Pulsin
Vanilla Choc and Almond
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A genuinely nutty, chocolate‑chipped vegan bar that keeps sugars modest with xylitol and chicory fiber while leaning on healthy fats for a slow‑burn feel—more grown‑up treat than candy clone.
When to choose Pulsin Vanilla Choc and Almond
Plant‑based snackers who want a steady, lower‑sugar afternoon bite without dairy or gluten. Less ideal if you’re chasing a 20g‑plus post‑workout protein hit.
What's in the Pulsin bar?
Pulsin’s Vanilla Choc and Almond bar leans into a classic vegan protein duo—pea and rice—folded into a nutty base of almonds and cashew butter, dotted with dairy‑free chocolate chips and a touch of real vanilla.
It’s a fat‑forward, carb‑light take compared with many bars, using xylitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory root fiber to keep sugars modest while small amounts of agave, brown rice malt, and grape juice round out sweetness and bind.
The chocolate notes come from cocoa mass and cocoa butter, while almonds (17%) and cashew butter (14%) drive the creamy, praline‑like vibe. Expect a bar designed more for steady, satiating energy than a quick sugar hit.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Carbohydrates
- 12 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 238
Protein
1315MIDPea protein and rice protein do the heavy lifting, with a helpful assist from the protein naturally found in almonds and cashew butter. Pea brings a high‑quality amino profile, while rice is lower in lysine—together they complement each other for a more balanced plant protein. At 13.4 grams per bar, it lands around mid‑pack for protein among bars, and stays fully dairy‑free.
Fat
149HIGHMost fat comes from whole nuts (almonds and cashew butter), with cocoa butter in the chips and a little shea butter adding structure. That delivers plenty of monounsaturated fats from nuts alongside more saturated fats—largely stearic acid—from cocoa/shea for a creamy bite. It’s on the higher‑fat side compared with many bars, so saturated fat is the macro to watch if you track it.
Carbs
1220LOWCarbs are low overall and skew toward chicory root fiber—a prebiotic fiber that adds body without acting like sugar—plus smaller amounts from agave, brown rice malt, and grape juice for binding and flavor. Those syrups are refined rather than whole‑food carbs, but the fiber and nut fats help temper their impact. Some sweetness also comes from the sugar alcohol xylitol, so energy feels steadier than a sugar‑heavy bar.
Sugar
54MIDThe 5.2 grams of sugar largely come from agave nectar, brown rice malt, and a touch of grape juice; the chocolate chips are sweetened with xylitol instead of cane sugar. Xylitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory fiber keep total sugars down and help blunt spikes, though brown rice syrup is fast‑acting if used in bigger amounts. If you’re sensitive, note that sugar alcohols and inulin‑type fibers can bother some stomachs at higher intakes.
Calories
238210MIDMost of the calories come from fats, with protein next and relatively few from digestible carbs—so it eats like a small nut‑and‑chocolate snack rather than a sweet granola bar. That fat‑led profile explains the satisfying, slow‑burn feel. It’s not the lowest‑calorie option, but it should carry you a while.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals rise above 10% of daily value here. Almonds naturally bring a bit of vitamin E and cocoa can contribute small amounts of magnesium, while added vitamin C and E appear mainly for freshness. Think macronutrients and satiety first, not micronutrient fortification.
Additives
Additives are purposeful and fairly restrained: xylitol (a highly refined sugar alcohol) for sweetness, sunflower lecithin in the chocolate for smooth texture, and chicory root fiber (an isolated prebiotic) for body and fiber. They keep sugars modest and the bar soft, though they’re refined rather than whole‑food ingredients. Sensitive guts may want to test tolerance to polyols and inulin‑type fibers.
Ingredient List
Yellow pea seeds
Chicory root
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Hardwoods and corn cobs
Cocoa beans
Sunflower seeds
Rice grain
Shea tree kernels
Agave
Brown rice starch
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Hi all, Pulsin had recently released a keto range including bars (which taste great) and protein powder, which I haven't tried. What do you all think of the nutrition etc?”
“I’m enjoying the Pulsin keto chocolate bars! Nutty and chocolatey mmm”
“I've found Pulsin Keto Protein bars work really well for getting my glucose up but not causing a later crash. They're 8.5g of carbs and 12.7g of protein”
Main Praise
Taste is the headline win for a vegan option.
Several testers and roundups (including The Telegraph and Women’s Health UK) rate Pulsin highly for flavor, noting real almond pieces and dark chocolate chips that make it feel more like a restrained treat than a syrupy bar.
The sweetness is dialed down, which reads as “grown‑up” rather than diet‑ish, and the nut‑forward build adds a pleasant richness. Reviewers also appreciate that the ingredient approach feels less processed than most, with visible nuts and chips rather than a homogeneous paste.
From a functional angle, people who struggle with sugar swings have praised Pulsin’s line for energy without a crash; one Reddit user with hypoglycemia even flagged a similar Pulsin bar as helpful for raising glucose without the later slump.
Main Criticism
Texture is the sticking point—literally not sticky enough for some. Words like “dry” and “crumbly” come up in Reddit threads and in a Telegraph review, which may put off anyone expecting a brownie‑like chew.
A second theme is digestion: the combo of xylitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory root fiber can cause a gurgly stomach for sensitive folks, especially if you’re not used to polyols or inulin‑type fibers.
Finally, protein sits in the middle at about 13g per bar, which is perfectly snack‑worthy but won’t replace a 20g shake after heavy training. The calorie count and saturated fat aren’t ultra‑light either, given the nut and cocoa‑based fats.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land between “tasty and balanced” and “dry and meh”? Likely in your expectations.
If you want candy‑bar sweetness and a fudgy chew, this isn’t it; the lower sugar and fiber‑rich build almost always yield a crumblier bite. But if you like a more natural nut‑and‑chocolate experience, Pulsin delivers a flavor profile that many mainstream vegan bars miss.
On protein, Reddit weight‑room warriors looking for 20g can fairly say it’s light; as a snack, though, ~13g is respectable—pair it with a soy latte or yogurt and you’re in post‑workout territory.
Digestion is the wildcard: some users (like the hypoglycemia commenter) feel steady energy, while others report “noisy tummies. ” Start with half if you’re polyol‑sensitive and see how you go.
And one public‑service aside: because the chips use xylitol, this bar is absolutely not for dogs.
What's the bottom line?
Pulsin’s Vanilla Choc and Almond is a smart, grown‑up take on the vegan protein bar: nutty, chocolate‑dotted, not overly sweet, and built for steady energy rather than a sugar spike. It’s a strong pick if you want a gluten‑free, dairy‑free snack that tastes like actual food and provides about 13g of protein without veering into candy territory. The trade‑offs are clear and fair—crumbly texture, a moderate protein count, and potential digestive rumblings for those sensitive to sugar alcohols or chicory fiber.
If you’re chasing maximal protein or crave a brownie‑soft chew, look elsewhere. But if you value real‑nut flavor, lower sugars, and a snack that keeps pace through the afternoon, this bar earns a spot in the desk drawer. Just keep it away from the dog.