The surprising history of the 'black sheep' in a Cadbury Favourites box

Cadbury Favourites continue to be a popular choice for Aussies looking for something delicious to share with friends and family.

Supermarket entrances have been blanketed with boxes of the confectionary range, well before Christmas, right through New Years and now once more ahead of Valentine's Day, and it's often on sale.

Most Cadbury Favourites chocolates are familiar. Each box typically contains Picnic, Crunchie, Twirl, Cherry Ripe, Turkish Delight, Boost, Caramilk, Old Gold, Caramello and Dairy Milk.

We've heard of all of these, and debate continually rages over which are the best (Picnic, Crunchie) and which are the worst (Turkish Delight, Cherry Ripe).

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Then there's the Moro, a chocolate most of us only know of due to its inclusion in the Favourites range.

So I decided to find out what the story is behind this little-known chocolate bar.

What is a Moro? Where did it come from? Why is it only typically found in a box of Cadbury Favourites?

Is it well-liked, or is it the one we all leave behind after the rest of the chocolates have been eaten?

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I posed these questions to Cadbury's Australia and as I patiently waited for their answers, my intrigue piqued.

I used to give the Moro a miss, I think because I'd never heard of it before. When I tried it, I just didn't understand what it was meant to be.

Like most Cadbury Favourites fans, I could only understand it by comparing it to other chocolate bars.

For some customers, the Moro is similar to a Mars Bar, but with a more chocolate-y flavour.

For others, it's like a Milky Way with caramel. Others describe it as a biscuit-less Boost.

At one point I wondered if Moros are broken Mars Bars that didn't turn out quite right so they were relegated to the Cadbury Favourites range to get rid of them.

So you can imagine my surprise when Cadbury Australia confirmed Moro bars are a standalone product available in most supermarkets with a solid history of their own.

The Moro bar was originally available only in Ireland and New Zealand, and produced in Cadbury's New Zealand factory.

"The Moro Bar has an inspiring origin story that dates back to the 1960s when it was first introduced in New Zealand and Ireland," Cadbury Australia told 9honey.

My understanding is that when Cadbury production moved to Australia in 2018, the Moro came along with it.

Australia already had established chocolate bar preferences considered to be superior to the Moro. Most of us had only come across it due to its inclusion in the Cadbury Favourites box.

We are a country of Mars Bars and Milky Ways and Snickers, and later Boost bars, after all. Who needs the Moro? Also it doesn't help that the packaging of a Moro is so similar to that of a Mars Bar.

Cadbury Australia explained: "Designed as an energy-packed treat with a nougat and caramel centre, all wrapped in rich milk chocolate, the Moro Bar quickly became a sentimental favourite among chocolate lovers."

They explained the Moro Bar is "currently available in the Cadbury Favourites range in Australia, allowing fans to enjoy it in a bite-sized format alongside other popular Cadbury treats".

They added that the Moro "is also available as standalone bars".

Except I've never come across standalone Moro bars in my life.

I was skeptical, so I decided to investigate at my local shopping centre. And there they were: Moro bars being sold in full-size bars at both Coles and Woolies.

Both supermarkets also had bags of fun-size Moro bars in a share pack.

They were there the whole time, right before my eyes. I'd just never sought them out. Why would I, when they are surrounded by Mars Bars, Milky Ways, Snickers and Boost?

And also, this doesn't make sense because a Moro is basically a Mars Bar. Why have two chocolates that are so similar?

"The Cadbury Favourites format promotes shared experiences, fostering joy and connection among families and friends," Cadbury Australia continued.

"Moro's distinct flavour profile, thanks to its unique blend of nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate, reflects Cadbury's commitment to quality.

"Although Moro is also available as standalone bars, its inclusion in the Favourites range continues to grow its devoted fan base, connecting generations through shared indulgence.

"As we look to the future, we encourage fans to anticipate new formats and promotions, ensuring that the Moro Bar remains a delightful experience for years to come."

The Moro clearly hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. One Reddit thread described them as the "s--t fillers" of the Cadbury Favourites.

For me, the filler is Caramilk. I really don't like Caramilk, I know a lot of people do.

But then, we all have our favourites and that's why Cadbury Favourites are so popular because there really is something for everyone.

Next time someone cracks open a box, give the Moro a good go. Choose it first. I think you'll like it if you give it a try with this new knowledge.

And by the way, my eating order for Cadbury Favourites is Picnic, Crunchie, Moro, Twirl, Cherry Ripe, Turkish Delight, Boost, Caramello and Dairy Milk. I never eat the Caramilk or the Old Gold – my partner usually ends up with those.

And I don't by the Cadbury Party Favourites with the Freddo Frogs in them – I am a purist, after all.

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