KIND
Dark Chocolate Nut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A whole‑nut, dark‑chocolate bar that actually tastes like peanuts and almonds, with 12 grams of soy‑based protein and none of the chalky chew.
When to choose KIND Dark Chocolate Nut
Best for an afternoon pick‑me‑up or travel snack when you want crunch and satiety without chasing 20–30 grams of protein; great for gluten‑free vegetarians who eat honey and soy.
What's in the KIND bar?
This Dark Chocolate Nut bar is exactly what it sounds like: big pieces of peanuts and almonds bound together, then dressed in real cocoa flavor (unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, and alkalized cocoa) with a pinch of sea salt.
The protein lift comes primarily from soy protein isolate, with a little help from the nuts, while the rich texture and staying power come from nut oils plus a dose of chocolate fats and palm kernel oil.
Carbs lean refined—glucose syrup and honey do most of the binding and sweetness—though chicory root fiber and all those nuts help slow things down. Net: a sweet, nut-forward bar with moderate protein, higher fats, and a classic dark-chocolate crunch.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
1215MIDThe 12 grams of protein are driven mainly by soy protein isolate—the highly concentrated, complete plant protein extracted from soy—backed by smaller contributions from peanuts and almonds. Soy isolate is efficient and well-digested, though it’s more processed than whole-soy foods and typically sits a notch below whey for muscle-building efficiency. Expect a moderate protein hit for the category, more about balance and satiety than maxing out your post-workout shake.
Fat
179HIGHMost of the fat comes naturally from peanuts and almonds, bringing a welcome mix of mostly monounsaturated fats that help with fullness. Palm kernel oil and cocoa butter from the chocolate side add structure and indulgence, but also bump up saturated fat—tasty and stable, yet more likely to raise LDL than nut oils. The result is a richer bar than average, which many will find satisfying.
Carbs
1820MIDCarbs tilt refined: glucose syrup (a starch-derived binder high in glucose), honey, and a bit of sugar provide quick-burning energy that can spike blood sugar if eaten solo. Chicory root fiber adds soluble fiber and the nuts slow things down, so the ride is steadier than a candy bar, but it still lands on the "refined" side of the carb spectrum. Overall carb load is moderate for the category, with a fast-to-moderate energy feel.
Sugar
84HIGHYou get 8 grams of sugar, mostly from honey, table sugar, and the glucose syrup binder—added sugars rather than fruit. It’s sweeter than many protein bars, so expect quicker energy up front; the chicory fiber and nut matrix help dampen the spike, but the sweetness is still largely from refined sources.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories, this sits on the higher side for bars because fat carries the day—nuts, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter do most of the heavy lifting, with protein and sugars filling in the rest. That fat-forward profile tends to be more satiating, making this better as a hold-you-over snack than a light nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
Micronutrients aren’t the headline here, though there’s about 10% daily value of iron—likely from cocoa and soy—with small amounts of potassium and calcium contributed by the nuts. Think flavor-first with a little mineral bonus, not a fortified multivitamin bar.
Additives
Alongside the whole nuts and chocolate, a few refined helpers keep things cohesive: soy protein isolate boosts protein, glucose syrup binds, chicory root fiber adds body and fiber, and soy lecithin emulsifies the chocolate. These are common, functionality-first ingredients—effective, but more processed than pantry staples. There’s also “natural flavor” for consistency batch to batch.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Almond tree seeds
Corn, wheat, potato, tapioca starches
Defatted soybean flakes
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Oil palm fruit
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Chicory root
Cacao beans
Cacao beans treated with alkali
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“New Kind protein bars. This flavor just happens to be vegan. Also 20 g protein with only 250 calories. They’re so fire I finished it so fast.”
“Kind are S tier bars for sure”
“Omg I wrote off Kind because of the less than ideal macros and honey in everything but this is a GAME CHANGER. Where did you find these, OP?”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love letter here. Across professional tastings and real‑world reviews, this bar is celebrated for being…a bar made of food.
Big roasted nuts, a clean snap, and dark chocolate that reads like chocolate, not cocoa‑flavored frosting. Food & Wine and Men’s Health both spotlight the KIND Protein line for exactly that: a craveable crunch and zero chalky aftertaste.
Many everyday reviewers echo the same thing—satisfying, peanut‑forward, and easy to reach for as a daily snack. The 12 grams of protein don’t steal the show, but they do enough heavy lifting to make this feel substantial rather than candy‑ish.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is smitten.
If you’re shopping purely by macros, 12 grams of protein is modest next to the 20–30 gram heavy‑hitters, and some Redditors flatly say they wouldn’t rely on it as a primary protein source.
Sweetness runs on the refined side—glucose syrup, honey, and sugar—so a few tasters find it a touch sweet, even if the nuts and fiber rein it in somewhat.
There’s also a gut‑health caveat: chicory root fiber (inulin) helps with texture and fiber content but is a known trigger for some people with IBS; a couple of users report it didn’t agree with them.
And a minority of reviewers mention occasional hardness or an off taste—outliers, but worth noting.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where the truth settles. If your goal is max protein per bite, this isn’t your bar; it’s a satisfying snack that happens to carry 12 grams of protein, not a shake in disguise.
But calling it “as unhealthy as three spoonfuls of peanut butter,” as one fiery Reddit OP did, misses the nuance.
You’re getting a different matrix here: real nuts for staying power, a meaningful bump of soy‑isolate protein, soluble fiber from chicory root, and yes, a refined‑sugar glaze that delivers faster energy.
That trade‑off explains the fanbase: people who want crunch, real‑nut flavor, and no chalk, not those tallying up 30 grams of protein at all costs. Even the palm‑kernel‑oil note fits the profile—it boosts the chocolate’s structure and snap, while nudging saturated fat up compared with straight nut butters.
In short, the bar lives in the tasty‑and‑satisfying middle ground, and the strongest complaints come when someone expected a different job description.
What's the bottom line?
KIND Dark Chocolate Nut delivers what many protein bars don’t: a bar that tastes like nuts and chocolate, not lab‑made nougat. It’s a higher‑fat, moderate‑protein, moderately sweet snack that feels substantial at 240 calories and 12 grams of protein. That makes it a stellar afternoon hold‑you‑over, a glove‑compartment staple, or a coffee companion—especially if you’re gluten‑free, vegetarian, and fine with soy and honey.
If you need a post‑lift 30‑gram protein bomb, look elsewhere (or pair this with Greek yogurt or a small shake). If you have a sensitive gut, test half first—chicory root fiber is wonderful for some and bossy for others. For everyone else who values real crunch and a dark‑chocolate finish, this is one of the most reliably enjoyable “protein” bars on the shelf—less gym bro, more grown‑up trail mix in a tidy wrapper.