These are my reviews and a ranking tier list of IQBAR plant protein bars. I would frequently see these in stores, and after noticing they are generally cheaper than other bars, I had to give as many of the flavors as I could a shot!
What do these have in common?
These are all plant-based, using primarily pea-based protein ingredients to meet the protein requirements to dub themselves as a potential gym-worthy bar.
Immediately, I notice the very outside is waxy, similar to a Quest protein bar. However, when biting in, the bars resemble a mashed organic oat-like texture. They’re soft and dense enough, and most have a few crunchy pieces throughout. They’re all mildly sweet–not as sugary as most other protein bars, as well as authentic, organic tasting. There’s nothing artificial; everything is just very tame and organic and even earthy tasting in some. This results in many of the flavors tasting more similar than they should.
Basically, if you don’t like sweets and want something more natural and organic-flavored, like an oat bar mixed with a protein one, you’ll like these.
Personally, I’ll just stick with regular protein bars.
1. Peanut Butter Chip
An authentic, very light peanut butter, chocolate, with a hint of salt. It’s mildly sweet, and the crunchy embedded pieces, while few, are noticeable and provide a light peanut-like crunch. Don’t think Reese’s or anything close here. This is a super tame, organic peanut butter bar for the most part. As a peanut lover, I do wish it had more sweetness and additional chocolate flavor.
2. Chocolate Sea Salt
It tastes like an organic oat chocolate bar. Little crunchy pieces throughout, more than many of the others on this list which was welcomed. The flavor is a mild, authentic dark chocolate, not bitter, though earthy-ish tasting. Lastly, the salt is barely there and isn’t too noticeable.
3. Lemon Blueberry
One of the sweeter ones on the list, though still very light. It has a sugary lemon flavor and hints of blueberry. It reminds me of a lightly sweet blueberry lemonade in a sense. The inner blueberry crunchy pieces are a nice touch, which provide hints of that blueberry flavoring.
4. Banana Nut
An authentic, mildly sweet banana with some embedded crunchy pieces. Tastes like a mushed organic bar of oats, banana, and nuts–the trifecta of health! Essentially, like the others, it’s not strongly flavored, though I like the organic banana flavor with the nuttiness.
5. Chocolate Mint Chip
I appreciate the reasonable minty taste, although it’s calmed by the organic oat part, but still punchy enough to appreciate. It doesn’t feel like toothpaste, but it’s stronger than I would have thought, and frankly, more bold-tasting than many on this list. The dark, slightly bitter chocolate is a nice addition and works with the mint. Overall: An organically minty, decently sweet dark chocolate bar with embedded crunchy pieces.
6. Toasted Coconut Chip
I love coconut, especially sweet coconut, and what I got was a super light, nutty-like, organic coconut flavor and, at best, a hint of chocolate. The coconut is the strongest flavor here, but without enough sweetness, it leaves your taste buds quickly.
7. Almond Butter Chip
One of the most boring on the list. It tastes very neutral with some almond nuttiness–it has a hint of creamy almond butter if I imagine hard enough. Simply put, it’s too bland and plain, with no bold or fun flavor. Lastly, some crunchy pieces on the inside do provide some additional texture. Crunchy pieces on the inside are noticeable too and provide contrast