Reviews: Niramaya Adds Naan Pretzels, Chutney Meets Salsa; Plus: Hormbles Chormbles, Daily Harvest

In this reviews roundup, we nosh on Niramaya Foods’ new naan-based pretzels, Daily Harvest’s superfood bites, Hormbles Chormbles high-protein chocolate bars, and a chutney-salsa mashup aptly named Chalsa.

Niramaya Naan Pretzels

Niramaya Foods is broadening beyond its initial Indian-inspired “dips for dinner” concept with the debut of Naan Pretzels this month. The grain-free, plant-based snacks are crafted with cassava flour, chickpea flour and avocado oil. The four flavor varieties – Himalayan Pink Salt, Jalapeno Chutney, Sweet Jalebi and Tandoori BBQ – draw inspiration from Indian street foods and flavors of founder Mehek Khera’s upbringing.

Things that stand out:

• The pretzels are baked to perfection and addictively crunchy.
• The four distinctive flavors create a well-balanced assortment of savory, salty, spicy and sweet; Sweet Jalebi has hints of funnel cake, while Himalayan Pink Salt packs a peppery bite.
• Excellent use of packaging space for storytelling and helpful explainers, plus bright eye-catching colors and graphics help the bags stand out on shelf.
• The products are top nine allergen-free, a somewhat rare feat in staple snacking segments.

Things to consider:

• We’d love to see portion-controlled packs eventually for grab-and-go convenience.

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Hormbles Chormbles

The co-founding duo behind RXBAR – Peter Rahal and Jared Smith – along with the brand’s former chief supply chain officer Tom Melcher, this week officially launched protein candy brand Hormbles Chormbles. Available in four varieties – Salted Fudge, Peanut Butter, Classic Milk and Cookies and Creme – the item contains 10 grams of protein, zero grams of sugar, 100 calories per bar and plenty of asterisks on its nutrition label.

Things that stand out:

• The branding is both eye-catching and engaging. The team did an excellent job bringing a fun-forward approach to next-gen candy while keeping it aimed at a more mature audience.
• The flavor array is well-balanced with just enough varieties to capture a wide audience
• On the surface (read: front-of-pack), the nutritionals are eye-catching and could be enough to sway consumers to purchase.

Things to consider:

• The first and second ingredients – a blend of whey and milk protein isolate and allulose – are the only thing consumers taste. There is a lasting artificial and unpleasant taste long after the Chormbles have been chomped down.
• The taste profile would likely be more palatable without the inclusion of all allulose, monk fruit, natural flavors and stevia.
• Product photography to the front of the pack could increase the shelf appeal and will be a more effective callout to the crunchy pieces contained within the bar.
• It isn’t clear who this is for. The website seems to position this toward women, but the ingredient deck and nutritionals do not align with the demographic’s demands for more clean label products.

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Daily Harvest Bites

Daily Harvest continues to bulk up its selection of organic, nutrient-dense offerings. The meal delivery company’s new frozen, poppable line of bites is gluten-free and dairy-free with no added sugar and packed with sustainably sourced, wholesome ingredients, including dates, oats, nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes, avocado and chickpeas. Daily Harvest Bites are available in Nutty Banana Bread, Fudgy Hazelnut Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Peppermint Cacao Truffle flavors.

Things that stand out:

• Clean, nutritious ingredients with bonus benefits from reishi mushroom, maca and more.
• The dessert-inspired taste profiles offer uncompromised indulgence.

Things to consider:

• The product is positioned as convenient for on-the-go snacking, but frozen storage is required.
• The packaging advises consuming “straight out of the freezer,” but the eating experience is better when the bites are slightly thawed.

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Pancibus Chalsa

It’s chutney. It’s salsa. It’s… Chalsa.

This jarred condiment combines two cultural staples – South Indian mango chutney and Mexican salsa verde – into a flavorful hybrid featuring a base of roasted tomatoes, tomatillos, onion, olive oil and habanero, plus other simple, premium ingredients. Offerings include Original, Mango Kiwi and Mango Pineapple, featuring varying levels of heat.

Things that stand out

• The package design is bold, clean and striking.
• The product is versatile and may be used as a marinade, hot sauce, cooking base, dip or flavor enhancer.
• It’s Paleo-friendly, vegan and low sodium with no additives.
• No two ways around it – it’s tasty.

Things to consider

• As our team tasted the product, we pondered its positioning: Is there a market for a chutney-flavored salsa? Will the concept resonate with shoppers?

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