Journey Bar Review

"Okay, so: a granola bar that tastes like Thai Coconut Curry. The good people at Journey Bar had to know it would be an uphill battle just to convince anybody to bite into their new product.

But you know what? The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. If you’re on the go like me, you pick up a lot of meals on the go in bar form, and you get tired of all this sweet stuff: why should every granola bar try to taste like candy? People like plenty of other flavors, and if you like your rice with soy sauce, or grits with cheese, or hearty bread, then you’re already liking savory grains. The ingredients list passed with me, too: 10 ingredients and every one of them something I could name off the top of my head (well, except Amaranth, but we’ll get to that later.)

So I took a bite, and wow, that’s a lot of turmeric: definitely not like anything else I’d eaten. The texture impressed me almost immediately: the bar is flecked with tiny pearls of Amaranth, an Aztec grain in the vein of the ever popular quinoa, and it gave the otherwise dense and chewy bar some much needed crunch. The strong spices took some getting used to: you definitely taste the whole bouquet of a good Thai curry, but I appreciated that this bar was making an effort to be different than anything else on the market. By the last bite, I was a fan and the savory taste left me feeling more like I’d eaten an actual, filling meal. Journey Bar makes a few other flavors, and I ’ll be looking out for all of them. In a granola market full of forgettable copycats, I think Journey Bar’s gamble is going to pay off."

"I have to admit, I’ve never thought of a granola bar, fruit bar, or snack bar in a savory sense, so I was intrigued with Journey Bar’s Mesquite Barbecue flavor. When I opened the package, the mesquite fragrance was definitely there. Took me back to my childhood, where at the deli counter, the man would give me a free jerky – mmm. The looks of the bar make it quite pleasing as well – lots of grains and seeds and hearty goodness, and the texture is nice too. Not too dry like some bars are, and just the right chewiness. If you’re looking for a nice, hearty travel bar to fill you up and leave you energized for your hike or bike ride, then Journey Bars are for you! Toss a couple in your knapsack along with your water bottles, and you’ll be good to go."

"The Parmesan Romano flavored Journey Bar is a wholesome, compact snack for any traveler, whether you’re rushing through lunch at the office, or trekking through green mountains, this bar will get you through any daily “journey.” The Parmesan Romano bar tastes much like a heavy, filling cheese cracker. It’s a great snack or meal for when you’re sweating through an arduous mountain climb. It’s not too heavy, but it’s sure to satisfy. If you like cheese, you’ll love this cheesy bar."

"I was very intrigued by the idea of a savory granola bar, and I decided to try the wasabi ginger flavor because I love wasabi. I dutifully read the package and found that unlike most granola bars I had encountered, this one did not consist primarily of rolled oats. This gives the granola bar a slightly different texture than most of us are used to. It's finer and a bit more tightly packed. I also noticed that the grains are bound with tapioca syrup rather than molasses or brown rice syrup. Tapioca seems to have a slightly more neutral flavor, which I think is good for a savory granola bar. I was amazed by the flavor of the granola bar. It tasted exactly like sushi with a texture more akin to pemmican (although the last time I ate pemmican was during a third grade unit on Native Americans, so don't hold me to that description). This granola bar would be great for campers and trekkers looking for a savory alternative to traditional granola bars and trail mix."

"Mesquite Barbecue: Journey Bar’s tagline is “miles from ordinary” and this is certainly the most unique snack bar I’ve ever tasted! For barbecue lovers, this is about the next best thing to firin’ up the grill – this Journey Bar provides quick energy and smoky taste , and can fit right in your pocket. Whether you consider Kansas City, Memphis, or St. Louis to be the home of barbecue, the mesquite flavors of this bar are a little bit smoky, a little bit sweet, and little bit tangy. In other words, it combines the best barbecue flavors in one tasty bar! If you’re tired of the usual super-sweet snack or meal bars, this is a Journey well-worth taking."