That’s where a simple, crinkly paper tube or bright sharing bag can hit like a time machine. The sound of it opening, the color spilling into your hand, the tiny decision of which one you eat first. Suddenly youre not doomscrolling your way through another afternoon. Youre a kid again, bargaining over colors at the lunch table.

That small burst of color, crunch, and chocolate is the problem Smarties quietly solve: sometimes you dont want a functional snack. You want a mood.

Smarties: The Colorful Answer to Boring Candy

Smarties by Nestlé are classic sugar-coated chocolate pieces  think flat buttons rather than chunky drops  that have become a childhood staple across Europe and beyond. Sold in tubes, sharing bags, and themed packs, theyre Nestlés answer to colorful chocolate candy with a surprisingly modern twist: more natural ingredients, playful formats, and a big sustainability story behind that rainbow shell.

On Nestlés official Smarties page (German site), the brand leans hard into three things: colors from natural sources, recyclable and paper-based packaging, and family-friendly fun. On Reddit and other forums, people talk less about sustainability and more about how Smarties are childhood in a tube  but they do notice the cleaner ingredient list and the move away from plastic.

Why this specific model?

In a world drowning in chocolate bars, caramel-stuffed everything, and protein-packed candy hybrids, why reach for simple sugar-coated chocolate? Because Smarties have a very particular personality that sets them apart.

• A different crunch: The Smarties shell is thinner and more brittle than many US-style chocolate candies. When you bite down, it gives a quick snap instead of a thick, glassy crunch. People on Reddit often describe it as gentler and less tooth-shocking than some American competitors.
• Natural colors, less drama: Nestlé reformulated Smarties years ago to use colors from natural sources (think plant and fruit extracts) instead of many artificial dyes. That doesnt magically make them health food, but if youve ever side-eyed a neon-blue candy, this feels like a more considered option for kids.
• Iconic formats: In Europe especially, the cardboard tube is legendary. Its portion-controlled, tactile, and just fun. Nestlé has moved to paper-based, recyclable packaging across the range, so you get nostalgia without so much plastic guilt.
• Kid-first design: Shapes, seasonal packs, and themed editions (like Smarties mini eggs around Easter or colorful sharing pouches for parties) make them easy to bring to birthdays, movie nights, or as a small reward at home.

Under the colorful shell, Smarties are milk chocolate. On the Nestlé DE product pages, that milk chocolate sits at around 65% of the recipe for classic Smarties, wrapped in a sugar shell that adds crunch and color. In practice, that means the taste skews milky and light rather than dark or intense. If you want a deep cocoa hit, youll reach for a bar. If you want something light, poppable, and sharable, this is it.

From a lifestyle perspective, Smarties arent trying to be your post-workout macro hack. Theyre a reset button. A handful in a bowl during a movie, a tube on a rainy afternoon, or a small surprise in a school lunchbox. Thats their USP: theyre simple, colorful joy, slightly smarter about ingredients and packaging than you might expect.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
Colorful sugar shell with natural colors (from plant and fruit sources)	Bright, playful look without relying heavily on artificial colorants; feels more parent-friendly for kids treats.
Milk chocolate center (around two-thirds of the recipe in classic Smarties)	Light, accessible chocolate flavor that works for kids and adults without being too intense or bitter.
Paper-based, recyclable packaging (tubes, boxes, and many sharing packs)	Reduced plastic use and an easier conscience when buying candy for parties, office bowls, or movie nights.
Multiple formats: classic tube, sharing bags, mini packs, seasonal shapes	Flexible for portion control, party favors, lunchboxes, or baking toppings (cookies, cakes, and desserts).
Available across much of Europe and selected markets globally	Easy to find in supermarkets and online retailers; simple to restock your just in case candy drawer.
Produced by Nestlé S.A. (ISIN: CH0038863350)	Backed by one of the worlds biggest food companies, with large-scale quality control and broad distribution.
Vegetarian-friendly recipes in many markets	Makes them accessible to a broader audience; check local labels for specific dietary details.

What Users Are Saying

Spend ten minutes on Reddit threads about Smarties and youll see two recurring themes: nostalgia and comparison.

The love:

• Nostalgia factor: Many European users talk about Smarties as my childhood snack or the candy they remember from birthday parties and school trips. The tube format, especially, gets called out as peak childhood.
• Lighter crunch and flavor: Compared with thicker-shelled US candies, people praise Smarties for being less sugary on the outside and milder overall. For some, that makes them easier to eat by the handful without feeling overwhelmed.
• Natural colors & paper packaging: Parents frequently mention appreciation for more natural colors and Nestlés switch to paper tubes instead of plastic. Its not a make-or-break for everyone, but it shows up as a nice to have that nudges purchase decisions.

The criticisms:

• Taste vs. competitors: On international threads, US-based users often compare Smarties to popular American chocolate candies and say the chocolate feels less rich. European users are more split; some prefer the lighter taste, others call it just okay.
• Formula changes: A vocal minority on forums insists Smarties used to taste better before recipe tweaks and the full switch to natural colors. Thats nostalgia talking as much as chemistry, but if you havent had them in years, expect them to feel slightly different than your memory.
• Still candy, not wellness food: Despite the natural colors and paper packaging, Smarties are still a sugary chocolate treat. Some health-conscious consumers wish for lower-sugar or dark chocolate variants.

Overall sentiment: warm, affectionate, and realistic. Nobody is pretending Smarties are superfoods. But as a treat, theyre widely seen as fun, reliable, and a bit more thoughtful than their hyper-artificial-looking rivals.

Alternatives vs. Smarties

If youre standing in the aisle or scrolling online, wondering how Smarties stack up, heres the quick comparison:

• Vs. US-style chocolate candies with colorful shells: Smarties tend to have a thinner shell and slightly less sugary feel, with colors from natural sources rather than a heavy reliance on synthetic dyes. Flavor-wise, theyre milder, which some love and others find less exciting.
• Vs. chocolate bars: Bars give you richness, fillings, and a more adult dessert energy. Smarties give you flexibility: you can share, portion, sprinkle on ice cream, bake into cookies, or snack absently at your desk.
• Vs. gummy or sour candy: If you want chocolate plus color, Smarties occupy a sweet spot. They scratch the rainbow itch while still being primarily a chocolate experience.
• Vs. healthier snacks: Smarties are absolutely a treat, not a health purchase. If youre counting macros, youll reach for nuts or high-protein bars. If youre counting memories and small joys, Smarties arguably win by a landslide.

Because they come from Nestlé S.A., a global giant with ISIN: CH0038863350, distribution and consistency are strong. That also means Smarties face competition from within Nestlés own portfolio and from other major candy brands, but their distinctive shape, color story, and packaging keep them instantly recognizable in any mixed bowl.

How Smarties Fit into Your Life

The real question isnt whether Smarties are technologically advanced candy. Its where they plug into your daily rhythm.

• For parents: Smarties are easy to portion and share. Mini bags work as controlled treats, and the more natural colors can make them an easier yes than some radioactive-looking options.
• For bakers: Their flat, disc-like shape makes Smarties fantastic for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. They sit neatly on frosting where rounder candies can roll or sink.
• For office warriors: A bowl of Smarties on a desk or in a break room is social glue. People wander over for just one, and suddenly youre talking about weekends instead of deadlines.
• For nostalgia hunters: If you grew up with them, Smarties are a quick way to collapse time. The first bite, the color sorting ritual, the familiar paper feel of the tube  its all still there, updated just enough for the 2020s.

Final Verdict

Smarties are not trying to be the most gourmet chocolate on the shelf or the most functional snack in your pantry. They are, unapologetically, fun. The kind of fun that doesnt ping your phone, doesnt track your steps, and doesnt ask you to optimize anything.

Nestlé has quietly modernized them with natural colors and paper-based packaging without losing the core experience: a handful of bright, crisp chocolate buttons you can share, scatter over ice cream, or devour alone on the couch.

If you want deep, complex cacao notes and single-origin storytelling, Smarties wont be your hero. But if you want a small, reliable jolt of color and comfort  especially if you grew up with that unmistakable tube in your hand  they absolutely deliver.

In a market full of serious snacks and anxious label-reading, Smarties offer something quietly radical: a simple moment of joy that doesnt pretend to be anything else.