The season edge creeps in as warmer days linger, yet shoppers are already eyeing the seasonal shelves. The festive mood arrives early, and the scent of roasting nuts and cocoa begins to insinuate itself into city streets long before December. In supermarkets, the end-of-year assortment appears sooner than many expect, and stores are rolling out Christmas desserts ahead of the crowd. It is not unusual to see lights being installed and decorations taking shape, while the air carries a hint of something sweet and familiar. Mercadona has wasted no time, placing nougat and chocolate-based Christmas treats into stores to welcome the upcoming holidays.
The standout from last year was the hazelnut nougat, a flavor that many shoppers remember as a highlight of the season. It vanished from shelves in record time, with some locations reporting sold-out displays just hours after the stock was replenished. The enthusiasm for that profile set a high bar for what follows, and the chain is clearly aiming to reproduce that success with a new flavor lineup. It remains to be seen if the hazelnut favorite will return in future batches, but Mercadona seems intent on surprising taste buds with something new. The latest introduction features a chocolate nougat layered with kikos, inviting curious mouths to explore a playful combination that blends familiar chocolate with a crunchy corn element. The reveal is practical yet bold, inviting shoppers to judge the novelty on their own terms.
The new flavor of Mercadona nougat is described as a chocolate-kikos hybrid, combining a creamy milk chocolate base with pieces of toasted corn and a hint of cocoa. The ingredient list is straightforward: sugar, milk chocolate, vanilla, vegetable oils, skimmed milk powder, crispy corn, exposed color accents, chopped hazelnuts, cocoa powder, sunflower oil, and a paste of hazelnuts. The result is a bar that promises a balance of sweetness with a satisfying crunch, all wrapped in a familiar chocolate shell that many memories of holiday seasons rely on.
Opinions about the new flavor have already started to circulate on social platforms, especially TikTok. The reception is mixed, as often happens with novel takes on classic treats. Yet many viewers agree that the combination of chocolate and kikos brings an unexpected texture, with noticeable chunks of dried fruit adding a distinct bite. Some tasters describe the chocolate as the dominant note, while others note a perceptible echo of the kikos crunch. The public is invited to form their own verdict and to decide whether this experiment earns a permanent place on the holiday shelf.
Observers also point out that the partnership between a traditional nougat framework and an inventive mix of ingredients signals Mercadona’s willingness to experiment while keeping the essence of festive sweets intact. The chain’s approach reflects a broader trend in which retailers offer limited-edition flavors to captivate curious shoppers and to extend the seasonal shopping window.
For those who plan to sample the new flavor, the consensus seems to be this: expect a chocolate-forward profile with a substantial crunch, balanced by the smooth creaminess of the nougat, and an audible bite from the kikos. If the goal is to surprise the palate without straying too far from holiday nostalgia, this trio of textures and flavors might just hit the mark. Will the market embrace this updated take on a familiar treat? Time will tell, but the early buzz suggests a strong curiosity from consumers eager to explore new twists on classic Christmas sweets.