Do you remember when I scoped out the College Bar Scene?
Well, I’m at it again. 
Energy bars are a MUST for college students on the go because they are portable and easy to eat. My new favorites are Clif Nectar Bars, followed by Larabar Jocalat Bars. (Gnu Bars are pretty good too, but I’m not going to review them here.) Aside from taste, one of the best things about these bars is the fact that, although they contain chocolate, they don’t melt.
Everyone and her brother seem to love those now-famous Larabars. But in the blog posts I’ve seen, hardly anyone ever mentions Jocalats. Why is this? Is it because they aren’t as good as their sister Larabars? I was determined to find out.
And so, one day, I added a Chocolate Jocalat to my Whole-Foods’ purchase. Gosh, am I ever glad I did! The website describes this bar as being “as indulgent as a delicious fudge brownie” and they are not kidding. From the taste alone, you’d never guess the bar is actually good for you.
And just as good as the Jocalat Bars (if that’s possible) are the Clif Nectar Bars.
I first sampled a Dark Chocolate Raspberry Nectar a few months ago, and ever since that moment, I’ve been hooked! This luscious little bar is moist and nutty, without being cloyingly-sweet. Has anyone else ever eaten one of those chocolate truffles with the raspberry jelly inside? Well, the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Nectars remind me of those sinfully-rich jellies.
The Dark Chocolate Walnut Nectar doesn’t disappoint either. Bitter dark chocolate is tempered by sweet, succulent dates, with walnuts generously dispersed throughout each intensely-chocolatey bar. It’s like biting into a big piece of fudge!
Sadly, I did NOT enjoy my experience with the Pomagranite Vanilla Nectar. With its waxy texture and citrus-y aftertaste, this tasted more like a bar of SOAP than a bar of energy! Perhaps my negative encounter with this flavor was due to its lacking of a certain CCV-eponymous ingredient ;o).
While we’re on the subject of “bad” bars, I had to laugh when I saw the size of the new Luna Minis. Just look at how tiny it is compared to my darling Nectar Bar. It’s worse than one of those infamous 100-calorie packs!
They call this a snack?! I’d call it a bite!
But let’s get back to the POSITIVE reviews, shall we?
Dark Chocolate Mocha Nectar: As soon as I bit into this bar, intense bursts of coffee collided with my taste buds. Luxuriously rich and chocolatey, with crunchy almonds and a robust espresso flavor, it tastes way too sinful to be classified as a health food. But that’s exactly what it is!
These bars will satisfy your chocolate craving while at the same time giving you TWO servings of fruit. Plus they have no refined sugars, no artificial ingredients, no gluten nor dairy… and the company uses organic, fair-trade chocolate to boot!
In summary: Jocalats = Amazing! Chocolate Nectars = Fantabulous! But stay away from the Luna Minis, unless you have a stomach the size of a petite pea.
{ 188 comments… read them below or add one }
Larabar and Cliff should hire you to advertise their product. You just made me go out and buy some of those! Too bad I’m already in my jammies and slippers
P.S: You are so stunningly beautiful!
I love the chocolate mocha Nectar bar! I didn’t like the pomegranate nectar either, but I did like the Lemon Vanilla Cashew with goji berries. The plain Jocolat is good, but I didn’t like the chocolate mint one!
You do have good taste! Now that you mention it, I have no idea why the Jocalat line doesn’t get as much attention as Lara. They are both so good! I love the chocolate mint and chocolate coffee ones — I have yet to get my hands on the two new Jocalat flavors! I like Clif Nectar Cacao bars too, but the raspberry is the only one I haven’t tried! I think you have convinced me to get one on my Whole Foods run tomorrow.
And I don’t remember which plain Clif Nectar bar I tried, but I do know that it wasn’t nearly as good as the cacao ones! Too bad they are more expensive that Larabars. Poo.
I LOVE nectar bars. The z-bars are great too, esp if you heat them up – but I don’t know if they’re vegan.
I’ve been wanting to try the Nectar bars ever since they came out but can’t find them anywhere!! =( I must search harder…
I really didn’t like the Jocolat choclate mint, but I’ll be sure to try out the other flavors.
I know the cliff nectars are great!
Those Luna minis are a joke.
Have a great Friday night!
I’ll commit to trying a Jocolat in your honor!
Love your sense of humor btw.
I have tried the Jocolat and found them quite delish. . . I think we don’t have the Clif bars here yet (or I just haven’t seen them). Great review!
Thanks for the reviews! This was a great post!
I, for one, do not have a love affair with Larabars and their Jocolat sisters. Yuck. I’ve had a couple Clif Nectar bars and they’re pretty good, but Luna bars (not mini size) are my favorites and I regularly eat a couple flavors of regular Clif bars, too. Thanks for the review, CCV!
You said you were going to do a bar review…most College students’ bar reviews would have been a little different…you know, with booze! Ha! I much enjoyed your much healthier take on things!
“they call it a snack. i call it a bite”
you are too cute! i definitely laughed when i read that…/ so true! they’re wicked small – but i guess good for a pre-workout snack!
I think I will have to try a Jocalat bar next time I treat myself to goodies from veganessentials! They sound good!
Sadly, I don’t think I can get hold of the clif nectar bars : ( I’d love to try them! I like the Clif builder bars though, they are really yummy!
Raspberry Nectar Bars are one of my favorites, too. They are really dense and fudgey and totally un-energybarlike (wow what a word).
I still need to try the other chocolate versions because they sound really rich and delicious.
Those Luna Bars are way too small! I absolutely love the regular size Luna Bars. The Blueberry one is amazing.
Wow, I’ve never seen those Luna minis… kinda of a strange idea. Thanks for the review! I always just pick up the cheapest vegan one I see, and am often disappointed in my selection.
What a great review! I’m obsessed with Larabars, but have only tried their Jocolat bars once, but boy was it good! Haha- the size of the mini Lunabars is pretty laughable. I can’t imagine something so tiny filling anyone up!
Cliff nector bars are lifesavers! My parents would ship me cases of the cashew vanilla kind when I lived in Europe and South Florida. I still carry them EVERYWHERE I go in my purse! Nice post
I love Larabars now I will try the Jocolats. I love this photo of you with your bars. You have the sweetest eyes. I cracked up about Luna minis – I got a bunch of Luna bars cheap and I do not like them at all. I have yet to have a Clif bar though.
I haven’t tried the chocolate ones yet but I’ve been meaning to. I did however just try the peanut butter cookie larabar and was pleasantly surprised. I used the ingredients and nutrition facts to back-calculate the quantities of each and made my own version: The Peanut Butter Cookie Nickbar. I’m sure you can easily modify it to make the chocolate ones by adding either cocoa powder or dark chocolate chunks!
aww i love nikki’s comment. you DO have really sweet eyes
love the ‘bar exam’ and ‘college bar’ phrases with your titles. you definitely fooled me hehe
I HAVE to try the Dark Chocolate Mocha Nectar bar. It sounds perfect!
thank you for the sweet comment katie!
and like you, i’m always am carrying around some sort of snack bar to keep me energized throughout the day in between classes. so i always appreciate new reviews!
i usually get the majority of my snack bars at trader joes (a bit cheaper than wf) and i know they carry the jocalat bars. i will make sure to stock up on a few next time im there! just curious, do you have a favorite larabar flavor?
Yay! I’ve tried one Jocolat bar and was super impressed. I have some others in my pantry that need to be eaten when I get back to school. And I’ve tried the dark chocolate walnut Nectar bar and loved it, so I will definitely take you up on the raspberry one as well!
Oh, and I’m totally with you on the Luna minis – blech! I just don’t like Luna bars for some reason. I think perhaps they taste the most fake.
I love most Clif products, but I haven’t tried the nectar bars. I will have to look for those next time I am out!!
I’ve tried one of the Jocolat bars before, the chocolate mint one, way back. I was quite impressed, I should buy them more often, but I rarely see them so rarely have the opportunity to pick them up. And I don’t have access at all to Clif Nectar Bars.
It hurts me just a little.
Even though I am a fan of the Jocalat bars, and a big fan of chocolate, I just don’t like them as much as the regular Lara bars. I like the “cookie” ones the best. Peanut Butter cookie and Cashew cookie are my favs! YUM!
I’m not really a huge fan of chocolate, so I’m a bit reluctant to try the Jocolat flavors.. but your review makes them sound so good, I JUST might try one in the future!
My favorite bars would have to be Clifs and Larabars, too!
My favorite Clif bar flavor is Maple Nut and Larabar is tied with Peanut Butter Cookie and Cashew Cookie.
Oh, darn, now I want some right now.. :-p
I still love your photoshop pictures!
I laughed when I saw your comparison of the luna bar minis to the clif nectar.. I had the same reaction! I know for sure that would be a horrid snack!
Great reviews! I like all those bars too, even the minis cuz then I can eat two different flavors.
I actually just tried a Zbar for the first time and didn’t care for it much. It surprised me, because regular Clif bars are good. BUT I’m dying to try a jocolat, thanks to you!
OMG. HAVE to try the dark chocolate raspberry! They sound perfect for morning subway rides to work!
Andrea—
). Thank you!
Your comments are always so sweet
I love the Larabar Jocolat Bars. They are just like eating a fudgy brownie. Rich and delicious!
Have you tried the OnTrack fruit bars yet? They are pretty good, and most of them are vegan. They remind me of the fruit roll-ups I used to eat when I was younger, but these actually have fruit in them.
I’ve totally seen that Jocolat around and have been itching to try it. You might have just pulled the plug on my vague resolution not to buy pre-packaged foods! I’m totally sold!
I love those nectar bars too
I’ve only had a sample of the jocolat bars… now I need more!
Great review–very thorough and helpful. I wrote about some of the same bars recently, but I haven’t tried the chocolate raspberry flavor; glad you mentioned it. I love chocolate and raspberry together! Did you ever try the Dr. Weil/Nature’s Path Chocolada Walnut bar? Very similar to the Jocalat and Nectar chocolate nut bars, except the Dr. Weil one also has coconut (though I can’t really taste it).
I have never tried the Larabar Jocalats but I got one today at Whole foods, as well as the Coconut Cream Larabar. I’ve never had the cacao Nectar bars, but I will have to try one next time I go to WF. My favorite Nectar bar is the Vanilla, Lemon, Cashew one – it’s so subtle and not too sweet – have you tried it?
The luna minis rock. Just enough to hold me over to lunch–it solves that 10am hunger problem!
Entering the bar giveaway…thank you! And I would love to try the chocolate as you are chocolate covered after all
I’d love to try green synergy!
I’d love to try the green synergy too!
Chocolate decadence!
Chocolate decadence sounds delightful! I love these style of bars, but have never tried Vega!
Green synergy sounds interesting!
Chocolate decadence, of course!!
I want to try green synergy!
Anything named chocolate decadence sounds nummy to me!
Chocolate Decadence for sure!!!
Chocolate….no contest
The chocolate decadence vega bar sounds awesome – I’ve been wanting to try those for so long!
the chocolate decadence sounds so yummy! i’m a college student so bars are definitely one of my top grocery list items!
I want to try the green synergy bars fosho!
oh gosh, it definitely has to be chocolate decadence! chocolate anything and i’m sold!
Hmm.. synergy I think? I’m not a huge chocolate fan – haha I’ll send those back to you
I’d probably go with the chocolate decadence!
I think that since I have never had any kind of bars like these that the Chocolate Decadence ones would be the best ones for me to try
Hmmm, green synergy sounds interesting! Love the sprouts idea!!
chocolate decadence for sure!
Anything chocolate is good by me
I’d definitely have to try the chocolate decadence vibrancy bar.
I think I’m most excited to try the Chocolate Decadence vibrancy bar
oh definitely chocolate decadence!
I would like to try the Chocolate Decadence Vibrancy Bar. I have actually tried the original flavor, and loved it!
chocolate decadence please!
synergyyy
I would LOVE to try the Chocolate Decadence Vibrancy Bar!
I’d love to try the chocolate Decadence Vibrancy Bar
Chocolate decadence, if you please!
chocolate decadence!
l think I would most like to try the original, because it seems so different from any bars I have ever had!!
Katie~
I’d like to try the chocolate decadence Vibrancy Bar. Maybe because I’m intrigued, but think I might need a wee bit of cocoa goodness to get past the pea protein? Thank you!
I’d like to try the chocolate decadence bar. Thanks for the giveaway!
I obviously want to try the chocolate vega bar because well it’s chocolate!
I’d like to try the synergy bars
I’d like to try the vibrancy bars
Chocolate…cause I love chocolate.
the dark choco mocha sounds SO GOOD!!
I love larabars and would love to try the vibrancy bars too! The chocolate decadence and the green synergy sound great!
I don’t eat a lot of bars. They are more like candy bars to me and never squelch my hunger. Most of the time they actually make it worse. But, if I must eat a bar, I am all about Lara bars. They are the only bars that don’t make me feel like I am on a sugar high. That said, I am always looking for a bar that can rival a Lara bar. I think the Chocolate Decadence bar sound really good.
Love vega protien…so maybe I would enjoy the bars…can’t get them around here… would love to try the chocolate…or any.:)
I’d love to try the chocolate
I would love to try the CHocolate Decadence Vibrancy bar, of course!
I always opt for chocolate so chocolate decadence for me please!
I want to try the Chocolate Decadence, sounds like a great snack before working out in the afternoon!
Hello there Katie. Great blog! I’d love to try the chocolate decadence bar.. sounds good because of, well, the chocolate!
The chocolate decadence bar sounds fantastic!
gotta go with chocolate decadence, just the name alone sounds superb
Mmmm chocolate decadance fo’ sho!
chocolate decadence sounds yummy
Looks like it’s the most popular, too 
chocolate decadence!!!
green synergy!
dare to be different
Chocolate Decadence, please!
Hmmm…trying something different sounds like fun, I would love to try green synergy! Although chocolate anything is always the best way to go
Chocolate Decadence? That just sounds like it’s begging for me to eat it by the name alone – I choose that one!!
Chocolate decadence puh-lease!
I’d like to try them all but chocolate decadence sounds the most appealing!
Oh, definitely chocolate, of course.
uhm chocolate decadence DUH
chocolove all the way
I’d try the chocolate decadence, of course
Green synergy!
I would like to try the original vibrancy bar. I’m going against the crowd with this one.
I am not a fan of chocolate in my bars. I’d go with original.
Oh I’d definitely like to try the chocolate flavor! Haha…I think I like cumin anyway, but maybe it’ll mask it?
- Ava
I would love to try chocolate decadence!
I’d love to try the chocolate bars! I have to have some everyday.
I love chocolate bars, so chocolate for me!!
I’d most like to try the Chocolate Decadence bar!
Any healthy chocolate bar sounds great in my book, so I would love to try the chocolate decadence flavor for sure (:
I’d like to try the chocolate vega, dont be angry but I dont eat much chocolate! It’ll be a great treat!
Love green synergy, yum!
I’d love to try the green synergy bar!
I want to try the chocolate one!
I would love to try green synergy!
love to try chocolate bar!
I would like to try the green vega bar!
I’d love to try the chocolate.
original!!! then i’ll branch out…
I want to try the Green Synergy Bar first!
Original flavor for me
Chocolate Vega bars would be fun to try…but yeah, you are not the first person I know to say they taste funny!
I’d love to try the green Vega- I love eating anything green (juice, smoothies, energy bars) because it weirds people out.
I’ll try anything gluten free! Chocolate…yum…
I’ve never tried the Jocolat bars…sounds like I need to! I love the Tropical Fruit Larabars!
DEFINITELY chocolate decadence…mmm.
P.S. Clif Nectar will always be my favorite bars….even if they’re being discontinued. :’(
mmm I’d love the chocolate bars though they all sound good!
Hmm…either chocolate decadence (because who doesn’t love chocolate) or the green kind!
chocolate decadence, of course.
I would like to try the original and chocolate flavors.
mmmmm i love bars!!! would like to try the Green Synergy and obviously the chocolate
chocolate one sounds delicious!
Entering giveaway #2
I’d like to try the green synergy vibrancy bars. I love anything with lots of green in it. I’m one of those you mentioned on your post who like amazing grass bars
.
Thanks again for the great opportunitie, Katie!
lol next time I should read more closely before getting excited and entering your giveaways. lol…errr…I entered both, but I left two comments. Sorry! I got really excited and didn’t read the instructutions all the way. Haha, taught me a lesson, huh?
i’d love to try chocolate decadence!!! i am not one to pass up chocolaate…ever
I completely agree, energy bars have saved me on so many occasions! I always have a giant stock of them in the kitchen for business trips, classes, or even just going out with friends. Though my friends may not need to constantly refuel, I gotta look out for #1, right? I”d love to try Vega just because it seems so healthy! I was actually checking out the protein powders today but ended up getting something for less than half the price because I can’t afford Vega. I’d of course like to try chocolate, because chocolate is really good at masking “healthy” tastes, but the green synergy sounds exotic :p
Wow, the ingredient lists for these bars are crazy! I would love to find out what those combos taste like. The first sample would probably be of the Green Synergy variety, out of curiosity, but I bet Chocolate Decadence would end up being my favorite.
I want to try the green and the chocolate one! Honestly can’t choose between the two!
Um, I’m gonna go with chocolate decadence — surprise, surprise! ;-]
chocolate of course
I’d like to try the Chocolate
I’d definitely like to try the chocolate decadence Vega!
I’d like to try the chocolate decadence
Chocolate decadence for sure!!!
Chocolate decadence vega! sounds good. Not sure about the others, but I’d try them!
Chocolate decadence for sure. I would feel traitorous putting anything else on this fine blog.
I have tried and love the original and chocolate decadence, so I would be most interested in trying the green synergy since i haven’t had that one yet.
I would want to try the chocolate Vega bars.
The Chocolate Vega bar of course!
I would love to try the Chocolate Decadence. It sounds so rich and — well, decadent!
I’d love to try the green synergy bar most. Anything green I love- but in bar form (which I associate with sweet) it is quite intriguing. Thanks for this awesome giveaway! I’ve been wanting to try these bars since they were launched.
I would love to try the green synergy!
Is this a trick question? Chocolate Decadence for sure!
I’d most like to try the Chocolate Decadence. Love my chocolate!
mmm i go for anything chocolate! haha, so chocolate decandence!
I would love to try the chocolate decadence bar! Yum : )
I’ve only tried the original Vega Bar so far… I’d love to try the other two!
Chocolate decadence. I mean, really, I’m reading a blog “about” (sorta) chocolate. C’mon, people!
totally the chocolate decadence!!
Zbars are amazing! I love the blueberry. I haven’t tried any of the others but I will! I would love to try the dark chocolate mocha nectar mmmmm : )
I would like to try the chocolate decadence.
I’d love to try the Green Synergy bar! Greens all the way!
I want to try the green synergy bars. I’ve been wanting to try the Vega bars for so long but can’t find them anywhere in stores, unfortunately.
Hmmm, I think I like the sound of the original flavour of the vibrancy bars. Is that boring? I guess I’m a bit chocolated out at present (yep, it’s possible!) and the green one sounds a little scary!
chocolate decadence… because i have a weakness for anything chocolate
I’d like to try chocolate decadence. With a name like that, how could I not?
The Vega question is almost funny on a CHOCOLATE covered site! Of course I would be most excited to try the Chocolate Decadence bar!!! Plus who knows, chocolate and chili bars seem to be a big hit, so maybe chocolate and cumin have their place too? If I get to try them, I’ll let you know
I’d love to try out the green synergy!
I’d like to try the chocolate Vega bar!
Chocolate decandence is the one I want to try the most.
I’d love to try the chocolate decadence!
Green Synergy sounds so intriguing, I’d go for that one!
I would love to try the chocolate decadence. Got to love anything with chocolate
Who could resist a bar called chocolate decadence?
chocolate vega bar.
I love vega smoothie infusion too!
i’d most like to try chocolate.
while i’d try any of the bars, chocolate would probably be first
I see a trend here … but I too would like to try the chocolate vega bars!
I want to try chocolate decadence. Sounds delicious!
UMM CHOCOLATE DECADENCE OF COURSE!!! in true CCK fashion!
I would definitely go for some Chocolate Decadence Vibrancy bars! Green Synergy also intrigues me.
Chocolate decadence for sure!!!!!!
I would HAVE to try the Chocolate Decadence bars. Clearly.
CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BARS FOR THE WIN!!
I’d have to go with the chocolate ones of course!
i’d love to try the chocolate bars :]
Chocolate bars galorreee
Always chocolate, always.
I most want to try the chocolate decadence flavor.
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