Gluten Free Cookies: Schar Vanilla Wafers

PRODUCT NAME:                    VANILLA WAFERS

BRAND:                                   SCHAR

COST:                                      $3.49

SIZE:                                        4.4 oz

COST PER OZ:                         $0.79/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          ITALY

SHELF LIFE:                             2-3 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 Italian company, Schar has been around since the twenties and has been creating gluten free products for over 30 years. Now solely a dedicated gluten-free company, Schar produces a wide variety of wheatless treats, like pizza, bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, and other snacks. Created by a group of food specialists, Schar takes pride in providing a product based on an innovative, forward looking approach to gluten-free living. Since dedicating themselves to making only gluten free products, Schar has worked with doctors and nutritionists in order to create not only safe, but delicious products.

When I was a kid, my mom always fed my brother and I wafer cookies; the Neapolitan kind that came in a package of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla cookies. I haven’t eaten them in years and was instantly brought back to my childhood. I even found myself eating them the way I used to when I was little; by separating each layer and eating the cream found in between layers instead of eating it quickly with big bites. Schar’s Vanilla Wafers tasted very similar to those cookies from my childhood, with a slight crisp and subtle vanilla taste. The wafers were light and airy and the vanilla cream was not too sweet. I remember the cream of conventional wafer cookies being slightly powdery but this was not the case with Schar’s Wafer Cookies. The cream in these cookies was the way it should be, creamy, fluffy, and not too dry.

These cookies would make a very good snack or desert. Each 160 calorie serving was made up of four cookies, so it was easy not to over-eat. They contain no preservatives, trans fats, or cholesterol, so they can be eaten without worry of putting too much unhealthy stuff in your body. For more information on their products, history, and hints for a fulfilling gluten-free lifestyle, visits www.schar.com/us/. 

Taste: These cookies were crisp with a subtle vanilla-flavored cream. The wafers were light, crispy and fluffy and the cream was sweet, but not too sweet.

Labeling:  Simple and sunny, this package had all the information I require when choosing a gluten free product. On the front it stated three times that it is gluten free, said it once again on each side as well as once on the back. It included an ingredients list, nutrition facts, and information about their multi-generational company as well as information about their website.

 
Packaging:   The cookies were stored in a plastic bag inside of a cardboard box.

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:           5 
Value:          3
OVERALL:    4

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Pasta: Schar Multigrain Penne Rigate - Product Review #120

Gluten Free Pasta: Schar Multigrain Penne Rigate

PRODUCT NAME:                       Multigrain Penne Rigate

BRAND:                                      Schar

COST:                                         $3.99

SIZE:                                          12oz

COST PER OZ:                           $0.33/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

VEGAN:                                    YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          Germany

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:
Schar makes a great tasting line of gluten free products. They have been in business for over 30 years so they know their stuff. It’s no surprise they are Europe’s number 1 gluten free Italian Pasta. It’s because their products are high quality and taste great. Perfect example is this Schar’s Gluten free Multigrain Penne Rigate. We were lucky enough to have received a sample of this product from Schar to try. It was one of the best we’ve had.

Gluten free pastas can sometimes be a tricky thing to master. Leave it in too long and it becomes a big pot of mush. Take it out too early and you’re stuck with pasta that is tough to chew. Schar has come up with the recipe for the perfect balance. We cooked this pasta up with some vegetables and chicken and it was terrific. They even held their shapes perfectly. Pasta is really just there to compliment your sauce so flavor isn’t much of an issue. It’s all about the texture and this one is perfect.

This pasta has a lot going for it. Not only is it gluten and wheat fee, but it is also lactose, egg, soy and preservative free. The nutrition facts also look pretty good with 190 calories, no cholesterol and 15 milligrams of sodium per serving. The ingredients are very simple too with just corn, rice and buckwheat flour.

Overall, we loved this pasta. At $3.99 per 12 ounce box, it’s an average value, but take one taste of it and you’ll be in love too. This is definitely pasta we would eat regularly. For more information about Schar and their line of gluten free products, visit their website at: www.schar.com.

Taste: This pasta tasted great. It absorbed flavor perfectly, but the texture was the star attraction here. It was the perfect balance of firm and soft.

Labeling: Schar has put a lot of effort into their labeling. The picture and the colors are all very pleasing to the eyes and are sure to catch your attention on the shelf.
Packaging: This pasta comes sealed in a paper board box.

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:               5
Value:              3
OVERALL:        4.7

Reviewed 5/16/11 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Bread: Schar Classic White Bread - Product Review #117

Gluten Free Bread: Schar Classic White Bread

PRODUCT NAME:                      Gluten Free Bread

BRAND:                                     Schar

COST:                                        $6.19

SIZE:                                          14.1oz

COST PER OZ:                           $0.44/oz                   

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          NA

ORGANIC:                                  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          NA

VEGAN:                                     YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           Germany

SHELF LIFE:                               4 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:

Many of you may not be familiar with Schar, but they have been around for over 30 years in the European market.  They specialize in gluten free food and have a great website that has a lot of useful information about a gluten free diet and celiac disease.  They have a whole line of gluten free foods including breads, snacks, cookies and pasta.  They were nice enough to send us some samples of their products including this bread.  The bread comes in 2 varieties, White and Multigrain. 

I will start off with their packaging.  We were very impressed by their packaging.  Each loaf of bread is put into a vacuum sealed bag that locks in the freshness.  This approach gives the bread a very impressive 4 month shelf life.  Much longer than anything you will find at your local grocery store.  Beware though because the package is pretty tough.  You’ll need scissors or a knife to open it. 

Both of these breads are pretty good for gluten free breads.  They say that you can eat it right out the bag or for optimal taste microwave or toast it.  While you can eat it right out the bag, I highly recommend toasting it.  Right out the bag, the bread is a little dry and falls apart pretty easily; probably because of the lack of gluten in the product.  I decided to toast it for a few minutes with some olive oil on it.  We ended up with crispy on the outside chewy on the inside toast that was great.  It’s not nearly as soft as the glutinous white or wholegrain breads you would typically find at your local grocery store, but it’s a pretty good gluten free alternative.

As far as nutrition goes, this bread is about as healthy as normal glutinous breads.  The white has 60 calories, 1g of fat, no cholesterol, 120mg of sodium, 1g of sugar and 1g of protein per slice.  I compared that to your typical white bread and the numbers are about identical.  Schar’s gluten free version does have slightly less sodium though. 

Overall, Schar has done a pretty good job with this bread.  With such a long shelf life, you can stock up without the concern of it going bad.  It is definitely one of the better gluten free breads out there.  For more information about Schar and their products, visit their website at: www.schar.com.     

Schar Classic White Bread Nutrition Facts

Taste: This bread is a pretty good gluten free alternative.  While it is a little dry and crumbly right out the bag, with a quick toasting, you can hardly tell the difference.  This isn’t one of those fluffy soft breads, but it’s still pretty good. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this bag is very simple and easy to read.  The colors they use are very attractive. 

Packaging: This is the most impressive packaging we have ever seen for bread.  It is sealed in an airtight, freezer safe bag which gives it an impressive 4 month shelf life.  (it might be longer, but the package we received had roughly a 4 month shelf life from the time we received it.)      

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             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3

Reviewed  5/4/11 by Calvin C.