IQBAR
Salted Caramel Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, keto-friendly bar that skips sugar alcohols yet still tastes like salted caramel, delivers 100% Daily Value of vitamin E, and adds a touch of lion’s mane—soft and chewy with a gentle crunch.
When to choose IQBAR Salted Caramel Chip
Low-carb snackers and plant-based eaters who want a tidy, not-too-sweet bar without sugar alcohols—better as a small breakfast anchor or afternoon tide-me-over than a heavy post-workout meal.
What's in the IQBAR bar?
Plant-based protein, a low-carb build, and a salted-caramel finish—this IQBAR Protein Bar (Salted Caramel Chip) is more nutrition-forward than it looks.
The 12 grams of pea protein (including crisped pieces for texture) ride alongside a prebiotic tapioca/vegetable fiber blend that keeps total carbs on the very low end for bars, while almonds, macadamias, and a bit of coconut oil push fats into the upper quartile for satisfying fullness.
With just 170 calories and 1 gram of sugar (sweetness comes from stevia), it reads dessert thanks to caramel, sea salt, and unsweetened chocolate, yet it sneaks in 100% DV vitamin E plus notable iron and magnesium—and even a sprinkle of lion’s mane.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 9 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
1215MIDPea protein isolate and pea protein crisps (bound with a bit of tapioca starch) do the heavy lifting for the 12 grams of protein. That places this bar firmly in the plant-protein camp—dairy- and soy-free—with a generally well-digested amino acid profile and a lighter protein dose than the 20-gram whey crowd.
Fat
119MIDMost of the 11 grams of fat come from whole nuts—almonds and macadamias—which are rich in heart-friendly monounsaturated fats, with a supporting role from coconut oil. It’s a satisfying mix that promotes fullness, though coconut oil does add saturated fat, so consider the rest of your day’s oils. Unsweetened chocolate chips contribute a touch more cocoa butter, too.
Carbs
920LOWThe 9 grams of carbs are driven by a prebiotic blend of soluble tapioca and vegetable fibers—refined fibers made from starch that add bulk and help steady blood sugar compared with regular sugar. A small amount comes from the tapioca starch used to form the crispy bits and trace carbs in the caramel and chocolate. Net effect: low, slow energy rather than a spike-and-crash.
Sugar
14LOWSugar stays at just 1 gram, likely from small contributions in the caramel component and natural foods like nuts, while the sweetness comes primarily from stevia, a zero-calorie sweetener refined from stevia leaves. The chocolate here is unsweetened, so it doesn’t pile on sugar. Notably, there are no sugar alcohols, which many sensitive stomachs appreciate.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this lands on the lighter side of the bar aisle. Most calories come from fats in the nuts and coconut oil, with a meaningful assist from pea protein; carbs stay modest thanks to added soluble fiber. Think tidy snack or small breakfast anchor, not a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin E is the headline at 100% Daily Value, coming from a combination of added vitamin E and naturally E-rich almonds. You also get about 15% DV each of iron and magnesium, likely supplied by the pea protein, nuts, and cocoa. For a small bar, that’s a meaningful micronutrient bump.
Additives
Beyond the whole nuts and cocoa, the recipe leans on a few refined helpers: soluble tapioca/vegetable fibers for texture and ‘prebiotic’ fiber, stevia for sweetness without sugar, and natural flavors/caramel to deliver the salted-caramel profile. These are common, safe ingredients at typical amounts, though they’re more processed than whole-food fibers or sugars. Importantly, the bar skips sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.
Ingredient List
Almond tree seeds
Macadamia tree seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Cassava root
Cassava root starch
Corn or tapioca starch; chicory root
Coconuts
Cacao beans
Cultivated Hericium erinaceus mushroom
Stevia leaves
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
There’s broad appreciation for how much this bar accomplishes without resorting to sugar alcohols.
Editors at Women’s Health called IQBAR smooth and easy to snack on, while Verywell Fit named it Best Low-Carb for its vegan profile, nutty flavor, and that soft-meets-crunch texture testers liked.
Good Housekeeping’s team found the brand a flavorful vegan pick with standout textures across flavors. Everyday reviewers echo the same themes: satisfying for its size, clean ingredient feel, and a mild sweetness that doesn’t smack you in the face.
Several Amazon reviewers say it’s become a reliable morning or on-the-go snack, with one noting it helped her keep sugar in check during gestational diabetes—a personal anecdote, but it speaks to the steady-energy vibe.
As a bonus, the 100% DV vitamin E and useful iron and magnesium are meaningful perks for a sub-200-calorie bar.
Main Criticism
Taste and texture are the divide. Some people just don’t get along with stevia’s edge or pea protein’s flavor, and a couple of Redditors were blunt about it.
A few found the texture off-putting—too soft or odd—especially if they were expecting a candy-bar clone. Protein purists also point out the lighter dose: 12g won’t replace a 20–25g post-lift shake.
Others mention that if you’re sensitive to added fibers, multiples in a day can feel like too much of a good thing.
Good Housekeeping also flags the stevia aftertaste for some, and Verywell Fit notes the inclusion of lion’s mane isn’t a fit for everyone (particularly if you have mushroom allergies or prefer to skip experimental add-ins).
Finally, pricing can look steep when single bars are sold à la carte online—check the price per bar to avoid sticker shock.
The Middle Ground
So where does reality land between ‘I love my IQ bars! ’ and ‘Pea protein.
Woof’? If you’re chasing a classic candy-bar chew and big, syrupy sweetness, this will feel more grown-up and restrained—salted caramel with chocolate bits, a soft base, and a little crunch.
The upside of that restraint is steadier energy: 1 gram of sugar, no sugar alcohols, and carbs built mostly from soluble fibers tend to sit better for many than the sugar-alcohol-heavy keto bars.
The downside is taste subjectivity; stevia is polarizing, and if it bothers you elsewhere, it’ll likely bother you here too. On protein, 12g is snack-territory, not a full-on meal replacement—pair it with Greek yogurt or a latte if you want more.
As for lion’s mane, it’s a flourish, not a diagnosis; the evidence is early and doses in bars are modest, so treat it as a nice-to-have you can take or leave.
In short: the more you value low sugar without sugar alcohols, plant-based ingredients, and a calmer sweetness, the more this bar shines.
What's the bottom line?
IQBAR’s Salted Caramel Chip is a strong pick for low-carb, plant-based snacking that doesn’t lean on sugar alcohols. It’s soft with a bit of crunch, lightly sweet, and surprisingly nutrient-forward for 170 calories, with 12g protein and 100% DV vitamin E plus useful minerals. Editorial testers and many reviewers like the flavor and texture; the critics mostly don’t vibe with stevia or pea protein, or they wanted a heftier protein punch.
Choose it if you want a gentle, dessert-adjacent bar that keeps blood sugar steadier and fits vegan and gluten-free needs. Skip it if stevia is a nonstarter, you’re chasing 20–25g of protein in one go, or you avoid nuts, coconut, or mushrooms. For everyone else, it’s a smart, tidy snack—more thoughtful than flashy, and better at keeping you even-keeled than making a scene.