Snacky Hour Episode 1 Recap: Mezcla, LatinX-Owned Protein Bars

Welcome to Snacky Hour, Crafty's new taste-test series where real-life best friends and coworkers Becca and Dana crack open a snack, try all the flavors they can get their hands on, and tell you exactly what they think.

For Episode 1, they're trying Mezcla, a LatinX-owned protein bar brand doing something a little different with the category. Instead of the soft, chewy texture protein bars are known for, Mezcla uses pea protein crisps to create a light, crunchy bar that's much closer to a Rice Krispie treat.

Becca was already a fan. Dana needed convincing. Seven protein bars later, they had an official ranking.

Here's how it went.

Meet Mezcla

Mezcla is a LatinX-owned protein bar brand founded by UVA classmates Griffin Spolansky and Coco Sotelo. The two met when Coco guest-presented in Griffin's social entrepreneurship class, then started experimenting with recipes together in her kitchen.

Even the name reflects the brand's roots: mezcla means "mixture" in Spanish, a nod to the mix of flavors, cultures, and communities behind it.

The product itself is a different. Mezcla uses pea protein crisps to create its signature puff-crispy texture, giving you the crunch of a snack bar with the protein you'd expect from a protein bar.

A few things to know about how it got here:

• 2019: Griffin and Coco founded Mezcla after developing their first recipes together.
• Early days: They sold bars door-to-door to bodegas around Boston.
• Today: Mezcla is sold in 9,000+ retail locations, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Target.
• What's next: The brand is expanding distribution and will keep developing new flavors.

Mezcla at a Glance

Before we get into the flavors, here's what you need to know about these bars:

• LatinX-owned brand
• Non-GMO
• Gluten-free
• Plant-based
• ~160 calories per bar
• ~11g protein per bar
• ~6g sugar per bar

The Mezcla Lineup

Becca and Dana worked their way through the flavors, from chocolate-heavy afternoon snacks to fruitier options that felt more at home at breakfast. Here's the quick rundown:

• Chocolate Pretzel: Salty, sweet, and extra crunchy. A classic flavor that pairs easily with just about anything.
• Peanut Butter Chocolate: Rich and nutty with real peanut pieces and no artificial peanut butter taste.
• Blueberry Maple: Fruity and maple-sweet with major blueberry Pop-Tart energy. A natural fit for breakfast or crumbled over yogurt.
• Matcha Vanilla: Earthy and seed-forward with notes of sunflower and pumpkin seed. The most polarizing of the bunch.
• Mint Chocolate: Cool, chocolatey, and very Thin Mint. One of the crunchiest bars they tried.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate: Sweet caramel up front with chocolate on the finish. Rich enough to feel like an afternoon treat.
• Frosted Strawberry: Fruity and nostalgic, with strawberry ice cream bar vibes. Another strong breakfast contender.

The Snacky Hour Highlights

Seven flavors later, a few things stood out. Here's the TL;DR:

• Mint Chocolate had major Girl Scout Cookie energy: Dana called "Thin Mint" before the first bite, and she nailed it. It even sparked a pitch for a future Mezcla x Girl Scouts collab.
• The chocolate flavors were well loved: Peanut Butter Chocolate brought real peanut pieces, Salted Caramel Chocolate screamed afternoon pick-me-up, and Chocolate Pretzel nailed the salty-sweet balance.
• There's a flavor for different moments: The fruitier flavors felt more like breakfast, others like an afternoon treat, while Chocolate Pretzel was versatile enough to pair with just about anything.
• Matcha Vanilla was the wildcard: Earthier and seedier than expected, this was the flavor that proved just how different everyone's snack preferences can be.
• The crunch was the real winner: Mezcla's puff-crispy texture kept coming up throughout the tasting. When so many protein snacks are soft or chewy, sometimes you just want crunch.

The Official Mezcla Ranking

So, which ones would we actually reach for again? Here's where the seven flavors landed:

1. Mint Chocolate: No debate. We'd both grab this one again.
2. Peanut Butter Chocolate: Another immediate yes and one we'd happily keep in rotation.
3. Salted Caramel Chocolate: Our pick when the afternoon sweet tooth hits.
4. Chocolate Pretzel: The safe bet. We'd eat it anytime, with pretty much anything.
5. Frosted Strawberry: Better than expected and one we'd reach for in the morning.
6. Blueberry Maple: Not our personal go-to, but we know the blueberry people will get it.
7. Matcha Vanilla: Great for that fall trail mix flavor, but not the one we’d reach for most.

Conclusion

That's the snack for Episode 1. Mezcla's puff-crispy texture was the standout, bringing some much-needed crunch to a category that can start to feel pretty soft and chewy. Add in seven flavors that work across different tastes and times of day, and it's easy to see why Becca was already a fan and Dana became one by the end.

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