Gluten Free Crackers: Crunchmaster White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                   White Cheddar Multi-Grain Crackers

BRAND:                                  Crunchmaster

COST:                                     $3.29
 
SIZE:                                       4.5 OZ
 
COST PER OZ:                        $0.73/oz
 
CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO
 
ORGANIC:                               NO
 
CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A
 
VEGAN:                                   NO
 
GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES
 
LOCATION OF FACILITY:        LOVES PARK, IL
 
SHELF LIFE:                           1 year

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

Crunchmaster produces a line of gluten free, rice crackers baked in the Japanese “Usuyaki” style, which translates to English as thin and flat. They pride themselves on using all natural, whole grain ingredients made without any preservatives or artificial flavors. Additionally, many of their most commonly used ingredients, like rice, sesame, quinoa, amaranth, and flax seeds are grown locally in California.  Crunchmaster was nice enough to send us some samples of their newest flavors, one of which is the White Cheddar flavored Multi-Grain Crackers we reviewing today.

Crunchmaster’s white cheddar flavored multi-grain crackers were rich, flavorful and not too heavy. I usually steer away from snacks blasted with a powdery cheesy coating, like Doritos, because of an aversion to high sodium doses and too many questionable ingredients. These thin crackers were filled with good grains and seeds, like sesame seeds, millet, quinoa, flax, corn, and rice while still maintaining an addictive, junk-food sort of flavor. Containing only 120 calories per serving and five percent of the daily-recommended sodium intake, Crunchmaster’s white cheddar crackers are a manageable and relatively healthy indulgence.

Crisp, and flavorful, these crackers would be great with more cheese sliced and piled high on top, or if you are like me, eaten directly out of the bag as a quick snack on the go. I really enjoyed the bits of whole seeds embedded within each cracker because it created a multi-textured experience, while still being simple, tasty, and easy to snack on. These multi-grain crackers were relatively low calorie and I was able to eat 15 crackers per 120 calorie serving. They were also low fat and not too salty. 

Taste:  These crackers were cheesy, crunchy, while still being light and crispy. They were easy to munch on and I felt satisfied prior to overeating. They were also savory without being overly salty.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that not only are these crackers certified gluten free, but were a good source of fiber, cholesterol free, saturated fat free, and low fat. The back had a little information about the crackers, an ingredients list, and nutrition facts.

Packaging:   The crackers were packaged inside of a resealable, foil lined plastic bag.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:      4
Taste:          4  
Value:         3
OVERALL:   4.3

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Crackers: San-J Tamari Brown Sesame Brown Rice Crackers

PRODUCT NAME:                  Tamari Brown Sesame

BRAND:                                 San-J

COST:                                    $3.85      

SIZE:                                      3.7 oz. (15 crackers)

COST PER OZ:                       $0.96 per oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      GFCO

ORGANIC:                              NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      NA

VEGAN:                                 YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Tokyo, Japan

SHELF LIFE:                           6 months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

These San-J Brown Rice Sesame Crackers are really full-bodied and crunchy.  They are soy sauce (gluten free soy sauce, that is) flavored and are of a thicker texture so they are perfect for dipping or even with veggies.  They are salty, true to their Tamari title, and are certainly satisfying when you want a hearty, bold cracker.  I enjoyed these with a sandwich instead of chips, with an Asian inspired veggie dish for dinner and alongside a salad.  The Rich Flavor made it the perfect compliment with every one of those meals. 

Nutritionally, for as large as these crackers are, 5 are only 140 calories, with 6g of fat.  They are pretty substantial, so I really couldn’t eat more than 3 at a time anyway.  Ingredient-wise, they are nice and simple, containing only sesame, brown rice flour, gluten free tamari and potato starch.  The short list of ingredients indicates that there isn’t anything hidden or seriously unhealthy in these crackers.  I like to think that the simpler the ingredients, the more wholesome the food is. This is definitely a snack you won’t feel guilty about putting it in your system.

I really like these crackers because they are flavorful and scrumptious enough to make me feel like I am not eating a gluten free food.  They are rice crackers, but have a powerful flavor and a wonderful texture which makes it a satisfying snack food.

For more information about this and other San-J products, visit their website at http://www.san-j.com/product_info.asp?id=21.

Taste:  bold, crunchy, Tamari, full-bodied.

Labeling: clear packaging, tempting label and easily identifiable as gluten free

Packaging: plastic wrap with plastic cracker tray, not resealable

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                5                             

Taste:                    4.5                         

Value:                   3.5         

OVERALL:             4.3

Reviewed by Krisztina L.

Gluten Free Granola: Glutenfreeda Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola

PRODUCT NAME:                       Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola

COMPANY NAME:                       Glutenfreeda

COST:                                         $5.49

SIZE:                                           10.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.52/oz         

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       NO                 

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            Burlington, WA           

SHELF LIFE:                                1 Year

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.               

REVIEW:

Taste: 

Granola is a thing that many folks living with a gluten free diet necessarily opt out of. While oats themselves may not be glutinous, they are often processed in facilities with wheat flour flying through the air and coating all the machinary. Thus, our little friend the oat becomes one big contamination station: something cannot at all be called gluten free when it is, well, covered in gluten.

Gluten free granola and oatmeal lovers have to trust the absolutely wonderful companies that take painstaking time to not only ensure the gluten free nature of their PRODUCTS but also their facilities. It is companies like Glutenfreeda that take on this very task. Without such folks, breakfast might be sequestered to the meat and egg-fest that just doesn’t work for a vegan like myself. Let’s just say, the effort here does not go overlooked.

 

The ingredients list of Glutenfreeda’s Cashew Cranberry Honey granola is short (oats, cashews, dried cranberry, sugar, oil, honey, and flax) and I consider this a major plus of the product. Glutenfreeda starts with super clean ingredients and doesn’t bring in any funny preservatives, chemicals, or high fructose corn syrup to muck up the natural nature of the product.

Despite the absolute appreciation I have for all of this effort, the granola itself doesn’t totally hit the ball out of the park texture wise.  To me, the absolute most important component of granola is the chunks. Sugar and oil (both present in this product) should, theoretically come together when baked and create little crunchy clusters of deliciousness for a consumer to delight in. I am well aware that the absence of gluten (a well known binding agent, especially in baked goods) could easily create problems in this area but from what I know about making my own granola at home, it isn’t actually very difficult to just add a bit more oil and sugar to obtain the desired result. (It’s blasphemous to those on a diet, I know, but the only way!)  Glutenfreeda’s granola has NO chunks, whatsoever. I am unsure if the product became jostled and broke apart in shipping, or if this is simply the nature of the granola. Either way, this is a disappointment to the consumer.

Despite the textural mis-step the taste is quite all right. There isn’t much about it that blows my mind, but the cashew and cranberry combination is nice and its just sweet enough without being too sweet. As unsatisfying as the texture was, the flavor itself was just as wonderful as all the glutinous granolas of yesteryear.

Labeling: Labeling on this product really hyped the fact that the product contained Omega-3 fatty acids. While the product DOES include flax seeds (a major source of fatty acids) it is the last fat source listed in the ingredients. Each serving of this granola has only 4 grams of fat. Because cashews, sunflower oil, and canola oil come before flax seeds on the list, and because flax is the only fat source listed with Omega-3’s, it seems logical to deduce that very few omega-3’s actually exist in each serving. I know Omega-3’s are a popular thing for the health conscious these days, but it seems sneaky to make that a major claim of a product that it plays a minor role in. Other then that, the labeling was sufficient. All nutrition information was clear and present and easy to understand.

Packaging: The packaging of this product was a cardboard box with four individually wrapped plastic bags dividing up servings. I found this to be sufficient for keeping the product fresh, but also a little sneaky. While four bags were present in the box, the box was identified as having ten servings. So each bag was about 2.5 servings. At first this product seemed to have a very low calorie count at 120 calories per serving but the reality of the serving size makes it just about average.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:           3

Taste:               3.5       

Value:              3

OVERALL:        3.2

Reviewed  by Lacy D. 

Gluten Free Snacks: Shakti Sweets of India Cashew Diamonds w/ Saffron

PRODUCT NAME:                  Cashew Diamonds w/Saffron

BRAND:                                 Shakti Sweets of India

COST:                                   $4.99

SIZE:                                     7.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                      $0.66/oz                     

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

ORGANIC:                             NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     NA

VEGAN:                                YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      NA      

SHELF LIFE:                          2 months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.     

           

REVIEW:

Taste: 

Again we are presented with an extremely simple treat-like dessert to review. Shakti Sweets of India has introduced a product simply called “Cashew Diamonds with Saffron”. The ingredient list is extremely short (cashew, sugar, pistachio, cardamon, and saffron) and it tastes just exactly like the sum of its parts. Despite the potential surprises the combination of the aforementioned could present, this product tastes just exactly like a mishmash of those few things sounds like it would. No nuance. No surprise.

Upon first bite, I was a bit excited by the texture. The pistachio chunks were pleasant and the slight grit of it had a very Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (minus the chocolate) feel. On first impact, it flooded my mouth with memories of being a kid and picking the outside of my Reese’s cup off so that I may enjoy the peanut butter-y goodness unadorned. If that isn’t exciting I don’t know what is. Sadly, upon further chewing my delight began to fade. Once a chomp or two takes place on these little treats the grit turns to paste. Although I love the childhood memories, I certainly don’t want to recall Play-Doh while trying to eat dessert.

Because Saffron, cardamon, and pistachio are all very powerful flavors the subtlety of the cashew is a bit lost. Even the little punches of flavor you do get from the spices eventually fall flat due to what seems to be a very high sugar content. All and all, its pretty disappointing. The flavor fizzles out immediately, which combined with a mediocre texture, left me unenthused.

There was no nutrition information presented on the packaging and so I decided to do a little research.  I found out that traditionally these products are called “Kaju Kathli” and are enjoyed after meals in India. Generally they are made of just cashews, sugar, and water. Although it is clear that Shakti was aiming to be a creative with this traditional treat, I almost think a simpler manifestation might be more satisfying. A typical traditional recipe packs about about 68 calories per diamond. As I mentioned this is NOT the officially provided nutrition information but if it is anywhere close (which my experience has lead me to believe it probably is) then its not really worth it. I’d honestly rather eat 68 calories worth of plain cashews!

Labeling: Labeling on this product was not sufficient. I find it unreasonable to not be able to include nutrition information on a product, especially when there are plentiful websites that will calculate a label for free. If I can do it, so can companies selling products! 

Packaging: The packaging of this product was recyclable plastic container. 7.5 ounces is actually quite a few cashew diamonds, and the freshness level declines rapidly. The short shelf life could probably vastly be improved by having smaller packages of a different material. The moisture these diamonds produce makes them prone to spoilage.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:           2.5

Taste:               2         

Value:              3         

OVERALL:        2.5

Reviewed by Lacy D. 

Gluten Free Snacks: Nutty Bean Co. Pepper & Spice Chick Pz

PRODUCT NAME:                      Pepper & Spice Chick Pz

BRAND:                                     NUTTY BEAN CO

COST:                                        $3.75

SIZE:                                          3 OZ

COST PER OZ:                           $1.25/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            SAN JOSE, CA

SHELF LIFE:                               1 YEAR

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:
I was very excited to try Nutty Bean Company’s ChickPz Pepper and Spice flavored snacks because I love chickpeas in hummus, on salads, or straight out of the can and I had never tried chickpeas roasted as a snack. Usually, when I crave a protein rich snack, I reach for raw almonds or mixed nuts and ChickPz provides a unique alternative. ChickPz are naturally filled with all the good stuff like protein, fiber, iron, and other vitamins and minerals, so they are very healthy. They are also low fat and convenient to eat on the go.

Nutty Bean Co is a local, bay area company, based out of San Jose and creates chickpea based snacks in a variety of eclectic flavors, from savory to sweet. Although counter-intuitive, the chickpea may function better as a roasted, sweet treat than a savory and spicy one. The Pepper and Spice variety had a great flavor which made me nostalgic for savory, wheat-filled chips like Sun Chips or Wheat Thins, which I am unable to enjoy with a wheat free diet, but was a little too chalky for my taste. While some would find these snacks to be somewhat dry straight from the bag, you can’t go wrong to use them as a protein packed addition to a leafy, raw vegetable salad with your favorite gluten free dressing.
 
Taste: These chickpeas were tasty and slightly spicy, flavored with cumin, pepper, and sea salt.

Labeling: The graphic design was cute and presented these snacks as healthy and natural. There was a label on the back containing the ingredients, allergen information, and nutrition facts. Although these snacks are safe for celiacs, there was no obvious statement or seal proclaiming the ChickPz as a gluten free snack.

Packaging: The ChickPz were in a plastic zip-lock style bag with three, 100 calorie servings inside.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                2

Taste:                    3

Value:                   4

OVERALL:             3

Reviewed by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Snacks: Nutty Bean Co. Dark Chocolate Chick Pz

PRODUCT NAME:                     Dark Chocolate Chick Pz

BRAND:                                    Nutty Bean Co.

COST:                                       $3.75

SIZE:                                        3oz (Net Weight)

COST PER OZ:                         $1.25/oz 

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO 

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        NA 

ORGANIC:                                NO 

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

VEGAN:                                     NO          

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          NO 

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          SAN JOSE 

SHELF LIFE:                             12 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

The deliciously understated chickpea has been given a makeover with Nutty Bean Co’s Chick Pz snacks.  These unique snacks were the result of a husband and wife team trying to create a snack that was both healthy, full of flavor, and a fusion of different elements from many cultures around the world. They discovered that roasted chick peas were already a popular snack in the Mediterranean, India, and Latin America. After figuring out how to roast chickpeas themselves, they were also challenged with the task of creating recopies that would make these crunchy snacks flavorful and healthy. From the encouragement of family and friends that were  the initial guinea pigs to these unique snacks, Nutty Bean Co. launched in early 2010.

With the company still in its infancy, each package is hand-made, and served in small portions. The mission of the Nutty Bean Co. is to, “provide the healthiest all natural products by using the freshest highest quality ingredients that meet or exceed the needs of today's health conscious consumer”. I fully believe this is a testament they hold true, as their products are simple, yet high in quality which makes for a delicious and nutritious snack.

Taste:  The dark chocolate flavor has to be my favorite of the bunch. There are only two ingredients in this particular recipe—dry roasted chickpeas and a semi-sweet chocolate glaze that is made from sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, and natural flavor. The soft, sweet chocolaty exterior is the perfect introduction to the palate before hitting the smoky, dry toasted chickpea interior in each bite. On first taste, the dark chocolate melts to reveal another unique layer of flavor to this one of a kind snack that makes it adventurous and enjoyable. I like how the texture changes from a soft and chewy outside to a hard and crunchy inside, as each piece provides flavors that are able to complement each other. It’s also a bit easier on the conscience because even though these snacks look more like candy than a healthy, nutritious alternative, it is defiantly a better choice.

Labeling:  Sticker with logo and product name on front, sticker with nutritional value on the back.

Packaging:  small, clear plastic ziplock bag. Serving size is 1oz with 3 servings per bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                3                             

Taste:                    4                             

Value:                   4             

OVERALL:             3.7             

Reviewed by

Allison R.

Gluten Free Snacks: Nutty Bean Co. Honey Roasted Chick Pz

PRODUCT NAME:                       Honey Roasted Chick Pz

BRAND:                                      Nutty Bean Co.  

COST:                                         $3.75

SIZE:                                           3oz (Net Weight)

COST PER OZ:                            $1.25/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A       

ORGANIC:                                   NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A       

VEGAN:                                      NO                        

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            NO        

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            SAN JOSE            

SHELF LIFE:                               12 Months         

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:
The deliciously understated chickpea has been given a makeover with Nutty Bean Co’s Chick Pz snacks.  These unique snacks were the result of a husband and wife team trying to create a snack that was both healthy, full of flavor, and a fusion of different elements from many cultures around the world. They discovered that roasted chick peas were already a popular snack in the Mediterranean, India, and Latin America. After figuring out how to roast chickpeas themselves, they were also challenged with the task of creating recopies that would make these crunchy snacks flavorful and healthy. From the encouragement of family and friends that were  the initial guinea pigs to these unique snacks, Nutty Bean Co. launched in early 2010.

With the company still in its infancy, each package is hand-made, and served in small portions. The mission of the Nutty Bean Co. is to, “provide the healthiest all natural products by using the freshest highest quality ingredients that meet or exceed the needs of today's health conscious consumer”. I fully believe this is a testament they hold true, as their products are simple, yet high in quality which makes for a delicious and nutritious snack.

For more information about Nutty Bean Co. products and locations to buy this delicious snack, visit www.nuttybeanco.com.

Taste:  The honey roasted flavor has the taste and texture comparable to that of a honey roasted peanut.  With only dry roasted chickpeas, sugar, honey, corn starch, sea salt and xanthan gum as the ingredients, this snack offers a healthy solution that is also appetizing. The chalky consistency provides the right amount of earthy, savory flavor to balance out the sweet coasting of honey and sugar used to season the snack. Though not as crunchy or hard in texture like that of a peanut, these chickpeas provide an alternative to such when snacking. For the adventurous ones that do not want to stray too far from the popular honey roasted flavor used in various nut medleys, these chickpeas are a great substitute. 

Labeling:  Sticker with logo and product name on front, sticker with nutritional value on the back.

Packaging:  small, clear plastic ziplock bag. Serving size is 1oz with 3 servings per bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                3                             

Taste:                    4                             

Value:                   4             

OVERALL:             3.7             

Reviewed by

Allison R.