It's important to note that most of the reviews here are conflicting because of the nostalgia for the old formula of these bars (there was a switch in formula and packaging in 2018). A large amount of critiques come from people who preferred the old formula (but you can find a few people who ordered the new bars, received the old ones accidentally, and were still upset...which suggests that the old bars were not that much better than the new ones).
I've never had the old ones, so this review is just about the current product.
All of the bars in the variety box are soft and pliable, and their textures are all some version of chalky or sandy. They remind me of peanut butter, but very dry and densely packed into bar form. This isn't a dealbreaker for me -- every protein bar I've tried has had something weird about the texture -- and it's not a completely unpleasant texture.
The flavors are hit-and-miss and are weak/nondescript across the board. The citrus bars (Lemon Meringue, Raspberry Truffle, and Blueberry Cobbler) have only vague hints of the flavor described on the wrapper, and the Lemon Meringue in particular just has a flavor of "citric acid" rather than lemon. The Lemon Meringue is also the most difficult and unpleasant to eat by far, the off-putting color (tan?) and the bitterness of the flavoring combined with the chalky texture making for a challenging eating experience.
Because the flavors are bland, the bars that really work are the Fudge Brownie and the Chunky Peanut Butter. Neither truly taste like those descriptors, but the suggestions of chocolate and peanut butter just mesh better with the malty, nut buttery, protein-y taste that all the bars naturally have.
Carrot Cake has caught a lot of flak. The smell and the first bite are definitely anxiety-inducing. There's something chemical, like soap, in the flavoring, like I've gotten into something in the medicine cabinet I shouldn't have. "Carrot" is the ONLY flavor (there's nothing else you'd expect to taste in a carrot cake, like cream cheese or spices), which is weird, but this flavor grew on me. It's unique and I ended up really enjoying it.
The only legitimate critique from the nostalgia critics is that the new bars appear to have more calories and fat than the old ones. Considering their small size and average taste, they probably shouldn't be this high in calories, but I feel full after eating them and they satisfy those mid-afternoon hunger pangs. There are just better tasting bars out there.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Peanut Butter (Peanuts, Salt, Palm Oil**), Glycerin, Cocoa Nibs, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Peanut Flour, Natural Flavor, Water, Salt, Erythritol, Almonds, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Lemon Meringue Pie: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Glycerin, Almonds, Palm Oil.. , Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Salt, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Water, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Blueberry Cobbler: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Glycerin, Almonds, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Salt, Erythritol, Water, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Raspberry Truffle: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Cocoa Nibs, Glycerin, Almonds, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Water, Salt, Erythr Itol, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Chocolate Fudge Brownie: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Cocoa Nibs, Glycerin, Almonds, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Natural Flavor, Water, Salt, Erythritol, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Mint Cacao Chip: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Glycerin, Almonds, Cocoa Nibs, Palm Oil**, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Salt. Water, Erythritol, Stevia Extract, Monk Fruit. Carrot Cake: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto•Oligosaccharides*, Glycerin, Almonds, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Salt, Erythritol, Water, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract. Chunky Peanut Butter: Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides*, Peanut Butter (Peanut, Salt, Palm Oil**), Glycerin, Peanut Flour, Palm Oil**, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavor, Water, Salt, Erythritol, Almonds, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract.
