In their haste to capture a slice of the market for green tea products, energy and meal bar companies have been baking up bars like hot cakes. From cake-like offerings to chewy concoctions, all make the claim, ” contains all the antioxidants of ____ cups of green tea!” Consumers are expected to ignore the sugar, the fat, and the preservatives because, well, the green tea trumps all of that! That is, until now: Sen Cha Naturals has managed to get it all: a line-up of healthy, minimally processed ingredients that . . . ACTUALLY TASTE GOOD.

They come in three flavors: Original; Delicate Pear; and Lively Lemongrass. Each weighs two ounces. The ingredients’ list begins with organic pumpkin seeds, organic roasted soybeans; organic black sesame and flax seeds. They are sweetened with organic brown rice syrup and organic dates and plums. Vegan, wheat and gluten-free, 220 calories, and a balanced ratio of fats, carbohydrates and protein . . . this bar deserves space in your pack, lunchbox, and home pantry. Oh, and get this: you can actually taste the base of green tea!

The first one I tried was the Delicate Pear while walking a three-mile section of sand on the Long Beach peninsula in southern Washington State. Sweet, but not too sweet, the crunchy nuts and seeds were complimented by the chewy base. My husband and I shared the bar, which made for a very satisfactory snack. I can imagine that eating a whole one would seem more like a light meal.

Next time you’re at the market, looking for the perfect energy bar, try a Sen Cha Green Tea Bar. It’s good and good for you!

Images courtesy of sencha naturals