There are dozens of energy bar brands out there – meal replacement goodies sealed in a wrapper, traveling in the packs of outdoorsy people. But only one comes from right here in Park City, Utah. PROBAR is that company, and they’ve become a huge success in recent years. According to their history, PROBAR started in Snowbird in the late 1990s whole the company’s founders worked there. Tired of the scientifically engineered energy bars of the day, they set out to make their own bars with raw ingredients and whole foods. The PROBAR was born.
I’ve been macking on a whole slew of PROBARS over the summer, eight different flavors in all, and wrote down my thoughts about each one. All of them are delicious, and each feels like a full meal. Plus, they just taste better than the other energy bar companies knowing that buying PROBARS means you’re supporting a local company. So here’s a look at just a few of the varieties that I sampled:
Superfruit Slam
One of my favorites. All fruit flavor with some nuts. Tastes like a fruit smoothie in an energy bar form. Love the chunks of fruit and berries infused with nuts and seeds. One problem though, is that there are so many little seeds and things that after eating one, I spend the rest of my hike or bike ride picking my teeth. Better bring a stick of gum along for dessert, that is if you can hike and chew gum at the same time.
Double Chocolate
Do not be deceived. The name may be Double Chocolate, but this flavor PROBAR still packs a healthy punch as all that chocolaty goodness is mixed with nuts, seeds, and tropical fruit. But thanks in part to the chocolate, it’s one of the most delicious PROBARS in the entire flavor lineup. From chocolate chip to cocoa powder, it’s not a bad way to get your chocolate fix.
Cocoa Pistachio
One of the most nutty and seedy PROBARS in their lineup. It still has a sweet and savory pistachio taste that isn’t easy to pick out on the tongue, as there are so many flavors going on here. Mostly tastes like just peanut butter to me with some chocolate and different other nuts thrown in. Still tasty though!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Holy hell this one is delicious! It’s like eating a candy bar, only you know it’s organic and therefore better. Whole almonds and other seeds and nuts round out the flavors, but sometimes there are clusters of chocolate chips that make the whole bar so freaking good. Just watch out for peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.
Koka Moka
As a coffee lover, no… make that a coffee freak, I was most looking forward to trying the Koka Moka bar. While delicious, I really wanted more coffee flavor as the prominent taste. I mean, images of coffee beans are all over the wrapper! Alas, what flavors that are present like chocolate, cocoa, and the ever present nuts, seeds and fruit round this bar out as a well balanced and tasty treat.
Cherry Pretzel
Not my favorite of the bunch. I thought the flavor was a bit bland, except for when some dried cherries were in the bite. Certainly a good mix of sweet and salty (or savory as the label suggests) but doesn’t do much for my tastebuds.
Peanut Butter
Not as amazingly flavorful as the Peanut Butter Cocolate Chip. Also, like the Koka Moka, I felt the primary advertised flavor was a bit too light. Wanted even more peanut butter flavor to stand out. Still, it’s a really good bar that I would have no problem buying again.
Nutty Banana Boom
Heavy dried banana taste, paired with crunchy nuts and seeds. Seeing as how bananas are soft and mushy, it’s a bit of a mind bender to bite into what I can only describe as a crunchy banana. Once you get past the texture versus taste, however, it’s a savory bar that is also sweetened by chocolate chips and peanut butter. As someone who doesn’t really like bananas, it’s a good compromise, like a peanut butter banana sandwich that mom used to make.
For these and more PROBAR flavors, or to order a box, visit them online at www.theproar.com