Product Review: Alpsnack Energy Snack Bars

Alpsnack is an energy snack bar produced by the family run Gertrude & Bronner's Magic. Alpsnack energy bars are not like most energy bars as they have some rather unique ingredients. Alpsnack energy bars contain hemp nuts, which is supposedly an ancient food source item. Due to the presence of the hemp nuts, Alpsnack energy bars also contain high amounts of the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in their snack bars. Essential amino acids with a high protein efficiency ratio are also a staple of the Alpsnack energy bars.

Alpsnack energy bars were created when Gertrude, of Gertrude & Bronner's Magic, wanted to re-create a nut and fruit bar that her mother used to make her when she lived in Switzerland as a child. Alpsnack energy bars are made using only organic, vegan and gluten-free ingredients, which makes them available to almost anyone looking for a healthy and tasty snack.

Currently Alpsnack energy bars are available in five different flavors at your local organic grocery store, such as Whole Foods. The flavors of Alpsnack energy bars that are available are: Plums and Currants, Apricots and Cranberries, Coconut, Mango and Pineapple, Fair Trade Dark Chocolate and Fair Trade Espresso Chocolate. What I love about Alpsnack energy bars is that they make a great mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack without being too heavy. Unlike most energy or snack bars, Alpsnack energy bars are neither crunchy nor sticky. They have just the right amount of moist texture to keep them from being dry and crunchy while allowing the bar to break apart easily.

The Plum and Currants bar is the orginal Alpsnack energy bar. It features currants and plums with roasted almonds and hemp nuts. This is the only Alpsnack energy bar that I have not tried because I am not a fan of the flavor of currants. One bar is 180 calories.

The Apricots and Cranberries bar is actually my favorite of the Alpsnack energy bars. It is the perfect balance of the tart flavor of cranberries and the sweet flavor of apricots. I find it to be the most flavor-packed of the Alpsnack energy bars that I have tried. I usually eat one of these a day as a mid-morning snack. This bar is 190 calories for the entire bar.

The Coconut, Mango and Pineapple bar was not as good as it should have been in my opinion. I love all of those things and was expecting a robust flavor, but instead was met with a bit of a bland taste. This bar features unsweetened coconut, mango and pineapple for 210 calories per bar.

Fair Trade Dark Chocolate features a rich dark chocolate with the almonds and hemp nuts. While this Alpsnack energy bar was indeed good, I think it would have been better with a dried fruit, such as the pineapple, also in the bar. This bar is also 190 calories like the Apricots and Cranberries Alpsnack energy bar.

Fair Trade Espresso Chocolate is my second favorite Alpsnack energy bar. It features a tasty espresso chocolate with the staple almonds and hemp nuts. This is a great afternoon snack, especially when you are feeling the after-lunch sleepiness. This Alpsnack energy bar is also 190 calories for one bar.

Alpsnack energy bars can be found at organic grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Trader Joes. There are also various outlets selling them online, such as Amazon.com. And of course, they can be purchased directly from the manufacturer.