Maltesers consist of small, round balls of malted milk with a chocolate coating, and are sold in boxes or bags. They are often described as being similar to Whoppers, a similar confectionery product made by The Hershey Company in the United States and Canada, but with a thinner chocolate coating and a higher malt content.
Maltesers were first produced in the United Kingdom in 1936, and were originally known as "Opal Fruits". In 1987, the name was changed to "Maltesers" in order to avoid confusion with the similarly named sweets Opal Fruits and Jelly Babies, which were also made by Mars.
In 2016, Mars announced that it would be changing the recipe of Maltesers in the United Kingdom, reducing the sugar content by 10%. The change was met with mixed reactions from consumers, with some praising the move as a healthier alternative, while others complained that it changed the taste of the sweets.
Maltesers are a popular snack food, and are often enjoyed on their own or as a topping for ice cream or other desserts. They are also sometimes used as an ingredient in baking.