PROBAR
Mint Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert‑leaning mint‑chocolate bar built on soy protein isolate that delivers 20 grams of plant protein without intense artificial sweeteners—and enough heft to actually satisfy.
When to choose PROBAR Mint Chocolate
Pick it for post‑workout refuel, long hikes, or anytime you want a plant‑based protein hit that doubles as a chocolate‑mint treat. Skip it if you’re avoiding soy or chasing ultra‑low‑calorie snacks.
What's in the PROBAR bar?
Meet PROBAR’s Mint Chocolate Protein Bar: a plant-powered 20 grams of protein in a dessert-leaning package. The protein backbone is soy protein isolate—a highly refined, complete plant protein—while the mint-and-chocolate personality comes from unsweetened chocolate, alkalized cocoa, and natural mint flavor.
What may surprise you is the carb story: this bar sits on the higher end for carbs and sugars among protein bars, driven by tapioca syrup, sugar, and tapioca starch, with soluble tapioca fiber added to help bind and soften the blow.
Fats land in the middle, coming from a mix of saturated palm kernel oil (for structure and chocolate snap) and unsaturated safflower oil. At 270 calories, it’s closer to a small meal than a snack—useful fuel if you want a quick hit of energy with a strong plant-protein anchor.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 32 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein come almost entirely from soy protein isolate, a highly refined powder made from defatted soybeans. It’s a complete plant protein with a solid amino acid profile—typically a notch below whey for muscle-building efficiency, but impressive for a vegan option and very digestible. If you prefer minimally processed proteins, note that isolates are more refined than whole-soy foods.
Fat
89MIDFat here comes mainly from palm kernel oil, safflower oil, and cocoa. Palm kernel oil is rich in saturated fats that give chocolate its firm bite but can raise LDL cholesterol compared with oils higher in unsaturated fats. Safflower oil brings mostly unsaturated fats to balance the profile a bit, while cocoa contributes a small amount; overall, 8 grams is a middle-of-the-road fat load with a mix of saturated and unsaturated sources.
Carbs
3220HIGHMost of the 32 grams of carbs are from refined sources—tapioca syrup (a quick-to-absorb glucose/maltose syrup), table sugar, and tapioca starch—so expect faster energy rather than a slow burn. The bar also includes soluble tapioca fiber, a resistant dextrin made from cassava, which adds fiber and can help temper blood sugar when replacing digestible carbs. Big picture: more “quick carbs” than whole-food carbs, with some cushioning from added fiber and the bar’s protein and fat.
Sugar
124HIGHYou get 12 grams of sugar, mostly from tapioca syrup and added sugar, with a little more from the chocolate components. There are no intense artificial sweeteners here; vegetable glycerin adds mild sweetness and softness but isn’t counted as sugar. This lands the bar on the sweeter end for protein bars, with sweetness coming from conventional added sugars rather than fruit.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories, this bar sits on the higher side for protein bars, driven by a near-even split of macros: roughly 80 calories from protein, ~72 from fat, and ~128 from carbs. The refined syrups and starch lift the calorie count alongside the oils that give the chocolatey texture its structure. It’s best positioned as a mini meal or post‑workout refuel rather than a very light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron is the standout at 15% of daily value, likely coming from soy protein isolate and cocoa solids. Calcium (6%) and potassium (2%) are present in smaller amounts, and there’s no meaningful vitamin fortification. Consider the micronutrients a modest bonus rather than a headline feature.
Additives
A short list of functional additives keeps the texture in that soft‑chewy zone: vegetable glycerin for moisture, soluble tapioca fiber for binding and fiber, and lecithins (sunflower and soy) to keep fats and cocoa playing nicely together. These are refined ingredients used in small amounts for structure and shelf life. Most people tolerate them well, though larger single intakes of fermentable fibers or glycerin can bother sensitive stomachs.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cassava starch
Cassava root starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Oil palm fruit
Cacao beans
Safflower seeds
Cacao tree seeds
Cassava root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“ProBar (peanut butter) is delicious and uses only real sugar”
“Also ProBar is outstanding.”
“I love probar!!!!”
Main Praise
Taste and satisfaction lead the praise parade. Across Reddit and Amazon, fans call PROBAR Base "delicious," "outstanding," and—my favorite—"like a candy bar" in the best possible way.
Several folks appreciate that sweetness comes from conventional sugars rather than sugar alcohols, which means no stevia or erythritol aftertaste and fewer of the side‑eye digestive surprises some bars carry. Healthline’s tester singled out the line’s chocolate flavors for being dense yet smoothly cohesive, and the mint‑chocolate profile plays right into that strength.
Add 20 grams of complete plant protein and you end up with a bar that actually holds you for hours; The Manual’s take that these are “big, beefy bars” tracks in real life.
If you want a bar that feels like dessert but performs like a snack‑sized meal, this is squarely in the sweet spot.
Main Criticism
The sugar and calories are the lightning rods. One Redditor waved off the 11–12 grams of added sugar as a hard no, and an Amazon reviewer echoed that the bar isn’t the leanest choice.
Texture gets mixed notes too: some flavors in the line read dry or a bit chalky, with a few comments about crumbliness. A vegan Redditor even called them “dry as hell,” though they still preferred PROBAR’s flavor over competitors.
Soy is the other sticking point—great for many, off the table for some. And depending on where you live, availability can be hit‑or‑miss, which adds to the occasional grumble.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you’re comparing to ultra‑lean, low‑sugar bars sweetened with stevia or sugar alcohols, PROBAR Base feels richer and, yes, sweeter—because it is.
That’s by design: sugar and tapioca syrup drive the mint‑chocolate experience without the sharp aftertastes or GI curveballs some zero‑calorie sweeteners bring. On texture, the Internet can’t quite agree: Healthline praised a smooth chew in the Chocolate Brownie flavor, while a few Redditors and Amazon reviewers found certain flavors dry or crumbly.
Flavor‑by‑flavor variance is real, but the Mint Chocolate formula sits closer to the "smooth and substantial" end. As for calories, The Manual’s "big, beefy" label is fair—at 270 calories here (some flavors creep higher), it’s more trail fuel than tiny tide‑you‑over.
And to the Redditor casipera who called them "kinda gross": your best friend loves them; taste is personal. Maybe you two can split the box by flavor and keep the peace.
What's the bottom line?
PROBAR Base Mint Chocolate is a plant‑powered bar that eats like dessert and works like a snack‑sized meal. You’re getting 20 grams of complete soy protein, a genuinely satisfying chocolate‑mint profile, and no intense artificial sweeteners—a combo many reviewers celebrate. The flip side is intentional heft: 270 calories and 12 grams of sugar, plus a texture that some find dense.
If you want a light, barely‑there bar, look elsewhere. If you want something you’ll actually look forward to eating—and that keeps you full—this one earns its place in the pack.
Condensed pick: A dessert‑leaning, plant‑based bar with 20 grams of soy protein and a cool mint‑chocolate bite. Best as a mini meal or post‑workout refuel; skip if you’re avoiding soy or want an ultra‑low‑sugar snack.