CLIF
Chocolate Mint Protein Bar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo: 20 grams of complete soy protein in a vegan, gluten‑free bar that genuinely eats like a candy bar, without sugar alcohols. The mint‑chocolate flavor is big, the texture is structured, and the protein is dairy‑free.
When to choose CLIF Chocolate Mint Protein Bar
Best for pre‑ or post‑workout fuel, or a purposeful between‑meal bridge when you want a tasty, dairy‑free 20g protein hit. Less ideal if you’re minimizing added sugar or avoiding soy.
What's in the CLIF bar?
Chocolate mint fans, meet a plant‑powered heavy hitter.
CLIF’s Chocolate Mint Protein Bar leans on soy protein isolate and concentrate for a full 20 grams of protein, then layers in classic candy‑bar building blocks—cane and rice syrups for sweetness and quick energy, and palm‑kernel‑based fats to keep the chocolatey coating crisp.
It’s vegan and gluten‑free, with the mint‑chocolate profile coming from cocoa/unsweetened chocolate, alkalized cocoa, and natural mint flavor, and it quietly brings meaningful iron and phosphorus. The tradeoff?
Carbs and sugars sit on the higher end for protein bars, so think “fast fuel plus protein” more than “slow‑burn snack. ”
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 31 g
- Sugar
- 17 g
- Calories
- 280
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein are built on soy—primarily soy protein isolate and soy protein concentrate—backed by soy flour and roasted soybeans. Soy is a complete plant protein with good digestibility (generally a notch below whey), so 20 grams here still lands firmly in recovery‑support territory. If you want dairy‑free strength, this delivers it.
Fat
99MIDFat comes mostly from palm kernel oil, with smaller contributions from sunflower/soybean oil and the cocoa in the chocolate. Palm kernel oil is highly saturated, which keeps the bar’s chocolatey elements firm and shelf‑stable, while the seed oils tilt toward omega‑6. You’re not getting nut‑ or olive‑type fats here—this is functional fat more than nutrient‑dense fat.
Carbs
3120HIGHMost of the 31 grams of carbs come from cane syrup and cane sugar plus brown rice syrup, with rice flour and rice starch adding more quick‑burn starch. A bit of chicory root fiber is blended in for binding and some fiber, but the overall mix skews fast energy rather than slow release. Expect a quick pick‑me‑up—great around training, less ideal if you need steady, all‑afternoon fuel.
Sugar
174HIGHThe 17 grams of sugar come from refined cane sweeteners and brown rice syrup—not fruit. There are no high‑intensity sweeteners here; it’s classic sugar that delivers quick energy and a bigger glycemic bump (rice syrup is especially fast‑acting). If you’re managing blood sugar, this fits best around exercise or paired with a meal.
Calories
280210HIGHAt 280 calories, this bar eats like a small meal: carbs provide the largest share, with protein and fat splitting the rest. In practice you get noticeable fuel alongside a solid protein dose. Plan it where those calories work for you—pre/post‑workout or as a purposeful between‑meal bridge.
Vitamins & Minerals
Two minerals stand out without a vitamin premix: iron (~20% DV) and phosphorus (~15% DV), largely from the soy proteins and a touch of cocoa. Everything else is modest, which fits a bar designed for macros rather than micronutrients. Consider the minerals a nice bonus on top of the protein.
Additives
This recipe uses a common bar toolkit: chicory root fiber syrup to bind and add prebiotic fiber, vegetable glycerin to keep the texture soft, soy lecithin to emulsify, and alkalized cocoa for a smoother chocolate profile. These are highly refined but widely used processing ingredients that make bars stable and palatable. Most people tolerate them well, though chicory fiber can bother FODMAP‑sensitive folks in larger amounts.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Sugarcane juice
Sugarcane stalks
Brown rice
Oil palm fruit
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Cacao beans
Milled soybeans
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Chicory root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Another vote for builders bars. They are so so good. Definitely the best I've tasted, and I have tasted a lot.”
“Builder bars are THE BEST! I love them.”
“Oh the cookie dough is my fav! I like that it has a little caffeine boost too.”
Main Praise
Taste leads the applause.
Across Reddit threads and taste tests, CLIF Builders often lands on the short list of bars people actually enjoy—a mint‑chocolate profile that reads like dessert, with a crisp chocolatey shell and a substantial chew.
Business Insider even ranked Builders near the top for flavor and satiety, and several users call it their favorite bar, full stop. The protein is another win: 20 grams of complete soy protein means a real recovery dose without dairy, which many appreciate.
It’s also reliably filling; one Amazon reviewer joked it survives backpacks and heat and still eats like a portable meal. In short, it satisfies both the sweet tooth and the protein goal in a way many plant‑based bars don’t.
Main Criticism
The sugar and calorie load are the loudest pushbacks. At 280 calories and 17 grams of added sugar, some readers see it as more of a strategic fuel than an everyday low‑sugar snack.
The fat comes largely from palm kernel oil—useful for that firm chocolate coating but higher in saturated fat than, say, nuts or olive oil. Texture can divide the room, too; a few Redditors mentioned it can be dense or tough to bite, especially when cold.
And while many love the mint flavor, at least one commenter called the mint version a miss. Finally, the bar uses chicory root fiber as a binder—fine for most, but it can bother sensitive stomachs in larger amounts.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you treat this like fast fuel plus protein, the numbers make sense.
The real sugar from cane and rice syrups hits quickly—which can be a feature around training when your muscles are primed to use it—while the 20 grams of soy protein supports repair.
That helps explain why dietitians and outlets like Eat This, Not That frame it as a solid post‑exercise option, even while flagging the sugar.
If your goal is slow, steady energy with minimal added sugar, Reddit user “I‑avoid‑sugar” (not a real handle, but the sentiment is everywhere) has a point: this probably isn’t your all‑day snacking bar.
On texture and taste, it’s subjective; one person’s “best bar ever” is another’s “those mint ones are disgusting,” which might just be a mint‑averse palate—or a bar that sat in the cold too long.
The palm‑oil note is fair, too; it’s functional fat, not the kind you build a diet around. But for what it’s designed to do—taste good, travel well, and deliver a big, dairy‑free protein dose—it largely sticks the landing.
What's the bottom line?
CLIF Builders Chocolate Mint is a crowd‑pleasing paradox: a dessert‑leaning bite with a bona fide 20‑gram protein payoff. It’s vegan and gluten‑free, uses complete soy protein, and brings the kind of chocolate‑mint satisfaction that keeps you out of the vending machine. In return, you accept 280 calories, 17 grams of added sugar, and a palm‑oil‑powered coating that prioritizes structure and shelf stability over heart‑healthy fats.
Use it where it shines: before or after a workout, on a long day when you need a tasty bridge between meals, or anytime you want dairy‑free protein without the sugar‑alcohol aftertaste. If you’re aiming for low‑sugar, slow‑release snacks—or you avoid soy—look elsewhere. But if you want a bar that eats like a treat and performs like a protein supplement, this mint‑chocolate standby earns its loyal following.
Condensed listicle blurb: CLIF Builders Chocolate Mint — 20g complete soy protein in a vegan, gluten‑free bar that actually tastes like a candy bar. Best as pre/post‑workout fuel; note 17g added sugar and a palm‑oil chocolate coating; texture leans dense.