TREK
Choc Orange
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert‑style, vegan, gluten‑free bar with real orange oil and layered caramel‑chocolate crunch, delivering 16g of complete soy protein without artificial sweeteners.
When to choose TREK Choc Orange
Best for dairy‑free or sweetener‑averse snackers who want a chocolate‑orange fix that still brings meaningful protein—perfect for afternoon slumps, hikes, or a post‑gym treat when taste matters as much as macros.
What's in the TREK bar?
TREK’s Choc Orange Protein Bar leans into the classic chocolate–orange pairing with cocoa, cocoa mass, and a touch of real orange oil. The protein lift comes from soy protein isolate—an efficient, complete plant protein—supported by peanut butter and cashews.
Macros land in the middle of the pack for fat and calories, with a modest total carb count, though most of those carbs are sugars from dates, fruit concentrates, and the vegan caramel layer.
Translation: a vegan bar that eats like a treat—no artificial sweeteners, just fruit-forward sweetness—balanced by nuts, fiber, and chocolate to keep it satisfying.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 219
Protein
1615MIDThe 15.8g of protein is driven primarily by soy protein isolate (the first ingredient), with peanut butter and cashews adding a little extra. Soy isolate is a complete plant protein—reliable and digestible—though it’s more refined than whole‑soy foods. Expect a solid, dairy‑free amino acid profile that sits right around the category average.
Fat
99MIDMost of the 9.1g of fat comes from peanut butter and cashews (mainly unsaturated fats), balanced by cocoa butter and coconut oil in the chocolate and caramel layers (more saturated fats). There’s also a small contribution from tigernut, a naturally fatty, fiber‑rich tuber. The mix lands mid‑pack on total fat and helps the bar feel pleasantly filling.
Carbs
1520LOWCarbs are modest at 15g, but most come from quick‑absorbing sources: dates and date syrup, concentrated grape juice, and cane/glucose syrup in the vegan caramel. A bit of rice/tapioca starch shapes texture, while chicory root fiber brings prebiotic fiber that some guts love—and some find gassy. Expect fast energy from the sugars, tempered somewhat by the bar’s nuts, fiber, and fat.
Sugar
124HIGHWith 12.4g sugar, it’s sweeter than many protein bars. That sweetness is built from dates and date syrup, concentrated grape juice, and the caramel’s cane/glucose syrups—fruit‑derived or familiar, but they still behave like added sugars in the body. No intense artificial sweeteners here; glycerol (a plant‑derived humectant) adds moisture and only mild sweetness with a gentler blood‑sugar effect.
Calories
219210MIDAt 219 calories, this sits near the category middle. The largest share comes from fats (nuts, cocoa, coconut), followed by protein, with the remainder from carbs—so it eats like a snack‑meets‑treat rather than a pure sugar hit. If you’re bridging a long afternoon or heading out for a walk, the macro balance makes sense.
Vitamins & Minerals
Manganese pops at about 24% of daily value, most plausibly from cashews and cocoa, with a small assist from rice‑based ingredients. Beyond that, there’s no heavy fortification—the bar leans on whole ingredients for its micronutrients. Think minerals from nuts and cocoa rather than multivitamin levels.
Additives
A few helpers keep everything cohesive: sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier) smooths the chocolatey layers, while glycerol keeps the bar soft. Chicory root fiber adds body and prebiotic fiber, and rice/tapioca starches give the crispies and caramel their bite. These are common, moderately refined food‑tech tools used in small amounts for texture and stability.
Ingredient List
Date palm fruit
Cocoa beans
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Tubers of Cyperus esculentus
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Sunflower seeds
Corn, wheat, potato, tapioca starches
Sugarcane stalks
Coconuts
Vegetable oils and animal fats
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“girlies this thing was so good. Definitely worth a try.”
“God I love Trek”
“Trek Cocoa Oat protein flapjacks. GF, GM free, and vegan. Discovered these when doing a lot of hiking, but they're always with me now; car glovebox, backpack, jacket pocket. At 227 Calories a bar, if you get hungry then you don't have to risk an unknown snack, meal. I buy in bulk.”
Main Praise
The loudest cheer is for taste.
A Redditor summed up the vibe with “God I love Trek,” and the Choc Orange profile earns points for feeling like the real thing—bright orange oil over proper cocoa, not a vague citrus perfume.
The layered build (caramel plus chocolate with crispies) gives candy‑bar satisfaction while staying vegan and gluten‑free.
Fans also like the familiar ingredient approach: dates, nuts, soy protein isolate, and pantry‑style binders instead of intense sweeteners—echoed by Amazon reviews that praise the “natural” taste and easy digestibility for many.
As everyday fuel, these bars have a reputation for being reliable in backpacks and gloveboxes, and media roundups consistently highlight TREK’s flavor and plant‑based credentials. You feel like you ate something, not just checked a protein box.
Main Criticism
Two knocks come up often. First, value and macros: compared with ultra‑lean, 20g‑protein bars, some Redditors call TREK pricier and not the best protein‑per‑calorie play.
Second, texture and sweetness divide opinion; a few find certain TREK bars “claggy” or underwhelming, and 12g sugar in this flavor reads sweeter than gym‑style bars. A subset of people report digestive grumbles—likely from chicory root fiber or the small addition of tigernut (a fibrous tuber)—totally safe, but not every gut is on board.
And if you avoid soy, peanuts, or tree nuts, this bar is out by design.
The Middle Ground
If you’re chasing the leanest macros, the critique isn’t wrong—this isn’t a 20g‑protein, 1g‑sugar brick. It’s a different proposition: a plant‑based bar that reads like confection and still lands 16g of complete soy protein.
The Telegraph’s sugar caution toward TREK’s oat‑based cousins is fair context here—12g is noticeable—but it comes from dates, grape concentrate, and a classic caramel rather than a lineup of high‑intensity sweeteners.
Some palates will call that “too sweet”; others, like the r/veganuk fan who simply said “girlies this thing was so good,” will call it delightful and move on. Texture-wise, experiences vary; expectation and temperature matter, and this layered format trends more candy‑bar than dry flapjack.
For sensitive stomachs, the chicory‑fiber question is real—try one before you stock your desk drawer. The truth sits in the middle: flavor‑first, recognisable ingredients, solid protein, and a sugar level that makes it a snack‑meets‑treat rather than a diet bar.
What's the bottom line?
If your protein‑bar wish list reads “tastes like something I’d actually buy as a snack” and you want it dairy‑free and gluten‑free, TREK Choc Orange is an easy yes. Expect a lively chocolate‑orange profile, layered texture, and 16g of soy protein—enough to feel substantial without feeling heavy. Just know what it isn’t: an ultra‑lean, low‑sugar bargain block.
It’s a fruit‑sweetened, nut‑and‑soy bar with familiar ingredients, 219 calories, and a small chance of chicory‑fiber fuss if your gut is sensitive. lull, it’s a smart upgrade from a candy bar and a welcome break from the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners. Listicle quick take: Vegan, gluten‑free, dessert‑like chocolate‑orange with real orange oil, no artificial sweeteners, and 16g protein.
Expect 219 calories and 12g sugar from fruit‑forward sources. Best for afternoon pick‑me‑ups and hikes when flavor counts as much as protein.