PhD Nutrition
Dark Chocolate Mocha
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true candy‑bar build—chocolate shell, caramel, nougat—with 21g of mixed‑source protein and about 1.2g of sugar. It comes in a broad flavor lineup, minis, and even a plant‑based sibling.
When to choose PhD Nutrition Dark Chocolate Mocha
Reach for it when you want a dessert‑leaning post‑workout top‑up or an afternoon bridge that actually fills you up. Best for people who tolerate dairy/soy and sugar alcohols and prefer chocolate‑bar texture over fruit‑and‑nut simplicity.
What's in the PhD Nutrition bar?
PhD Nutrition’s Dark Chocolate Mocha Protein Bar leans into a candy‑bar build—dark chocolate coating and a caramel layer—then swaps most of the sugar for modern sweeteners and packs in 21g of protein.
The protein comes from milk proteins (casein and whey) supported by soy isolate and a touch of collagen, giving you robust, complete amino acids with a firm, nougat‑like chew. Carbs are mostly refined—maltitol, glycerol, and tapioca‑derived IMO—so you dodge a straight sugar hit, though sensitive stomachs may prefer moderation.
Fats come mainly from cocoa butter and sunflower oil, which deliver a pleasant chocolate melt without going greasy. The mocha notes are built from cocoa mass and cocoa powder with flavorings rather than actual coffee.
- Protein
- 21 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 250
Protein
2115HIGHAt 21g, protein is driven by a blend of calcium caseinate and whey (both milk proteins), plus soy protein isolate, with some bovine collagen for texture. The dairy and soy components are complete proteins and do the heavy lifting for muscle repair, while collagen doesn’t provide a full amino‑acid profile. If you tolerate dairy and soy, it’s a high‑quality, mixed‑source protein base that lands near the top of the pack.
Fat
99MIDMost fat comes from cocoa butter in the chocolate layers and some sunflower oil. Cocoa butter brings mainly stearic and oleic acids—firm at room temp, clean‑melting on the tongue—while sunflower oil adds mostly unsaturated fat. The 9.2g total is moderate, adding satiety and that chocolatey melt with a mix of saturated and unsaturated sources.
Carbs
2320MIDThese are not oat‑or‑date carbs; they’re confectionery carbs. Maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and glycerol supply bulk and sweetness with fewer sugar spikes than sucrose, while tapioca‑derived IMO and a bit of tapioca starch add chew and crisp. Expect a steadier rise than a sugar‑bomb for many people, but it’s still a refined‑carb system—and polyols can bother sensitive guts.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1.2g of sugar because most sweetness comes from sugar alcohols and other refined sweeteners in the coating and caramel, not from fruit. A little sugar sneaks in via condensed milk, but maltitol and glycerol do the heavy lifting. Low sugar doesn’t mean no impact—these alternatives still add calories and can cause GI upset in some people.
Calories
250210HIGHAt 250 calories, this sits on the higher side and eats like a purposeful snack. Calories are fairly evenly shared: protein provides a big slice, fats from cocoa butter/sunflower oil add heft, and the rest comes from refined carbs (maltitol/IMO/glycerol). Think mini‑meal rather than a nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals are listed over 10% DV. You’ll get small amounts from cocoa and dairy (and a touch of vitamin E from sunflower oil), but this bar is built for protein and flavor, not micronutrient fortification.
Additives
This is a modern low‑sugar chocolate build: lecithin keeps the coating smooth, glycerol keeps the bar soft, and IMO plus maltitol create a chewy caramel and coating. These are highly refined ingredients used to replace sugar and mimic candy‑bar texture. If you prefer minimally processed carbs, this won’t fit that brief.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk
Cow's milk whey
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Defatted soybean flakes
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Soybeans
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Sugarcane and sugar beet
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Smart PhD bars are fantastic and the one I ate in the video. Comes in a variety of different flavours. You can also get these in plant / vegan editions.”
“I loved the mini phd smart blondie bars for a season, they were so so good.”
“PhD smart plant is my go to if I want something more filling, 21g of protein and definitely satisfies the hunger craving”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the compliments.
Several reviewers call Smart Bar one of the better‑tasting high‑protein options, with a convincing chocolate coating, caramel layer, and a firm, nougat‑style chew that feels like a treat rather than a chore.
Amazon reviewers rave about the “great taste, texture, crunch,” and independent outlets like Men’s Fitness note it delivers meaningful protein for recovery without leaning sickly‑sweet. Coach describes it as a good everyday bar—subtly sweet, with around 20–21g of protein—making it easy to slot into a routine.
Many appreciate the variety: multiple flavors, mini sizes, and a plant version if you’re dairy‑free. In practice, it tends to satisfy hunger well for its 250‑ish calories, which is exactly what you want from a purposeful snack.
Main Criticism
There’s some flavor whiplash across the range: a couple of Redditors called specific flavors “rank” or “disgusting,” a reminder that taste is personal and flavor choice matters. The bar’s low sugar comes via sugar alcohols and other refined sweeteners; Men’s Fitness flags the high polyol content, and sensitive stomachs may feel that.
Texture sits on the chewy side, with a slightly gritty note reported in some flavors—an acceptable trade‑off for some, a turn‑off for others.
Coach also points out that while sugar is low, overall carbs and fats can land a notch higher than ultra‑lean competitors, so this isn’t the tiniest macro footprint in the aisle.
Finally, if you’re eyeing the Mocha flavor for a caffeine kick, the coffee notes are from flavorings, not coffee.
The Middle Ground
So where does that leave us?
If you like the idea of a protein bar wearing a candy‑bar costume, Smart Bar mostly delivers on that promise—enough that outlets like Coach and Men’s Fitness position it as a reliable everyday option and a legit recovery snack.
But the split opinions are real: one Redditor loved the blondie minis, another couldn’t finish a toffee‑popcorn bar. That pattern suggests the core build is sound, while specific flavors will be hit‑or‑miss depending on your palate.
On the nutrition front, the low sugar is achieved with sugar alcohols and refined binders; that helps many people avoid sharp sugar spikes, but it’s also why some stomachs complain. It’s not a whole‑foods bar, nor is it the leanest macro profile on the market—yet for many, the chocolate‑caramel payoff and 21g of protein outweigh those trade‑offs.
The truth sits in the middle: pick a classic flavor to start, try one bar before you buy a box, and don’t stack multiples if polyols don’t love you back.
What's the bottom line?
PhD Smart Bar is a taste‑first, candy‑bar‑style protein bar with substance: about 250 calories, 21g of mixed‑source protein (mostly milk, with some soy), and very little sugar. It’s satisfying, widely liked across its core chocolatey flavors, and effective as a post‑workout or mid‑afternoonhold‑you‑over snack. The asterisks are clear: refined sweeteners do the sweetening, so some people will experience GI grumbles; texture skews chewy; and it’s not trying to be a minimalist, whole‑foods bar.
Expect dessert energy without a true sugar rush—and don’t expect caffeine from the Mocha name. 2g of sugar. Great for post‑workout or a satisfying snack if you tolerate sugar alcohols; skip it if you want a minimally processed, fruit‑and‑nut style bar.