IQBAR
Chocolate Sea Salt
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, keto‑leaning chocolate bar that keeps sugar to 1g without sugar alcohols, pairs soft cocoa chew with crisp bits, and leans on almonds for vitamin E plus a touch of lion’s mane.
When to choose IQBAR Chocolate Sea Salt
Low‑carb, dairy‑free snackers who want a dark‑leaning chocolate bite for steady afternoon energy—not folks who need 20g of protein or dislike stevia’s taste.
What's in the IQBAR bar?
IQBAR’s Chocolate Sea Salt reads like dessert but eats like a deliberate, plant‑based snack. The protein comes from peas—both pea‑protein crisps and pea protein isolate—while the chocolate character is built from cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, and cocoa butter, finished with a pinch of sea salt.
The macro story is unusual for a chocolate bar: fat‑forward (on the high end compared with other bars), very low in carbs, and modest in calories, with only a whisper of sugar thanks to stevia.
Almonds do double duty here, adding creamy texture and a standout dose of vitamin E, which IQBAR also tops up with added vitamin E. If you want a vegan, keto‑leaning bar that favors sustained energy over sugar spikes, this is that play.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Carbohydrates
- 11 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1215MIDThe 12g of protein is entirely plant‑based, delivered by pea protein isolate and airy pea‑protein crisps (the crisps use a little tapioca starch to hold their shape). Pea protein is a clean, dairy‑free concentrate with strong digestibility and a solid amino acid profile, making this bar an easy option for those avoiding whey or soy. It lands in the snack range rather than the heavy‑hitter tier, but it’s purposeful and lactose‑free.
Fat
149HIGHMost of the fat comes from whole almonds, coconut oil, and cocoa butter. That means a mix of heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats from almonds plus more saturated fats from coconut oil and cocoa butter (cocoa butter is largely stearic and oleic). The payoff is satiety and slower release of energy, though anyone watching saturated fat intake should note the coconut‑oil contribution.
Carbs
1120LOWCarbs skew “cleaner‑low” here: the prebiotic blend of tapioca fiber and “soluble vegetable fiber” supplies refined soluble fibers made from cassava or other plants, adding bulk with minimal glycemic punch. Small amounts of carbohydrate come from almonds, cocoa, and a bit of tapioca starch used in the protein crisps. Expect steadier energy rather than a quick spike, though some people notice gas if they ramp up added fibers too quickly.
Sugar
14LOWSugar is kept to 1g, largely from naturally occurring sugars in ingredients like almonds and cocoa rather than syrups. Sweetness is achieved with stevia leaf extract—a highly purified, zero‑calorie sweetener used in tiny amounts—so you get chocolate flavor without a sugar surge. There are no sugar alcohols in the mix.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, this bar sits lighter than many chocolate‑forward options. Most calories are coming from fats in almonds, coconut oil, and cocoa butter, with a meaningful assist from pea protein and relatively few digestible carbs. It’s designed as a compact, satisfying snack rather than a meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is vitamin E, clocking in high thanks to naturally rich almonds and a boost from added vitamin E. You also get a modest bump of iron (about 15% DV), which most likely comes from cocoa and the pea protein. Calcium and potassium show up in smaller amounts from nuts and cocoa.
Additives
To hold sweetness without sugar, the bar uses stevia leaf extract—highly refined but dosed at trace levels. The “prebiotic” fiber blend (tapioca fiber and soluble vegetable fiber) are manufactured soluble fibers that add bulk and help keep carbs low; they’re common in keto‑style bars and generally well tolerated in typical serving sizes. Beyond that, it’s a fairly short modern ingredient list—natural flavors for consistency, a touch of lion’s mane for a functional nod, and added vitamin E—without sugar alcohols or long emulsifier lists.
Ingredient List
Almond tree seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Cassava root
Cassava root starch
Corn or tapioca starch; chicory root
Cacao tree seeds
Coconuts
Cacao beans
Cocoa beans
Cultivated Hericium erinaceus mushroom
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I love my IQ bars!”
“I just found iQ bars. Really love them and they have a lot flavors. 2-3 net carbs, 1g sugar, 12g protein”
“IQ bars. Healthiest cleanest ingredient list I’ve found, 2-3g net carbs. Sweetened with stevia. Can buy them online from Costco (bulk) or amazon”
Main Praise
Taste and texture get a lot of love from professional testers and everyday buyers: soft and smooth with a satisfying crunch, more dark‑chocolate than candy‑bar sweet. Several reviewers highlight how filling it is for under 200 calories, which makes sense given the higher fat and fiber.
The ingredient list earns praise for being plant‑based and gluten‑free, with no sugar alcohols—keto and diabetes communities routinely call that out. Editors at Women’s Health and Verywell Fit cite the strong low‑carb macros, and Good Housekeeping’s panel noted the pleasant chew and balanced flavor.
On Amazon, repeat buyers say they keep it in rotation because it’s convenient, not cloying, and sits well even first thing in the morning.
Main Criticism
Not everyone vibes with stevia; Good Housekeeping flags a possible aftertaste, and a handful of reviewers agree. Texture can be polarizing—some describe a soft fudgy chew, while a few found it off‑putting or too mild in the Chocolate Sea Salt flavor specifically.
Protein lands in the middle of the pack at 12g, which leaves heavy lifters wishing for more. A couple Redditors caution that doubling up can be too much fiber for sensitive stomachs.
And there are scattered complaints about price confusion on certain single‑bar listings online, which can make this seem pricier than it is per bar.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—silky dark‑chocolate keeper or a one‑bite regret? The truth sits in the middle, and it mostly comes down to expectations.
If you like darker chocolate and don’t need a sticky‑sweet finish, the flavor profile makes sense; Women’s Health called these smooth and easy to snack on, and Verywell Fit liked the nutty, soft‑plus‑crunch texture.
If stevia has ever read “metallic” to you, you may notice it here; Good Housekeeping’s note on aftertaste is fair. The macros are purpose‑built for low‑carb snackers: fat‑forward, low sugar, and no sugar alcohols—a combo keto Redditors cheer.
But if you’re chasing 20–25g of protein from a single bar, you’ll need to pair this with something else (think yogurt, a shake, or nuts). As for the functional sprinkle of lion’s mane, Verywell Fit’s caveat is reasonable—limited clinical evidence and not for everyone—so treat it as a bonus, not the reason to buy.
In short, it’s a grown‑up chocolate bar that trades candy‑bar sweetness for steadier energy; one Redditor’s “DISGUSTING” is another person’s daily driver. Taste is subjective.
Your palate makes the final call.
What's the bottom line?
IQBAR Chocolate Sea Salt is a thoughtful low‑sugar, plant‑based bar that eats like dark chocolate and behaves like a steady snack. You get 12g of pea protein, 180 calories, and a fat‑forward, low‑carb profile with no sugar alcohols, plus naturally high vitamin E from almonds. The texture is soft with a delicate crunch; most like it, some don’t.
Stevia’s presence is noticeable for certain palates, and the lion’s mane is more conversation piece than clinically proven edge. Choose it if you want a dairy‑free, keto‑friendly chocolate bar that keeps you level between meals or after a light workout.
Skip it if stevia reliably bothers you or if your goal is 20g+ of protein in a single bar. For everyone else, this is a smart, grown‑up chocolate fix that won’t boomerang on your energy—salted, steady, and satisfying.