Flavors Tried: Dark Chocolate Coconut, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
Price: $27 for box of 12 ($2.25 per bar)
Nutrition: 220 Calories, 12g Fat, 22g Carbs (5g Fiber, 7g Sugar), 10g Protein
It’s not often that I come across a protein bar that is both vegan and gluten-free, let alone one that sounds appealing enough to try.
But I came across Zing bars at a local pharmacy, and they sounded good enough for me to give them a shot.
My store had two flavors – Dark Chocolate Coconut and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter. There are other flavors and variations available, but these two flavors should give us a good overall idea of these bars.
Each Zing Bar falls within the 220-calorie range. They consist of 12 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbs with 5 grams of fiber, and a relatively modest 7 grams of sugar.
A bit on the lower side, the protein count is only 10 grams per bar. While it doesn’t hit the protein heights I’m usually looking for, if these bars can deliver on quality taste, they’ll be a win for plant-based protein bars.
Dark Chocolate Coconut
The Dark Chocolate Coconut Zing Bar was a pleasant surprise.
You’d expect a protein bar to taste, well, like protein. However, the protein flavor was not strong, which was quite enjoyable, particularly because plant-based protein tends to have a really strong and overpowering taste.
The bar has a soft texture and chewy texture, but the actual coconut pieces add a weird layer of chewiness to it. Coconut fans will probably appreciate this, but for someone like me who isn’t a coconut lover, the texture of the coconut flakes was a bit off-putting.
However, the chocolate coating on this bar was delicious and resulted in an overall nice flavor profile.
Despite the coconut bits, which weren’t my favorite, it’s a really solid choice for a coconut-flavored protein bar.
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Zing Bar has a slightly denser texture compared to the coconut bar, but the flavor is really impressive. It reminded me of a Tiger’s Milk bar, an old-school protein bar that was one of the first protein/energy bars I ever had.
While it might not mean much to those unfamiliar with Tiger’s Milk (AKA most people out there), just know this bar tastes like a soft-baked peanut butter bar with a delicious chocolate coating.
There are actual peanut pieces inside this bar as well, further enhancing the overall experience.
Again, the plant-based protein taste is not noticeable and it truly tastes like peanut butter and chocolate. Outside of the unimpressive protein content, there’s really nothing to complain about here.
Final Thoughts on Zing Bars
Both Zing Bars are solid options when it comes to vegan protein bars. If you’re following a plant-based diet and are looking for a healthy snack, these bars will not disappoint in the flavor department.
Each bar has a soft, chewy texture with a unique crunch thanks to coconut flakes or crushed peanuts.
If you’re primarily looking for a protein source, Zing Bars will not become a go-to in your diet considering each bar has over 200 calories and only 10 grams of protein.
But as a tasty snack or a quick higher-protein alternative to your average snack bars, they are definitely worth a try, especially for those following plant-based diets.
Plant-based protein bars are very hit or miss with me- bars like Misfits were a miss, but others like Aloha truly impressed me.
I wish Zing bars contained more protein, but if we’re going strictly based on flavor, these deliver.
