Advent calendar chocolate tastes different to the real thing — here’s why

The proof is in the cocoa — there’s a difference between regular and advent calendar chocolate.

Chocoholics itching for their daily dose of bite-sized chocolate could be in for disappointment this December.

Advent calendar chocolate has a different flavor than the store-bought confections due to quality, Mental Floss reports.

While advent calendars hawked by brands such as Cadbury, Hershey or Lindt will taste the exact same as their regular confections found on supermarket shelves, generic calendars will likely have a different flavor or feel.

This is because, typically, generic advent calendars use a cheaper kind of chocolate, which is not even “real” chocolate, the outlet reported.

Instead of pure cocoa butter, manufacturers use “compound chocolate,” comprised of more vegetable fats like coconut, soy or palm kernel oil, which makes it easier to mold into festive shapes.

It also changes the taste and texture.

“That gives it a different flavor than true chocolate, and can also give it a slightly different texture, making it seem slightly waxy or a bit oily,” Mental Floss reports.

Another reason for the discrepancies in flavor, however, could just be placebo.

Advent calendar chocolate tends to be thinner than regular kinds, according to Mental Floss, meaning it will melt faster. But, because consumers tend to savor the taste with only one chocolate allotted per day, the difference in taste may just be all in their heads.

“Basically, it tastes different because you’re paying more attention to it,” the outlet stated.

This year, however, some parents have ditched chocolate-filled calendars all together this year in favor of another method of daily dopamine.

One mom revealed on TikTok that she is giving her child one book per day leading up to Christmas, wrapping up the same books each year and labeling them one through 24.