Pure Organic: Trail Mix

Pure Bar’s trail mix flavor is one of 6 in the current line-up of raw, vegan bars. True for the entire line-up, the packaging does a great job of conveying the flavor and the contents. Trail mix contains dates, agave nectar, cashews, apples, raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, cacao nibs, walnuts and rice protein concentrate. All the ingredients are organic. The bar is gluten-free, raw and vegan. Nutritionally, the bar delivers 200 Kcal, 3g of fiber and 5g of protein. The bar is very moist. The dominant flavor is actually the cacao. If you love cacao, which we do, then you’ll love this bar. There is a bit of sour note to the bar, which is something we don’t expect from a trail mix flavor. We realize however that you cannot put raw fruits like apples and raisins in a bar and not have some acidity come through. It would be nice to get another couple grams of fiber in the bar too. Overall, trail mix is another solid flavor from Pure Bar.

4 out of 5 stars

Pure Organic: Wild Blueberry

Pure Organic Wild Blueberry is a gluten-free, raw, and vegan bar made by Pure Organic of Newport Beach, CA. The bar is made with organic wild blueberries and you can really taste them in the bar. The bar is more about flavor than it is about nutrition. It only has 3g of fiber, but it does pack 6g of protein. The bar is made with organic dates, organic cashews, and organic walnuts. The bar’s walnut base really comes through, but it meshes well with the blueberries. The packaging is attractive, and unlike so many other bars on the market, effectively communicates the flavor of the product inside. In total, this bar tastes great and it does it naturally.

4 out of 5 stars

Nana’s Cookie Bar: Fudgy Wudgy

All natural and vegan, the Fudgy Wudgy variety of Nana’s Cookie Bar is a visually unappealing bar that’s basically a snack bar.   If you’ve ever had any mainstream snack product (e.g. a Devil Dog or Ho Ho), the flavor of this bar will be pretty familiar.  It’s chocolaty and rather sweet, with a flour base that’s exactly what you’d expect from a processed snack product.  However, it’s fortified with a blend of 12 vitamins and minerals so, at least in theory, there’s some nutritional benefit to the bar. Visually, the bar is, as stated earlier, unappealing, with a dark brown color and a pressed flat shape.  The clear label is a bit too much for us – especially since the bar itself isn’t very pretty to look at.    Overall, this product needs a lot of work.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Pure: Cherry Cashew Bar

This bar is made with ingredients that are USDA Organic, raw, vegan, and gluten free, which helps make it live up to its “for all people” tag line. There’s a pleasant base of date and almond flavor to the mix, which has been sweetened with agave and has a slight crunch from small chunks of walnuts throughout. The cherry flavor is subtle, adding a nice tart flavor to the otherwise earthy tasting bar. We’re definitely pleased to see that they didn’t make it too “fruity” tasting. Nutritionally, this 1.7 ounce bar packs a fair amount in, including 400mg of omega 3, 4g of organic fiber, 6g and protein, 200 calories, 9g of fat, and vitamins and minerals. Packaging has a relatively simple style of presentation to it, with a white wrapper that’s decorated with a yellow illustration of a female face. It’s an appealing design that has a definite vibe of health and nutrition to it. The rest of the wrapper has a lot of text on it, but in this case, it all logically fits together as opposed to creating clutter. Overall, an exceptional tasting bar that delivers the perfect balance of flavor and nutrition.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Oskri Organics: Coconut Bar with Organic Dark Chocolate

Blurring the lines between what we’d consider a “bar” and a piece of candy, Oskri Organics’ Coconut Bar with Dark Chocolate is extremely enjoyable nonetheless. This vegan, USDA Organic bar will be a hit with anyone who likes coconut, for there’s really nothing else to the inside of this bar. The chocolate coating adds a further touch of indulgence, but it’s might lighter than what you’ll find in a coconut candy bar (e.g. Mounds). Packaging has a pretty simple, but earthy look to it. We’d like to see more emphasis on the “with Organic Dark Chocolate” subtext, which is currently much smaller than the “Coconut Bar” text. That would certainly lure in more consumers – and be a more accurate descriptor of what’s actually inside the wrapper. Overall, we’re big fans of this bar, although it’s certainly a product that we’d only have once in a while as a treat.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honest Foods: Cran Lemon Zest

Honest Foods’ Cran Lemon Zest bar is made with a base of whole oats, almond butter, and brown rice syrup, which results in a relatively dry consistency with a moderate amount of chew. It also contains nuts and dried fruit, which are ultimately what give it the cranberry and lemon zest flavors that the bar is named for. Cran Lemon Zest is pretty much spot on when it comes to expected flavor, with a mellow cranberry flavor that’s complemented nicely with the bit of lemon zest. As far as the size of the bar is concerned, this 1.9 ounce bar is certainly not the biggest bar on the market, but it’s also a more manageable size if you’re looking for something to snack on. Plus, it’s vegan, made with whole grains and contains protein, fiber, and omega-3. Packaging is simple and clean, with a clear plastic wrapper that lets you see what’s inside. We’re big fans of that approach, especially when a wholesome looking bar like this one is inside. Definitely give it a try.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Go Raw: Real Live Flax Bar

Made with sprouted organic flax seeds, organic apricot, organic raisin, organic date, and organic lime juice, this bar is a tour de force of the organic and raw way of life. The bar itself eats like something that’s on par with “fruit leather”, those chewy pressed fruit snacks that most of us had as kids. However, that’s where the similarities end, for this is a far superior product in just about every aspect. Flavor comes in the form of dried fruit, which is a mixture of apricot, raisin, and date flavors, and the sprouted flax seed. It has noticeably earthy flavor to it, which is to be expected given the use of flax. Nutritionally, this vegan, non-GMO, USDA Organic bar has a nice hit of protein, fiber, and omega-3, plus the benefits of eating raw and unprocessed food. Packaging is busy, but effective, with an extremely text heavy design that works for some strange reason. However, we do think that calling attention to the fact that it’s made in a solar powered production facility might be a marketable benefit. Overall, a stellar bar – definitely one to try.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 164
Fat: 7g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 5g

WildBar: Mountain Mint

Made with raw cacao and wild blue green algae, this gluten free, vegan, and USDA Organic bar is designed to be the “ultimate meal in a bar.” The bar, which is dark in color and has a dry but chewy consistency to it, has a lot of flavor to it, including cacao, mint, and macadamia nuts. Unfortunately, these flavors aren’t balanced well, resulting in a harsh, almost off putting, mint flavor that leaves a bad taste in your mouth (and a lingering aftertaste). Conceptually, we think it’s a good one, and some refinement to the recipe might make this a better tasting product. Otherwise, this bar is likely going to appeal to someone who’s really hell bent on adding blue algae (Crystal Manna and Blue Manna) to their diet. On the packaging front, this product’s wrapper design made us expect something very different than what was inside it. Specifically, the bright colors and emphasis on the mint leaf seemed to be somewhat of a head scratcher, while there are no visual aides to call out the other ingredients in the bar. That seems like a big mistake, especially since mint isn’t something that’s likely to whet the palate of too many bar shoppers. Overall, this bar needs work, both in packaging and flavor.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 185
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 14g
Protein: 5.5g
Vitamins: Vitamin B5: 9%, Vitamin D 3%, Vitamin E 8%, Magnesium: 2.5g, Copper 26%, Zinc 12%, Selenium 16%, Molybdenum 37%, Phosphorous 60%

Honest Foods: Apple Ginger

This is a nice tasting bar, with notes of oats, apple, ginger, raisins, and seeds. It’s moderately sweet and somewhat sticky, with a fair amount of chew to the bar. The result is something that’s quite palatable and provides just the right amount of substance to supplement a meal or act as a snack. At 210 calories and 9g of fat, this vegan bar delivers 4g of fiber, 5g of protein, whole grains, and 190mg of omega-3. Honestly – and no pun intended –our biggest complaint about the bar is how quickly it disappeared. A hungry person could certain devour this in only a few bites (as we did). Packaging is simple and effective, with a name that lines up nicely with the whole foods that are inside this wrapper. Overall, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Weil by Nature’s Path Organic: Banana Manna

Billed as a bar that’s flavored with pure fruit and nuts, this product is, unfortunately, not much more than a mushy mess of dates. Yes, it’s vegan, organic, made with only a handful of ingredients, and has no sugar added, but it just isn’t an enjoyable bar to eat. There’s a little bit of banana and almond flavor, but not enough to make it a palatable experience. Really, this bar is going to sell because of its affiliation with Dr. Weil and the implied credibility that comes with that. Otherwise, there’s not really much to like about this product.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Think Organic: Chocolate Coconut

Think Organic’s Chocolate Coconut bar is billed as a raw fruit & nut snack bar that’s gluten free and vegan. It has a heavy amount of dates as its base, follow buy a touch of cashew, a modest amount of coconut, and the slightest hint of chocolate to the finish. The combination is good, and while it delivers a nice coconut flavor, we were quite underwhelmed by the lack of chocolate flavor in the bar. Nutritionally, the bar packs 4g of protein, 3g of fiber, 300mg of potassium, trace vitamins and 9g of fat into a 160 calorie format. As it currently stands, it’s an edible bar, but it isn’t an overly memorable one. The same can be said for the packaging. It’s a clean design with proper handling of the various text elements, but it’s not a package that whets our appetite. Overall, it’s good, but a bit more chocolate flavor would be nice on the inside – and more visually appeal is needed on the outside.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

ProBar: Kettle Corn

When we saw a bar named “Kettle Corn,” it certainly whet our appetite.  Kettle corn is one of those nostalgic things that has an enjoyable sweet but savory flavor.  We were certainly curious to see how it translated into bar form.  However, ProBar’s spin seems to be a bit far from the original, with toasted corn being the main connection back to the original.  In some ways, we’re okay with what they’ve done with this bar.  They’ve blended a variety of “whole foods” into this organic and vegan meal replacement bar, including whole grains, seeds, chocolate, coconut, dates, and peanut butter.  It’s chewy and soft, with a slight crunch to the finish.  Nutritionally, this bar packs in a lot, including 10g of protein, 6g of fiber, and a variety of vitamins.  Plus, it’s a product that will truly satisfy your appetite.  Still, we’re a bit disappointed by the Kettle Corn name – it sounds like something that would be more fitting for a candy bar than the ProBar line. 

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bobo’s Oat Bars: Cranberry

Made primarily of rolled oats  this bar has a very wholesome, homemade flavor.  This soft and chewy bar is sweetened with organic brown rice syrup and has a few cranberries sprinkled throughout.   It has 180 calories, 3g of fiber, and 3g of protein, which is reasonable for a bar of this type.  Really, it will come down to this: do you like rolled oats or not?  If you do, this is a superb bar that you’ll find filling and enjoyable.  Packaging is unique, using the shape of a bar of soap compared to the tried and true candy bar shape.  In our opinion, this, combined with the folksy feel of the “baked from the heart in Boulder, Colorado” reinforces this bar’s credibility as a nutritional product.  Overall, we like the unique look and flavor of this bar quite a bit.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

SenCha Green Tea Bar: Delicate Pear

This bar’s primary selling point is its equivalency to three cups of green tea, but they don’t mention EGCG or antioxidants, leaving the consumer to figure out what this is all about.  From a flavor point of view, this bar is somewhat of a mess. There’s a lot that hits your palate –pear (from both fruit and flavoring), green tea, seeds, soy, and nuts — but nothings balanced or complementary in nature.  Dialing down the pear flavor and adding a little bit of spice might be a solution to this, but in its current form, the flavor just isn’t all that enjoyable.  Packaging has issues, too, with the brand name being easy to miss (white text on yellow) and the product’s purpose (green tea) in small hard to read font.  The color scheme is good, but otherwise, the bar could use some help in the personality department.  Overall, we like the concept, but th execution needs improvement.

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars

Oskri Organics: Desert Dates

From a flavor point of view, this bar is certainly in the upper tier, at least as far as nut based bars are concerned.  Using a mix of dates, almonds, rice syrup, honey, buck wheat, sesame, amaranth, and crisped rice, this product has a high quality homemade feeling to it.  It’s almost like a high end Rice Krispie Treat, with the crisped rice giving the product a familiar flavor and adding a bit of light crunch, while the nuts, honey, and dates give the product a high quality feeling in your mouth.  Identifiable nut flavors and chunks are a huge plus, and it’s clear that this product has only the slightest bit of processing as they form it into this delightful bar.  Packaging, on the other hand, seems like it needs improvement, with a cluttered front panel that made us scratch our head.  First, there’s the disclosure “may contain pits,” which is an unappetizing bit of text that’s certainly not going to help sell this bar (we’d move that to the back).  Second, the bar doesn’t say what it’s supposed to be — nutrition? Energy?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Calories: 395
Protein: 7g;
Fat: 6.9g
Fiber 7.0g

Bumble Bar: Original with Cashew

The wrapper suggests greatness: bees, signifying honey. Cashews, signifying yummy. The whole thing looks like a gold-plated Bit-O-Honey reincarnated as a high-end energy bar. Unfortunately, that’s not what Bumble Bar is on the inside. Instead, you get a funky-tasting, oddly minty-smelling shingle of sesame seeds and sticky organic rice syrup; in other words, birdseed, with an odd texture, no honey taste and negligible amounts of cashew. While this product might satisfy the organic, gluten-free/vegan crowd, it’s hard to imagine that they don’t know better themselves. As mentioned above, though, good packaging.

Rating: 2 Stars

Calories: 230
Fat:16 g
Carbs: 17 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 6g

Prana Bar: Cashew Almond

Touted as being 55% raw, this bar has a fairly nutty flavor, followed by a touch of date past that makes its way onto your palate.  The nuts give it that raw, earthy flavor that they appear to be going for, with distinguishable cashew and almond notes.  The bar itself is very light and moist, with the only crunch coming from the chunks of nuts.  There’s also puffed amaranth (a vegetable) that has a rice like consistency.  Being so reliant on nuts, it’s not surprise that the bar has 220 calories and a whopping 14g of fat.  It doesn’t really provide much in the way of nutritional benefits, aside from being “raw”, which in theory doesn’t leave a lot of work for your digestive system.  Packaging is a bit washed out for our liking, especially when competing products tend to have more vibrant, appealing labels.  Plus, it might help if they helped explain what their “Raw Enzyme Power” tagline meant in a more understandable way.

Rating: 3.5 Stars