Devotees of Cadbury chocolate have been left utterly astonished after the brand lifted the lid on the unique manufacturing process behind one of its most iconic products: the Cadbury Flake.
The Accidental Invention of an Icon
The story of the Flake bar begins not with a grand plan, but with a happy accident. The legendary British confectioner, first established in 1824, grew into a global industrial powerhouse. In 1920, a factory employee named Ralph Thompson observed delicate streams of surplus chocolate dripping from moulds and hardening into crumbly, flaky fragments.
This serendipitous discovery laid the foundation for the bar we know today. Roughly a decade later, Cadbury began marketing the Flake as the perfect accompaniment to soft-serve vanilla ice cream, cementing an iconic duo in British summer culture that remains beloved to this day.
The TikTok Revelation That Baffled Fans
The mystery of how the Flake achieves its signature texture was recently solved for the public. Through its official TikTok account, the Cadbury World attraction decided to pull back the curtain.
In the now-viral clip, titled "try and make the perfect Flake," a staff member wearing the brand's iconic purple T-shirt demonstrates the ingenious method. A sheet of partially melted chocolate is spread on a surface, and a metal scraper is used to push the chocolate, creating flaky, rippled shapes.
The video shows that perfection isn't always immediate. The first attempt failed because the chocolate was too warm. A second try was slightly better, but it was the third attempt that proved successful, with the chocolate finally rippling into the distinctive Flake form everyone recognises.
Social Media Erupts With Amazement
The revelation sparked a wave of surprise and curiosity in the comments section of the TikTok video. One stunned user admitted, "Idk [I don't know] how I thought it was made but it wasn't this," while another simply exclaimed, "Wait that's how Flakes are made."
The clip even prompted a mini science lesson when one user questioned why Flakes don't melt easily. A fellow chocolate enthusiast explained, "The chocolate that Flakes are made from is dehydrated. Since a lot of the water is taken out, it changes the chocolate's molecular structure."
The love for Cadbury's unique creations was echoed by an American fan who shared, "Hi, American here, Flakes and Twirls are two of my favourite candy bars. There is really no American candy that's comparable." Another comment perfectly summarised the brand's appeal: "Cadbury broke my sense of chocolate, it's either Cadbury or nothing at all. They really know what they are doing."
Operating in 50 countries worldwide, Cadbury's portfolio includes timeless favourites like Dairy Milk, festive Roses tins, and the seasonal Creme Egg, proving its enduring global charm. But for many, the simple, crumbly Flake, born from a factory accident over a century ago, remains a true masterpiece of confectionery engineering.
