Rise Bar
Lemon Cashew
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare four-ingredient, vegan protein bar with no sugar alcohols, gums, or emulsifiers—just nuts, pea protein, real sweetener, and lemon.
When to choose Rise Bar Lemon Cashew
Best for dairy-free eaters and simple-ingredient purists who prefer real sugar over artificial sweeteners, especially as a pre/post‑workout snack or a satisfying afternoon bite.
What's in the Rise Bar bar?
Rise Bar Lemon Cashew keeps things disarmingly simple: cashews, pea protein, organic coconut nectar, and a brush of organic lemon extract - that's it.
That short list explains the whole nutrition story: plant protein from peas (a steady, dairy-free 15 grams), nut-derived fats from cashews that land on the higher end among bars, and sweetness supplied by coconut nectar rather than artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.
Expect bright citrus over creamy cashew, slightly higher calories, and more sugar than many protein bars, all delivered by pantry-style ingredients.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 15 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
1515MIDMost of the 15g of protein comes from pea protein isolate, with a small assist from the cashews. Pea protein is a refined, dairy-free protein from yellow peas that is well digested and complete, so you get meaningful amino acids without whey or soy. That plant choice places the bar around the middle of the pack for protein while keeping the ingredient list short.
Fat
139HIGHThe 13g of fat come almost entirely from cashews, bringing mostly unsaturated fats with a small amount of saturated fat. There are no added oils here - just nut-derived fats that help with fullness and smooth out the sweetness. Compared with other bars, fat lands on the higher side, which many people find more satisfying.
Carbs
2320MIDThe 23g of carbs are driven mainly by organic coconut nectar, a concentrated coconut-blossom syrup; it is still sugar, even if it wears a natural halo. Expect quick energy and a noticeable rise in blood sugar, tempered somewhat by the bar's nut fats and protein. Cashews contribute a smaller share of slower carbs and a little fiber, while lemon extract adds flavor, not carbs.
Sugar
154HIGHSugar is 15g, almost entirely from organic coconut nectar. That's a real, caloric sweetener - not an artificial sweetener or a sugar alcohol - so it offers clean, caramel-like sweetness but will still raise blood sugar. If you prefer sweetness from fruit, this isn't that; if you prefer to avoid high-intensity sweeteners, it will appeal.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories, this bar runs higher than average because calorie-dense cashews and coconut nectar do the heavy lifting. Fat from cashews contributes the largest share, with protein and sugars filling in the rest. The result is a more substantial snack or light meal rather than a 'diet' nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron reaches about 10% of daily value, likely supplied by the pea protein and cashews rather than fortification. Otherwise there aren't notable vitamin boosts here, which fits a four-ingredient bar. Pairing it with a vitamin C-rich food can help you absorb that non-heme iron more efficiently.
Additives
This is a minimal-ingredient bar: cashews and lemon extract provide flavor and texture, coconut nectar is a minimally processed syrup, and the pea protein is the one modern, refined component. There are no emulsifiers, gums, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. In short, it's a pantry-style recipe with a single processed protein ingredient.
Ingredient List
Cashew tree kernel
Yellow pea seeds
Coconut palm blossom sap
Lemons
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Rise bars are great. 3-4 ingredients per bar and 20g of protein.”
“Rise bars. 3 ingredients. Clean. Tasty.”
“Rise (honey almond flavor) bars are SO good. 20g of protein and I like that they only include 3 ingredients. They sell them on Amazon.”
Main Praise
The chorus of praise for Rise centers on simplicity and taste, and Lemon Cashew keeps that ethos intact. Reviewers love that the ingredient list is short and recognizable, without the usual parade of fillers or sugar alcohols.
The texture trends soft and dense rather than gritty—easy to eat on the move and gentle on many stomachs. Independent outlets consistently applaud Rise for clean recipes and pleasant flavor; the brand’s almond honey bar gets the headlines, but this citrusy vegan sibling channels the same less‑is‑more approach.
The lemon brightens the creamy cashew base enough to feel like a treat, while the 15 grams of pea protein add real staying power. If you want a bar that tastes like food, not formulation, this is very much that.
Main Criticism
If your north star is macro efficiency, you’ll notice the math: 260 calories and 15g of sugar for 15g of protein isn’t the leanest profile in the aisle. Some shoppers on Reddit dismiss certain Rise flavors as “candy bars” because fat and carbs can outgun the protein, and that critique will resonate here depending on your goals.
A few consumers report texture variability—some lots softer, others drier and tougher to chew.
There’s also lingering skepticism from a brand‑wide labeling adjustment on whey flavors (protein counts shifting downward), which made a few longtime fans wary, even if it doesn’t directly implicate this plant‑based bar.
And yes, price is often noted as higher than mass‑market options.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the ‘clean and delicious’ crowd or the ‘too much sugar’ skeptic? Both, depending on the job you hire this bar to do.
Coconut nectar is still sugar, and 15g of it will register; if you’re chasing 20–25g of protein per ~200 calories, Lemon Cashew won’t scratch that itch. But if you value a short, real‑food ingredient deck with no sugar alcohols, and you want a satisfying, dairy‑free bar that actually tastes good, this hits squarely.
Use matters too: post‑workout, the quick carbs plus 15g of protein make sense; at a desk, it’s more of a satisfying snack than a ‘diet’ play. Redditor S7ageNinja lauds the clean simplicity, while Suspicious_Tap3303’s protein‑math caution applies mostly to the whey line’s labeling changes—still a fair reminder to read the current label.
The truth lives in the middle: it’s a quality, minimalist bar whose macros favor enjoyment and straightforward ingredients over ultra‑lean numbers.
What's the bottom line?
Rise Bar Lemon Cashew is a four‑ingredient, vegan protein bar that tastes like a real snack—bright lemon over creamy cashew—with 15g of plant protein and no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. It’s pleasantly simple and easy to digest for many, which is rarer than it should be in protein‑bar land. It’s not built for macro maximalists: at 260 calories and 15g of sugar, this is better as a pre/post‑workout bite or a satisfying afternoon treat than a low‑calorie protein bomb.
If you prioritize a short ingredient list, a clean flavor, and dairy‑free protein—and you’re okay with real sugar—Lemon Cashew is an easy yes. If you want more protein per calorie or minimal sugars, keep looking. Either way, the label tells you exactly what you’re signing up for, which is refreshing.