ALOHA
Lemon Cashew
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A citrus‑first, organic, plant‑based bar built on brown rice and pumpkin seed protein, sweetened with real sugar sources (no stevia or sugar alcohols), and finished with a chewy, lightly crisp texture.
When to choose ALOHA Lemon Cashew
Vegan, gluten‑free eaters who want a satisfying snack or lighter post‑workout bite without artificial sweeteners—especially if you love lemon and cashew. Also a fit for folks who prefer real sugar and fiber over high‑intensity sweeteners.
What's in the ALOHA bar?
Bright lemon meets creamy cashew in a plant‑based bar built on a brown rice protein + pumpkin seed protein duo.
What stands out nutritionally is the carb‑forward profile (26 grams, on the higher end for bars) sweetened with tapioca syrup and a bit of brown sugar, balanced by soluble tapioca fiber, 10 grams of fat from cashews and coconut, and a steady 14 grams of protein.
The lemon‑cashew flavor comes from real cashews/cashew butter, coconut flakes, natural lemon flavor, and a touch of vanilla, with crisped brown rice adding light crunch.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
1415MIDThe 14 grams of protein come from a blend of brown rice protein and pumpkin seed protein. Rice protein runs a little light on lysine, and pumpkin seed helps round that out, giving a more balanced plant amino acid mix than rice alone. It’s a clean, dairy‑ and soy‑free approach that lands around mid‑pack for protein per bar.
Fat
109MIDFat here comes mainly from cashew butter and cashews, with a supporting role from coconut flakes and a bit of sunflower oil blended into the nut butter. That mix leans mostly unsaturated from the nuts and sunflower oil, with some saturated fat from coconut. At 10 grams, it’s an above‑average, satisfying amount that helps temper the bar’s syrups.
Carbs
2620HIGHMost of the 26 grams of carbs are built from refined starch syrups and whole‑grain crisped rice. Tapioca syrup and the brown rice syrup inside the crisps deliver quick energy, while soluble tapioca fiber (a resistant dextrin from cassava) adds non‑digestible carbs that slow the ride. Expect a carb‑forward bar with a steadier feel than straight sugar, but still quicker than fruit‑ or oat‑based carbs.
Sugar
54MIDDespite using tapioca syrup, brown sugar, and the rice syrup baked into the crisps, the label shows 5 grams of sugar. That lower sugar number is helped by soluble tapioca fiber and a small amount of vegetable glycerin—a plant‑derived humectant that adds mild sweetness without counting as “sugars”; there are no high‑intensity sweeteners. Just remember: refined syrups can still be high‑glycemic even when total sugar stays modest.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, this is a moderate‑to‑hearty snack. Calories come from a roughly even mix of carbohydrates (syrups and crisps), fats from nuts and coconut, and 14 grams of plant protein—so it reads as balanced rather than candy‑like. Pairing protein and fat with the carbs should make it feel more sustaining between meals.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron stands out at 15% of daily value, likely contributed by pumpkin seed protein, rice protein, and the cashews. Beyond that, vitamins and minerals are modest here, so think of this bar as primarily a macro play with a small iron bonus.
Additives
The functional extras are straightforward: soluble tapioca fiber (a manufactured resistant dextrin) for fiber, vegetable glycerin to keep the bar soft, and natural lemon flavor plus vanilla for aroma. These are common, fairly refined tools in bar‑making, while the bulk still comes from recognizable foods—cashews, coconut, and brown‑rice crisps.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Pumpkin seeds
Cassava root starch
Cashew tree kernel
Sunflower seeds
Cassava starch
Coconut palm fruit flesh
Sugarcane or sugar beet plants
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Dehulled whole grain rice
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I LOVE ALOHA BARS and this flavor is tied for my favorite”
“I really like Aloha bars. Heat one up for 20 seconds in the microwave and they taste even better!”
“I love aloha bars so much! I had weight loss surgery so now, when I crave a candy bar, I eat an aloha bar instead. Absolutely delicious”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the applause. Editors at Bon Appétit and SELF both crowned ALOHA a top vegan pick for being chewy and craveable without the “weird aftertaste” that can haunt plant bars.
Fans echo that: multiple Redditors call ALOHA bars delicious, with one even using them to replace candy‑bar cravings, and another swearing by a brief warm‑up to amplify flavor.
The ingredient list gets consistent nods for being organic and straightforward, and many shoppers appreciate that ALOHA skips sugar alcohols and stevia—big wins for people who dislike those flavors or don’t digest them well.
Practically speaking, the bar feels filling for its size, thanks to 10 grams of fats from nuts and coconut paired with the 14 grams of protein. On Amazon, the line earns a strong 4.
4 average across more than 22,000 ratings, and several reviewers say even their kids like the flavors.
Main Criticism
Not everyone clicks with the sweetness profile. A few reviewers find ALOHA bars too sweet—lemon can heighten perceived sweetness, even with just 5 grams of sugar on the label.
Others report digestive discomfort; while this flavor avoids sugar alcohols, it does use soluble tapioca fiber (a resistant dextrin) and a touch of vegetable glycerin (a plant‑derived humectant), which can bother sensitive stomachs.
Texture is the other sticking point: some call the brand’s bars chalky, powdery, or a bit crumbly, even when others describe them as pleasantly chewy. Finally, the protein lands at 14 grams, which athletes chasing 20+ grams per bar may find underpowered.
If you’re avoiding seed oils entirely, note there’s a small amount of sunflower oil blended into the cashew butter to keep the texture smooth.
The Middle Ground
So, is Lemon Cashew “refreshing” or “too sweet”? Both can be true.
Because ALOHA sweetens with tapioca syrup and a bit of brown sugar rather than stevia or sugar alcohols, you get a clean, familiar sweetness—and lemon’s bright aroma can make that feel more pronounced to some palates.
One Amazon reviewer’s complaint about chocolate flaking everywhere doesn’t apply here; this flavor isn’t chocolate‑coated, so your keyboard is safer. On the GI front: a few folks do react to resistant dextrin and glycerin.
They’re common bar tools that keep sugar modest and texture moist, but if you’ve got a sensitive system, try half a bar first with water and see how you do. As for the protein debate, Bon Appétit’s knock is fair—14 grams won’t thrill heavy lifters—but the trade‑off is an organic, dairy‑ and soy‑free bar with no high‑intensity sweeteners.
If you need more protein, pair it with a latte or a quick shake; if you want a plant‑based, citrus‑nut bar with straightforward ingredients, this hits a sweet (but not saccharine) spot.
What's the bottom line?
ALOHA Lemon Cashew is a rare bright note in a crowded chocolate‑and‑peanut‑butter world. It’s organic, vegan, gluten‑free, and built on a brown rice + pumpkin seed protein blend that brings 14 grams of plant protein, 10 grams of satisfying fats, and a chewy‑crisp texture—without stevia or sugar alcohols. The lemon‑cashew flavor reads like sunshine, and the ingredient list feels friendly to people who want real sugar sources and fiber over artificial sweeteners.
It’s not for everyone. If you need 20+ grams of protein or you’re strict low‑carb, you’ll want a different tool for the job. And if your digestion is touchy, test your tolerance to the soluble fiber and glycerin.
But for most folks who love citrus and value cleaner, organic ingredients, this is a smart, feel‑good snack that actually tastes like something you’d choose on purpose. Listicle blurb: ALOHA Lemon Cashew — A sunny, organic, plant‑based bar with 14 grams of rice + pumpkin seed protein, no stevia or sugar alcohols, and a chewy‑crisp bite.
Bright lemon and creamy cashew make it dessert‑adjacent without the weird aftertaste. Best as a mid‑afternoon lift or lighter post‑workout snack.