Zing
Dark Chocolate Mocha
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dietitian‑minded, plant‑based mocha bar that gets flavor from real dark chocolate and coffee, keeps sugars modest with allulose, and skips the laundry list of additives.
When to choose Zing Dark Chocolate Mocha
Coffee lovers who want a dairy‑free, gluten‑free, lower‑sugar snack for the afternoon or a pre‑workout nibble—more treat‑like and satisfying than a candy bar, not a 20g post‑lift heavyweight.
What's in the Zing bar?
Zing’s Dark Chocolate Mocha is a vegan, gluten‑free bar built around nut butters and a plant‑protein duo—almond protein plus rice protein—for a snack‑size 10g protein boost. The mocha flavor comes from real dark chocolate, alkalized cocoa, coffee extract, and a touch of natural coffee flavor, so it tastes like the café line without the cup.
Sugar stays low (5g) because some of the sweetness comes from allulose, a low‑calorie sugar, while carbs sit mid‑range thanks to tapioca‑based syrup and a little agave. The 13g of fat—mostly from almonds, cashews, and cocoa butter—lands this bar on the higher‑fat side for lasting satiety and a steadier rise in blood sugar than a candy‑style bar.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 21 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
1015LOWThe 10g of protein comes from a blend of almond protein and rice protein—no whey, no soy—which keeps the bar vegan and easy for dairy‑sensitive folks. Plant proteins can be a bit lower in certain essential amino acids than whey; this nut‑and‑grain pairing improves breadth but is still snack‑level rather than a heavy post‑workout dose. Think of it as a gentle, plant‑based lift with real‑food roots.
Fat
139HIGHMost of the 13g of fat is from almond and cashew butters, with some cocoa butter from the dark chocolate and a small amount of safflower or sunflower oil. That means largely unsaturated fats for fullness and flavor, plus a bit of saturated fat from cocoa butter. The seed oil is a refined, neutral oil (often higher in omega‑6 unless it’s high‑oleic), so the nut butters are doing the nutritional heavy lifting here.
Carbs
2120MIDCarbs come mainly from a tapioca‑based syrup (a refined sweetener made by breaking cassava starch into simpler sugars), a little agave, and the sugar in the dark chocolate, with allulose stepping in to provide sweetness with minimal calories. Expect a quicker lift than you’d get from whole‑grain carbs, but the bar’s fats and protein help smooth out the ride. In short: more “clean label” than “whole‑grain,” and the energy feels steadier than a pure sugar rush.
Sugar
54MIDOnly 5g of sugar shows up because part of the sweetness is supplied by allulose, a low‑calorie sugar that barely budges blood glucose and doesn’t count toward the sugars line in the U.S. The sugars you do get come mainly from the dark chocolate’s organic sugar and a drizzle of agave—refined sources rather than fruit. If you’re sensitive to newer low‑cal sweeteners, know that larger amounts of allulose can bother some stomachs, though typical bar servings are usually well tolerated.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, this bar stays modest because some sweetness comes from low‑calorie allulose while most of the energy is driven by the nut and cocoa fats. Protein sits in the snack range and carbs are mid‑pack, so the overall balance leans toward satisfying fats rather than a big sugar hit. It’s a small bar that eats a bit richer than the calorie number suggests.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron lands around 10% Daily Value, largely courtesy of the cocoa and dark chocolate, with small contributions from nuts. You’ll also see modest calcium and potassium (about 4% DV each), which fit the almond/cashew profile. There’s no fortification here—just what the ingredients naturally provide.
Additives
Additive‑wise, it’s pretty restrained: sunflower lecithin in the chocolate helps keep things smooth, and there’s natural coffee flavor to round out the mocha. The sweetening system leans on refined ingredients—tapioca‑based syrup, agave, and highly processed but low‑calorie allulose—but there’s no stack of artificial sweeteners or stabilizers. Overall, a short list with a few modern sweeteners rather than a lab’s worth of extras.
Ingredient List
Ground roasted almonds
Almond tree seeds
Cassava starch
Almonds
Rice grain
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Sunflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I recently discovered Zing bars and I’m obsessed.”
“These Zing bars are my absolute favorites. Aloha gets second place.”
“Zing Bars ~ 220cal (25g carbs) Vegan, Cherry almond is the best and it tastes like a marzipan candy bar.”
Main Praise
Taste leads the love.
Across reviews, Zing loyalists call out that the bars feel like a bona fide treat without sending you into a sugar tailspin, and this flavor’s coffee‑meets‑cocoa combo reads more café than chemical.
People lean on it as a pre‑gym or “keep me civil between meetings” snack, noting it curbs chocolate cravings at around 200 calories. Ingredient‑quality kudos show up repeatedly: nuts, dark chocolate, and a short, recognizable list, with sweetness kept in check by allulose instead of a pile of artificial sweeteners.
Publications like Prevention have also highlighted Zing’s dietitian roots and overall balance, which matches what everyday snackers report—steady, satisfying, and easy on the label.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is sold on the newer plant‑based formula. Some long‑time fans preferred the old whey versions and say the texture now skews fudgey with a faint grit—typical for rice‑and‑nut proteins but still polarizing.
A few reviews also find the bars softer than ideal in warm conditions, making them a little messy on the go. At 10g, protein lands in snack territory; if you want the 20g “meal replacement” punch, you’ll likely be underwhelmed.
Finally, a subset of low‑carb purists side‑eye tapioca‑based syrup and modern sweeteners; allulose is generally gentle on blood sugar, but as with any newer sweetener, a small number of people report stomach sensitivity.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you’re expecting a dense, whey‑style gym brick, this isn’t that—it’s a softer, mocha‑forward bar where flavor and ingredients are the headline and protein plays rhythm section.
That texture split makes sense: plant proteins tend to be less creamy than whey, and a nut‑butter base can shift mouthfeel toward fudgey or slightly gritty. The payoff is a dairy‑free, gluten‑free bar that many say actually tastes like chocolate and coffee, not flavoring.
As for the sweetening system, allulose offers sweetness with minimal blood‑sugar impact, and most folks tolerate the amounts in a bar just fine; if you’re ingredient‑sensitive, start with half and see how you do.
Meanwhile, the 13g of mostly unsaturated fat from nuts and cocoa butter helps this 200‑calorie snack eat more satisfyingly than the macros suggest. In short: fans love the taste and “steady energy” feel; critics want either the old whey texture or more protein per bite.
Both can be true.
What's the bottom line?
Zing Dark Chocolate Mocha is a coffeehouse‑leaning, plant‑based snack for people who want real‑ingredient flavor and steadier energy without going full protein‑bar extreme. It’s vegan, gluten‑free, and soy‑free, with 10g of protein, 13g of mostly nut‑and‑cocoa fats, and 5g of sugar—sweetness comes partly from allulose, so it stays dessert‑adjacent without the usual crash. The trade‑offs are clear: a softer, slightly fudgey texture; protein that supports, rather than defines, the experience; and a sweetener system that some ultra‑low‑carb folks may want to test personally.
If dark chocolate and coffee are your love language, this is an easy “yes” for the afternoon lull or a pre‑workout lift. If you’re chasing 20g of protein or you’re nostalgic for the old whey formula, look elsewhere.
For everyone else, it’s the rare bar that tastes like a treat and reads like a sensible snack. Condensed listicle take: A café‑grade mocha bite with real dark chocolate and coffee, 10g of plant protein, and modest sugar—great for dairy‑free snackers who want satisfaction without the crash.