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Much more than “granola bars”: Olympia Granola Bars in Roasted Almond, Turtle Mocha, Espresso Almond Chocolate and Mocha Mint. Photography by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE. |
| WHAT IT IS: A special line of “gourmet granola bars” that are more like dense nut tortes. |
| WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: Enough protein to be a meal replacement, a good source of dietary fiber, all raw and very exciting flavors. |
WHY WE LOVE IT: Vibrant flavors (chocolate, lemon, mint, mocha), great crunch, total happiness (well, there are carbs). |
| WHERE TO BUY IT: OlympiaGranola.com. |
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Olympia Granola Bars: The Best Granola Bars
CAPSULE REPORT: Whether or not you’ve ever eaten a granola bar, Olympia Granola Bars (formerly called Olympic Granola Bars) are a bar of different color...and flavor...and thrill. Although they call themselves “gourmet granola bars,” we’d go a few steps further. Put a scoop of ice cream atop these 2-1/2-inch squares and the experience is tantamount to eating a dense nut torte.
On the other hand, you can pop one of these individually-wrapped wonders into your pocket, gym bag or desk drawer and have a more-than-pleasing snack. One of the flavors approximates a very nutty chocolate brownie; there are lemon, mint and flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth. Add a cup of coffee or tea for a very filling snack: chewy, all-natural and healthy.
And surprise: This is raw food, very nutritious and good for you, with 10g of protein per bar. We love that something this delicious is also healthy sustenance with nothing refined and good fats and sweeteners. It’s everything your nutritionist would encourage you to eat and that you feel good about giving to your kids, with enough flavors to keep them interested (the line is also (wheat- and dairy-free). The only problem is, we can’t stop eating them.
What else can we say: We’re in love. In full disclosure, we’re also publishing an extensive review of every artisan granola bar in America that the writer was able to uncover. But they’re just granola bars. Olympia Granola Bars belong in a different category entirely. We suggest “happiness bars,” for what could be happier than finding something so delectable yet good for you. Read the full review below and order some. We promise, you’ll be happy.
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THE NIBBLE does not sell the foods we review
or receive fees from manufacturers for recommending them.
Our recommendations are based purely on our opinion, after tasting thousands of products each year, that they represent the best in their respective categories. |
More Top Pick Healthy Snacks
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| Superseedz Pumpkin Seeds. These four flavors of pumpkin seeds are the creation of a mom who started making a healthy snack for her family. Trade up from the generic salty ones to seedz with style. |
Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips. You’ve tried the rest; now try the best! In fab savory plus sweet flavors that can be enjoyed with sweet dips, hot chocolate, even ice cream. See how good they taste! |
Santa Barbara Pistachio Nuts. One could celebrate each of the 12 days of Christmas with a different flavor of SB Pistachios and revel in what fresh, lovely nuts these are—plain or flavored. Check ‘em out. |
Olympia Granola Bars: Gold Medalist
INDEX OF REVIEW
This is Page 1 of a two-page article. Click on the black links to visit other pages.
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MORE TO DISCOVER
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Introduction To Olympia Granola
In the Olympia Mountains of Washington, a small family business does amazing things with granola bars. In fact, if the word “granola” weren’t stamped across the label, you might think they were nut bars.
The basic recipe is rolled oats, “nutty rice” (rice flour, raisin juice concentrate, rice bran and salt), almonds, honey, sunflower seeds, coconut (often used for texture and sublimated as a flavor), very healthy flax seeds,* sea salt and the highlighted flavor—for example, chocolate bits and espresso powder in the Espresso Almond Chocolate Bar; green tea, orange extract and poppyseed in the Green Tea Zest Bar.
They company started to sell a few varieties at farmers markets and local food co-ops. They now sell eight varieties of gourmet granola bars nationwide. In addition to being all natural, the products are raw, non GMO, dairy-free and wheat-free.
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Torte-like granola bars, in eight
flavors.
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Yet, these are so much more luscious and seductive treats than what one thinks of as a granola bar. In fact, when the time came to add the article link to the appropriate section of TheNibble.com, we were tempted to link them with the brownies and bars, not with the granola bars in the Snacks Section. Follow us to Page 2 for a close look at all the flavors.
—Karen Hochman
*Fiber-rich flax seed is high in alpha linolenic acid and rich in lignan, an antioxidant phytoestrogen. Research indicates promise in fighting disease, including breast cancer, colitis and Crohn’s Disease. And, it tastes good.
Continue To Page 2: Flavors Of Olympia Granola Bars
Go To The Article Index Above
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