Oatein
Salty Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy-bar style chocolate-and-caramel bite that delivers 20.7g of dairy-based protein with very low labeled sugar (1.8g), achieved via maltitol and a touch of sucralose—consistently praised for its fudgy, dessert-like texture.
When to choose Oatein Salty Caramel
Best for chocolate lovers who want a post‑workout or afternoon treat that still hits a high-protein target, and who are comfortable with sugar alcohols. Not ideal if you avoid gluten, soy, or prefer minimalist, whole‑food bars.
What's in the Oatein bar?
Salty Caramel is the headline act: a low‑sugar caramel layer (pectin gel with caramel color, natural flavors, and a pinch of salt) wrapped in maltitol‑sweetened milk chocolate. Underneath, a dairy‑led protein blend—milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate—does most of the lifting, with soy crisps for crunch.
The result is top‑tier protein (around the 90th percentile), low fat (bottom decile), and moderate carbs built from oats, added fibers, and some refined starches. Big picture: a candy‑bar style bite with less sugar, achieved not by fruit, but by sugar alcohols and a handful of functional additives.
- Protein
- 21 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 213
Protein
2115HIGHThe 20.7g of protein comes chiefly from a dairy blend—milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate—backed by soy protein isolate in the crisp layer and a little hydrolysed wheat protein for texture. Dairy isolates are highly digestible, concentrated sources of complete protein; the wheat component means this bar isn’t gluten‑free.
Fat
59LOWAt 4.9g fat, most comes from the milk‑chocolate coating (cocoa butter and milk powder) and a touch of coconut oil in the caramel. That’s a mostly saturated mix—cocoa butter’s stearic acid is relatively LDL‑neutral, coconut oil is more LDL‑raising—but the total amount here is small.
Carbs
2320MIDCarbs are a hybrid: whole‑grain oat flour plus added fibers—soluble tapioca fiber (a resistant dextrin) and oligofructose (a prebiotic fiber)—alongside refined carbs like maltodextrin and modified waxy maize starch, plus glycerin (a moisture‑holding syrup) and maltitol (a sugar alcohol). Expect a gentler rise than a sugar‑heavy bar thanks to the fibers and polyols, though the refined starches and maltitol mean it’s not zero‑spike energy.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 1.8g sugar appears on the label because sweetness comes mainly from maltitol (a sugar alcohol that mimics sugar’s bulk with fewer calories) plus a tiny boost of sucralose. Maltitol usually raises blood sugar less than regular sugar but not zero, and higher intakes can bother sensitive stomachs; oligofructose and glycerin add mild sweetness as well.
Calories
213210MIDAt 213 calories, this lands mid‑pack for bars. Most energy is split between the substantial protein load and the carbohydrate system (oats, fibers, and sweeteners), with relatively little coming from fat.
Vitamins & Minerals
No stand‑out vitamins or minerals are listed above 10% DV. Dairy ingredients and a dash of calcium lactate may contribute small amounts of calcium, but this bar isn’t positioned as a micronutrient source.
Additives
To deliver a caramel‑and‑chocolate bite with little sugar, the recipe leans on modern helpers: lecithins (soy/sunflower) to emulsify chocolate, glycerin to keep it soft, pectin and xanthan to set the caramel, and modified starch for stability. Sweetness relies on maltitol with a whisper of sucralose. It’s an effective, but fairly processed, approach—great for low‑sugar texture, less so if you prefer minimalist labels.
Ingredient List
Sunflower seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Soybeans
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Chicory root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I can recommend Oatein Hype bars. They are heading in the direction of getting more and more laden with maltitol but for now it's acceptable level. They're delicious. Like Mars bars or milky way.”
Main Praise
Taste is the headline. Multiple reviewers say Hype eats like a real chocolate bar—one Reddit commenter even compared it to Mars/Milky Way territory.
On abillion, Anna called it “choc heaven,” highlighting a fudgy chew that feels more dessert than diet, while Christine noted a pleasant, unique texture she’d happily buy again. That’s notable praise in a category where “chalky” and “waxy” show up too often.
Value gets nods too; Trustpilot’s Neil flagged the bars as both awesome tasting and well-priced. And the macro math works for many goals: 20.
7g of protein in 213 calories with modest fat (4. 9g) is a strong protein-to-calorie ratio wrapped in a flavor profile people actually want to eat.
Main Criticism
The path to that candy-bar feel is fairly processed.
Sweetness leans heavily on maltitol, a sugar alcohol that tends to be easier on blood sugar than regular sugar but can cause GI grumbles for some—especially if you eat more than one.
There’s also a whisper of sucralose, various fibers and stabilizers, and refined starches in the mix. If you chase short, whole‑food ingredient lists, this isn’t your bar.
Allergen-wise, it contains milk, soy, and wheat (a small amount of hydrolysed wheat protein appears for texture), so it’s not gluten‑free or suitable for dairy‑free diets. And while the label sugar is low, it’s not a free pass for strict keto or highly sensitive stomachs.
The Middle Ground
So is it hype, or the real deal? On taste, the crowd is persuasive: from abillion’s “fudgy and satisfying” to a Redditor’s candy-bar comparison, the consensus leans delicious rather than dutiful.
Nutritionally, 20. 7g of primarily dairy isolate protein at 213 calories is strong for recovery or a high-protein snack.
But the low sugar comes with a cost many brands pay: sugar alcohols and a roster of helpers to keep the chocolate-caramel act intact. Maltitol typically raises blood sugar less than sugar, but not zero, and may bother some guts—so the “eat two back-to-back” strategy might not end well.
If you want dates, nuts, and nothing else, look elsewhere. If you want something that tastes like dessert and performs like a protein bar, this is exactly the middle ground—just go in eyes open about the processing and the gluten.
What's the bottom line?
Oatein’s Hype Bar nails the chocolate-and-caramel fantasy without turning the nutrition panel into a horror show. 8g of labeled sugar. The trade‑off is a modern, engineered recipe: maltitol for sweetness, a little sucralose, stabilizers for texture, and a touch of wheat that keeps it off the gluten‑free list.
If you’re comfortable with sugar alcohols and you want a dessert-adjacent protein hit you’ll actually look forward to, Hype lives up to its name. If your non‑negotiables are minimalist ingredients or zero polyols, this isn’t your match. 7g) with low labeled sugar; great for sweet‑tooth lifters, but mind the maltitol and gluten.