There’s no denying that protein is everywhere. Protein oatmeal. Protein doughnuts. Protein boba!
And then there are the OG protein bars. They’ve exploded in popularity and variety in recent years: the buzzy brand David packs a whopping 28 grams of protein into a 150-calorie bar, thanks to a new modified plant fat. Other protein bars have gone back to basics, with Rx Bars relying on “simple” ingredients such as egg whites and dates to deliver protein-filled sweetness.
Traditional sports brands such as Clif Bar and Gatorade now emphasize their protein bonafides too, while others have taken forms that look more like Little Debby Nutty Buddies than the Power Bars of yore (we’re looking at you, GoMacro).
Sure, these bars serve a purpose when you’re hungry and on the run (though many nutritionists say we don’t need all this protein). But do they taste any good? Have they shed the rubbery textures and saccharine sweetness of their forebears?
To find out, we subjected 22 Guardian colleagues to a taste test of 12 of the top protein bar brands in the US.
Their reviews ranged from “tasted like it was actual chocolate” to “really vile”. Only four protein bars got what we deemed a good flavor score. For all of their reactions, read on.
***
The very best protein bars in the US at a glance
Best overall protein bar: Barebells
Best for high protein content: Gatorade
Best vegan and gluten-free protein bar: Nugo
Best organic protein bar: Aloha
***
How we taste-tested protein bars
For this taste test, we recruited 22 brave volunteers from the Guardian’s New York City newsroom to eat a lot of protein bars in the name of journalism. To keep things truly blind, we removed packaging from each bar and labeled them A through L. Testers had no idea what they were eating, only that it was a protein bar.
To spare everyone from palate fatigue, we split our volunteers into small groups that sampled six different bars rather than all 12. To keep the comparison fair, we tested the chocolate flavor from each brand, or the closest approximation a brand offered. We also had water and crackers on offer as palate cleansers. (The water was all gone at the end – make of that what you will.)
After each tasting, testers filled out an anonymous feedback form, writing comments and scoring every bar on flavor, texture, aftertaste and overall quality. One was the lowest score and 5 was highest. Then we crunched the numbers for final average scores and ranked the bars based on a combination of their scores and comments. Only four bars scored above a 3 on flavor – read about them below.
***
Best overall: Barebells Chocolate Dough
‘Straight up candy bar for me – I’ll eat it even if it doesn’t have protein’
$29.99 for a 12-pack at GNC $32.99 for a variety 12-pack at AmazonFlavor score: 4 out of 5
Main source of protein: milk protein blend (calcium caseinate, whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate)
Nutritional facts: 200 calories, 20g protein, 7g fat, 1g sugar, 20g carbohydrates
Barebells Chocolate Dough bars have a chocolate nougat center coated with crisps and a milk chocolate shell. Launched in Sweden in 2016, Barebells claims to be “on a mission to prove to the world that protein products don’t have to taste bland”. Tasters ranked it first for flavor and best overall.
What we loved: Tasters said this bar was the closest of the bunch to an authentic candy bar. “It tastes like a Twix bar,” said a photo editor. A data editor said it had the sugar content he would want to fuel him on a long bike ride. “It’s got good flavor, it’s got Rice Krispies and the texture was great.”
“Straight up candy bar for me,” said another taster. “I’ll eat it even if it doesn’t have protein – it tasted like real sugar and butter.”
It’s a shame that … Some testers said the bar was too sweet and others complained of a “bitter” aftertaste. “I really want to brush my teeth right now,” said a news and features editor.
No one seemed inclined to have more than a single serving, which is probably for the best. The bar comes with a warning: excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect due to sugar alcohols.
***
Best with high protein content: Gatorade Chocolate Chip
‘Tastes like a chocolate Rice Krispies treat in a very good way’
$20.06 for a 12-pack at Amazon $23.79 for a 12-pack at GatoradeFlavor score: 3 out of 5
Main source of protein: whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate
Nutritional facts: 350 calories, 20g protein, 13g fat, 28g sugar, 40g carbohydrates
Gatorade’s addition to this category is a high-calorie, high-carb snack marketed as a post-workout recovery snack. It’s a rice-like protein crisp mixed with peanut cream and dipped in a chocolate-flavored coating. (The coating’s grab bag of ingredients include sugar, vegetable oil, citric acid, whey protein isolate and finally, cocoa.)
What we loved: Testers enjoyed the crispy texture and what some perceived as a mild cinnamon flavor (though the spice is not listed as an ingredient) and scored it highest in terms of aftertaste. “It’s a nice high concentration of crispies, which I like,” said the news and features editor. “Much of it is comprised of the puffed rice instead of the sweet chocolate.”
“I think this is the only bar so far that I would actually eat,” said one tester, calling its texture “the winner”. The data editor also liked the texture. “It tastes like a chocolate Rice Krispies Treats in a very good way,” he said.
It’s a shame that … Some testers said the bar was too sweet (it has 24 grams of sugar), and if you’re concerned about ultra-processed foods, this one has one of the longest and most complicated-sounding ingredient lists of the group.
***
Best vegan: NuGo Dark Chocolate Mocha
‘Like if a protein milk mocha had a baby with Rice Krispie treats’
$23 for a 12-pack at iHerb $23 for a 12-pack at AmazonFlavor score: 3.4 out of 5
Main source of protein: soy
Nutritional facts: 200 calories, 11g protein, 7g fat, 14g sugar, 26g carbohydrates
NuGo, another crispy, peanut-buttery snack coated in chocolate, touts its vegan and palm oil- and gluten-free bonafides on its packaging (Aloha, another high ranker we tested, is also vegan and gluten-free). It also boasts of being made with real dark chocolate. We checked, and dark chocolate is indeed the very first ingredient on its list.
What we loved: Tasters liked the crunch and mild flavor of NuGo Dark Chocolate Mocha. “It’s giving crunch, it’s giving chocolate, it’s very solid,” said an executive editor. “Four stars.”
Many also noted a mild coffee taste. “It was like if a protein milk mocha had a baby with Rice Krispie treats, and I’ll take that,” said an executive assistant. (No espresso or coffee flavoring are listed among the ingredients, but enough dark chocolate could impart a hint of mocha.)
“[This] was the winner so far,” said a business editor. “Maybe because all the other ones are so horrible.”
It’s a shame that … Though it touts “real” ingredients, at least one taster said the bar, which has 13 grams of sugar, was too sweet and “tastes fake”.
***
Best organic: Aloha Chocolate Fudge Brownie
‘Like chocolate, specifically chocolate ice cream’
$25.53 for a 12-pack at Amazon $29.99 for a 12-pack at All Star HealthFlavor score: 3 out of 5
Main source of protein: blend of brown rice protein and pumpkin seed protein
Nutritional facts: 220 calories, 14g protein, 9g fat, 5g sugar, 26g carbohydrates
Aloha is an employee-owned, Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified company, the last of which means it offsets the carbon it produces. It also partners with sustainable farms and youth organizations in Hawaii. Many of the plant-based Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavor’s ingredients are organic, including dark chocolate, cocoa powder and creamy cashew butter.
What we loved: Tasters appreciated the dark chocolate taste and candy-like crunch on the Aloha bar. The bar drew comparisons to chocolate ice cream and at least one sampler noted an earthy carob taste.
“It tasted like it was actual chocolate, not that fake chocolate flavor,” said a finance manager.
It’s a shame that … Some tasters said the aftertaste lingered a little too long. “Strong taste might be too much across a whole bar,” wrote one in their anonymous feedback form. The carob-like flavor was “too strong”, another agreed.
***
Other protein bars we made our colleagues try
Eight of the 12 bars scored below average. Testers found them divisive, just OK or plain terrible, leading us to conclude that while protein bars can be great in a pinch, they’re still more utilitarian than decadent.
As one tester said at the end of the experiment: “It must be really hard to make a good protein bar, because the[se] basically all sucked.”
***
David Protein Bar
$31.99 for a 12-pack at Nutrition Faktory $39 for a 12-pack at AmazonMain source of protein: milk protein isolate, collagen, whey protein concentrate, egg white
Nutritional facts: 150 calories, 28g protein, 2g fat, 7g sugar alcohols, 12g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “It reminded me of Tootsie Rolls.” “Weirdly spongey.” “Mushy, but I still enjoyed it as much as one can enjoy eating a protein bar.” “Stuck to teeth.” “Good texture with Rice Krispies.” “Nice mix of textures with the puffed rice, but not enough to offset the bland flavor.”
***
Quest Nutrition Protein Bar
$23.99 for a 12-pack at Amazon $23.99 for a 12-pack at TargetMain source of protein: milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate
Nutritional facts: 170 calories, 20g protein, 7g fat, 9g sugar alcohols, 24g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “It took me on a journey to sadness.” “It feels like it actually has real, like 75% cacao chocolate chips in it. But [they’re] coated in gross, dry, bad, fake chocolate.” (Note: the Double Chocolate Chunk flavor’s ingredients include unsweetened chocolate and processed cocoa.) “Really dehydrating.” “It’s too heavy, like you can’t carry that in your purse.” “Flavor is okay, but the texture is not good.”
***
Clif Bar
$17.81 for a 12-pack at Amazon $19.98 for a 12-pack at WalmartMain source of protein: soy protein isolate
Nutritional facts: 280 calories, 20g protein, 9g fat, 18g sugar, 31g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “Too dense.” “Tasted like a fruitcake.” “Not hearty enough. Like, if you’re in a rush, you can grab it, but you’re still gonna be hungry.” “Very chalky and dry.”
***
Rx Bar
$16.98 for a 10-pack at Amazon $16.98 for a 10-pack at WalmartMain source of protein: egg whites
Nutritional facts: 200 calories, 12g protein, 8g fat, 14g sugar, 23g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “It’s just horrible.” “It’s so sticky that feels like it’s like a choking hazard – you can’t get it off the roof of your mouth. And then the flavor is not even good.” “Just three words: bland, bland, bland.”
***
Think! High Protein Bar
$17.99 for a 12-pack at Amazon $17.99 for a 12-pack at TargetMain source of protein: soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate
Nutritional facts: 230 calories, 20g protein, 8g fat, 8g sugar alcohols, 24g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “Nice! Dark chocolate, not too sweet.” “Too claggy.” “Not horrible.”
“Chalky with bitter aftertaste.” “Light subtle flavor that disappears quickly. Good choice if you’re in charge of bringing the protein bars for a hike with family and friends.” “Nasty, lingering flavor.”
***
Built Bar
$22.90 for a 12-pack at Walmart $26.94 for a 12-pack at AmazonMain source of protein: collagen protein blend
Nutritional facts: 140 calories, 17g protein, 2.5g fat, 6g sugar alcohols, 14g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “Looks like real delicious chocolate but is actually sludgy goop that once knew chocolate in a past life.” “Strong candy flavor and texture. It reminded me of chocolate marshmallow with chocolate coating, [but it] needed a cookie or some kind of crunch to offset the monotony.” “Too sweet, needs a crunch to add to the marshmallow’s texture.” “Like tar. Nauseating.” “Vile.”
***
GoMacro Bar
$24.74 for a 12-pack at Amazon $32.99 for a 12-pack at WalmartMain source of protein: brown rice protein, pea protein
Nutritional facts: 270 calories, 10g protein, 10g fat, 10g sugar, 36g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “It’s what I imagine boiled-down leather boots taste like.” “It has a kind of aggressive absence of taste which I appreciate – not cloying or chemical.” “Dry, bitter … horrible.” “Tastes like coffee or burning.”
***
Perfect Bar
$27.15 for a 10-pack at Amazon $29 for an 8-pack at PerfectMain source of protein: peanut butter
Nutritional facts: 290 calories, 12g protein, 17g fat, 18g sugar, 27g carbohydrates
The verdicts: “Like compacted dust.” “There is a bit of nuttiness, which I can appreciate.” “Tastes like soot. Sweepings from a fireplace.” “The flavor stuck in [my] sinuses.” “Tastes like a baking mistake.” (Note: samples of Perfect bars were tasted at room temperature. The brand suggests to refrigerate before eating for the best taste.)
