TRAIL TRUFFLES – Dark Chocolate Nut-Butter Filled Protein Bites – Healthy, Plant Based, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Non-GMO Snacks (Peanut Butter, 4 Pack)

Confession, I tried this product because A: I was going in for a surgery that had a long recovery time and didn't have the time to make and freeze the ones I usually do for my husband and B: They had an attractive $2 off coupon available.I usually make a specific one for him to take in his lunch M-F. The Hubs is a 38 year veteran of UPS and its 10-12 hour long days without air conditioning, running as many as 150 stops. Aka: hard conditions when you are a 55+ person. Added to it is the fact that his route is out in rural areas, meaning there is no place to stop and buy lunch. Not a single restaurant, unless you count a gas station with the heat-n-eat sandwich things. Not exactly healthy options. They do let him sit in their air conditioning while he crams down his lunch from home, so no complaints against them.We, however, eat "obnoxiously" healthy- as our doctor puts it. We eat very little meat, mostly veggies. Ancient grains like Farro. Fruits, etc. He eats a healthy breakfast at home, then a veggie wrap for lunch but he still gets the mid afternoon slump. That's when he pops out these little things.We've gone through 6 bags of them now, yes we re-ordered. He eats 2 each afternoon. I store them in the freezer in a small reusable container and then pop them in his lunch box. By the time he gets to them they are thawed. I have also used them as a hold-over snack because I don’t cook dinner until he is off work, which can be as late as 10pm. So, with that out of the way…Taste: A bit on the dry side, they need to be to avoid spoiling. Moisture is a breeding ground, so dryer is better, though a bit hard on the palate. Chase it with a nice large swallow of cold water and you’ll be good to go. We get the Chocolate Mint flavored ones. It isn’t overwhelmingly chocolate or mint, more like a hint of it. The date flavor isn’t overwhelming either, as it is in some other brands.Power: As I said before, just 2 of these will carry him from around 3pm to when he is done for the day. He is constantly moving, lifting up to 150 pounds, trucking up and down stairs, long sidewalks, and even ‘walking off’ packages (when they cannot get the truck down a driveway, he will physically walk the package to the home- sometimes miles each direction), all outside in physically challenging conditions-rain, snow, excessive heat, etc. So, I think if you take them on a hike with you, you’ll be just fine. They have enough energy packed into them to carry you.Pro’s: They are small enough to be easily carried and without fear of spoiling quickly. They are packed with enough readily available energy that your body will benefit from them, even under harsh conditions. The flavor, at least of the chocolate mint ones, is good enough to fool the brain into thinking you are having a treat.Con’s: A bit dry, but easily countered with a long drink. They aren’t very physically attractive, resembling a “piece of poo”, as the grandson put it. He suggests not dropping one out on the trail because you might mistake a piece of poo for it and have a wicked surprise. He’s 8, however, and poo is wildly amusing at that age.Once I am up and about from this surgery, I’ll go back to making homemade ones and keep a bag of these in the freezer. They are handy to have around and fill in when I can’t. I suspect we will be adding them to cooler bag when we are back to fishing as well. We never seem to stop when we plan to, especially if the fish are biting, and snacks are always welcome.

Overall, it did not meet my expectations, mostly pros, only one true con.I purchased the Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle 4 pack with the intent on satisfying a chocolate craving. I mostly tasted dates and a faint hint of cacao. Although it didn't satisfy my chocolate craving, I won't list that as a con. The "truffles" are tasty and subtly sweet enough to satisfy a sugar craving.---> It's true, the shell does not melt!!!<-----I took these out on the trail for the ultimate test. I hiked for 1-2 hours in 70-80 degree weather with the "truffles" in my front pant pocket. Although they did not melt, they did "sweat" an oil-like residue that does not remain on the skin. Some of the truffles cracked slightly open. This could be due to the fact that I was hiking with them in my front pant pocket while they were increasingly getting softer from heat. Even though the outer shell of a few truffles cracked, they did not seep any residue. This may not be the case for other flavors, like the Peanut Butter Truffles, for example.Pros:- vegan- tasty- complete protein- satisfies a twinge of hunger thanks to the high protein and fiber- does not melt- small bite sized for snacking and ease of travel- literally clean eating (ingredient-wise and non-messy!)Cons:-packaging is not sustainable (non-recyclable)

Quite pleased with the assortment. It’s tough to choose a favorite...they are all pretty darn good. I love that they are vegan, non-GMO and don’t contain refined sugars. They’ll be a great addition to my hodgepodge of hiking snacks (...as well as just sitting on the couch snacks).I ordered the assortment of all 4 flavors. The dark chocolate is sweetened nicely by dates, which also give the outside of the truffle its soft chewiness. The center has a hint of creaminess and is where the individual flavors come through.The packaging is a wee bit misleading...the outer shell is much thicker and hence the cream filling smaller than pictured, but it’s what’s inside that counts: tasty little vegan balls of guilt-free goodness.

These are not bad at all. I have eaten/taken some NASTY stuff in the name of health. These are amazing considering. It is a health food so not going to taste like a beautifully glazed donut. Trail truffles save me every time i need instant food. I keep them in my car, my work bag and at home. They are filling and sustain me. I love that i can get a plant based snack that won't melt and I can easily carry with me. It is my choice for reach for these rather than a sugary glucose spiking easy food. Try them people. They are good!!!

Edit 02/19/21: I found a contact form on the company’s website, and notified them of the bad batch I received. They responded quickly and replaced my order free of charge, so great service if you need to contact them, and now I can continue to order with confidence.I’ve ordered lots these over the last year, but my last order of two boxes are horrible. They all have expiration date of 04/?/21. I have loved this product, but it’s too expensive for poor quality control and no way to return them.

I was looking for a yummy chocolate bite to eat for after lunch that would not kill me calorie wise and be healthy. I decided to give these a try. I got the variety box so I could try all the flavors. I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and texture. I live that I can read all the ingredients. I can see bringing these on over night hikes and day trips. I do wish the chocolate was a bit more chocolately if thats a word and the coconut was a bit more pronounced. Other wise great snacks!