Atlas
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A plant‑based, very low‑sugar bar sweetened with monk fruit, built on almond and rice proteins, and spiked with organic ashwagandha—more “dark chocolate with a salty snap” than candy‑bar sweet.
When to choose Atlas Dark Chocolate Sea Salt
Vegan or dairy‑free eaters who want a not‑too‑sweet, lower‑net‑carb chocolate bar for mid‑day or post‑workout, prefer to avoid sugar alcohols, and don’t mind the inclusion of ashwagandha.
What's in the Atlas bar?
Atlas’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt goes plant-first: a rice-and-almond protein base with pea protein crisps, held together by almond butter and rounded out with cocoa, real chocolate, vanilla, and a pinch of Himalayan pink salt.
Carbs lean more on soluble tapioca fiber than sugar, while sweetness comes mostly from monk fruit and a little glycerin. Fats are a mix of the nuts’ mostly monounsaturated oils and some saturated fat from coconut oil and chocolate.
The upshot is a dairy-free bar with 15 grams of protein, very low sugar, and a lighter 190 calories that tastes like a swirl of dark chocolate with a salty snap.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 16 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1515MIDThe protein here is entirely plant-based: a blend of rice protein and almond protein forms the base, and pea protein crisps add structure and a lysine boost that helps balance rice’s weaker amino-acid spot. At 15 grams per bar—about average for the category—you get a dairy-free, soy-free protein hit without the chalky aftertaste typical of some isolates.
Fat
99MIDMost of the fat comes from almond butter (rich in heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats), with a smaller share from coconut oil and the cocoa butter in chocolate, which add more saturated fat. The total lands in the middle of the pack, offering creamy texture and satiety; just note that coconut oil nudges the saturated fat proportion upward compared with bars that use only nut butters or olive oil.
Carbs
1620MIDCarbs are built around soluble tapioca fiber—a refined, digestion‑resistant fiber made from cassava starch—plus a bit of vegetable glycerin and trace carbs from chocolate and nuts. This setup leans lower‑glycemic than sugar‑sweetened bars and tends to provide steadier energy, though responses to refined fibers can vary by person. It’s more “engineered fiber” than whole‑grain carbs, which some readers may prefer to know.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1 gram of sugar, with sweetness coming primarily from monk fruit (a concentrated fruit extract) and a touch of glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup that also keeps the bar soft). The small sugar likely comes from the dark chocolate and cocoa themselves. If you prefer fewer high‑intensity sweeteners, take note; if you’re watching blood sugar, this will typically be gentler than a cane‑sugar bar.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this bar sits on the lighter side for protein bars. Most of those calories come from the almond/coconut/chocolate fats and the 15 grams of plant protein, while the carb count is buffered by fiber that contributes less usable energy. The balance makes it filling without feeling heavy.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals are listed above 10% of daily value. You’ll get small, incidental amounts—think vitamin E and magnesium from almonds and a bit of magnesium/iron from cocoa—but this bar is about protein and fiber more than micronutrients.
Additives
A short list of functional helpers keeps the texture and sweetness in line: sunflower lecithin blends fats smoothly, glycerin keeps moisture, and monk fruit replaces most sugar with a tiny, potent extract. Soluble tapioca fiber and monk fruit are highly refined, while the rest leans on recognizable foods like almond butter, cocoa, and chocolate. There’s also organic ashwagandha—a supplement‑style herb added for a calming angle rather than nutrition—so those avoiding botanicals may want to be aware.
Ingredient List
Rice grain
Almonds
Ground roasted almonds
Cassava root starch
Yellow pea seeds
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Cacao beans
Defatted cacao bean solids
Coconuts
Sunflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Atlas Bars are the best I've found! Grass-Fed Whey Protein, Fresh Nut Butter, Prebiotic Fiber, Vegetable Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Himalayan Salt, Monk Fruit”
“I’ve been using the Atlas protein bars for a while and enjoy them a lot.”
“Atlas protein bars are best overall. 20 grams protein 1 gram sugar with quality ingredients”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for three things: the flavor, the ingredient philosophy, and the satiety relative to calories. Many describe the taste as genuinely cocoa‑forward with a satisfying salty finish—sweet enough without reading like dessert—which is rare in the very‑low‑sugar lane.
The label sticks to a short list of recognizable building blocks (almond butter, cocoa, chocolate), and the monk‑fruit sweetness sidesteps the sugar alcohol bite that turns some people off. For a lighter 190 calories, the bar eats surprisingly filling—several reviewers note that one bar actually holds them, thanks to 15 grams of protein and a fiber‑heavy carb profile.
Publications that test low‑sugar options consistently highlight Atlas for tasting good without leaning on syrups or a dessert‑level sweetener blast.
Main Criticism
Texture is the dividing line.
Some batches get called out for an oily exterior with a drier middle, and others for a sandy bite from the protein crisps—fine for a “dark chocolate” vibe, not great if you want silky and nougat‑soft.
Monk fruit can also leave a faint aftertaste for a subset of tasters; if you’re used to cane sugar or stevia, you’ll notice the difference. Price comes up often—Atlas sits above gas‑station bars and can feel spendy if it’s your daily staple.
Finally, the ashwagandha addition is polarizing: some like the wellness angle; others don’t want a functional herb in a casual snack.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—cult favorite or cocoa‑colored compromise? The truth sits between.
If you actually like dark chocolate (bitter notes, not a frosting‑level sweet), Atlas’s Sea Salt flavor makes sense: the cocoa tastes like cocoa, the salt wakes it up, and the monk fruit keeps things restrained.
If your ideal bar tastes like a candy aisle and chews like a brownie, you’ll probably call this one bland or dry. Reviews that gush about “20 grams of protein” are likely referencing Atlas’s whey line; this plant version is 15 grams—solid, just not bodybuilder‑bar territory.
The ingredient trade‑off is real: you get recognizable fats from nuts and chocolate and a low‑sugar profile, but the carbs lean on refined tapioca fiber and glycerin for texture and moisture.
Some guts love that combo; sensitive ones may not.
And about the ashwagandha: it’s there, but the label doesn’t trumpet a dose, so treat it as a small add‑on, not a stress‑solution-in-a-wrapper (one Reddit skeptic who joked it “probably tastes like shit” may just prefer candy).
What's the bottom line?
Atlas Dark Chocolate Sea Salt is for people who want their protein bar to behave more like food than fudge: plant protein you can pronounce, very low sugar, nuts and cocoa doing the heavy lifting, and a finish that’s salty‑snappy rather than sticky‑sweet. It’s a smart pick if you avoid sugar alcohols, eat dairy‑free or vegan, and appreciate a bar that’s filling at 190 calories without a glucose roller coaster. It’s not perfect.
Texture varies by batch and palate—those pea crisps add bite, and monk fruit won’t charm everyone. It’s also pricier than mass‑market options, and the ashwagandha inclusion is a love‑it‑or‑leave‑it detail.
But if “dark chocolate, not dessert” sounds right, this is one of the cleaner, more satisfying low‑sugar plant bars you can keep in reach. Nut and coconut allergies need to steer clear; everyone else can decide whether they want their chocolate bar to whisper sweetly or speak in cocoa.