Runa Guayusa Tea - Review

Runa Guayusa Tea
Before trying this brand, I had never heard of guayusa before. According to Runa's website:

"Guayusa is a native Amazonian tree leaf that has been brewed like tea for thousands of years by indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Guayusa Tea offers a clear, focused energy by balancing as much caffeine as one cup of coffee with twice the antioxidants of green tea."

And, if the products I tried are an indication, it's also very tasty!

I sampled all four flavors of the tea bags:

• Traditional Guayusa Tea
• Mint Guayusa Tea
• Ginger-Citrus Guayusa Tea
• Cinnamon Lemongrass Guayusa Tea 

I'm having a hard time picking a favorite. They were all really good. I like flavor, so the traditional one was probably my least favorite (although it was still great). I loved the freshness of the Mint one, and the Ginger-Citrus reminded me of gingerbread (really--the flavor was excellent, especially with a drop or two of stevia)! 

(I also love the eye-catching packaging.)

 Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky - Review

Primal Spirit Foods offers an array of totally meatless, 100% vegan jerky made of plant-based protein. These convenient, portable, on-the-go snacks are perfect for traveling, packing in lunches, or taking along as fuel for an outdoor adventure.

In addition, all their products are non-GMO, all natural, vegan/kosher, high energy-high protein, and have no cholesterol, no preservatives, and no artificial colors. 

They offer several different types of jerky: some are made with seitan (which is the a wheat protein long used in Asian cultures, but just becoming popular in the western world), some are made with soy, and some are made from shitake mushroom.

Although this isn't something I would usually get, I really enjoyed trying these. I think the mushroom ones might have been my favorite. They also have some really inventive flavor combinations--such as Thai Peanut and Mesquite Lime--as well as the Hickory Smoked, Texas BBQ, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki.

Although these are great by themselves, I bet they would also be wonderful added to a recipe: sandwiches stir-fries . . . the possibilities are endless!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

PROBAR Core Bars - Review and Giveaway

PROBAR recently launched a line of hearty, gluten-free and vegan protein bars that boost 20 grams of protein per bar. These Core bars, as they are called, come in four delicious flavors:

• Brownie Crisp
• Cookie Dough
• Mint Chocolate
• Peanut Butter Chocolate

All of the bars are very tasty! I think the Cookie Dough and the Mint Chocolate were my favorites, but it's hard to pick. I shared these with my family, and my sister commented on how a bar kept her full all morning.

As an added nutritional bonus, the bars include chia and flax seeds for healthy fats! The ingredients in the bars are a bit more processed than I was expecting, but these are still a step above most of the competition. I really enjoyed trying these, and they are something I would consider getting in the future.

If you would like to win a box of PROBAR Core bars to try them yourself, just enter the giveaway below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway As a special promotion, PROBAR is also offering readers of this blog 40% off an order. Just go to their online shop here and enter the code “BLOGGER”. 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.

Teeccino Coffee Alternative and TeeChia Superseeds Cereal - Reviews

Teeccino is an all-natural, caffeine-free, gluten-free, non-acidic coffee alternative that comes in both "tee-bags" and grounds that you can use in your coffee maker.

I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I do enjoy it every now in then. Teeccino doesn't taste exactly like coffee, but it really does remind me of it. I think it's quite tasty and comforting with some almondmilk or coconutmilk added for a delicious latte. Since I usually like to have a warm beverage in the evening, Teeccino is perfect because it won't keep me up. I also love that it is made from nutritious ingredients, such as dates, barley, carob, almonds, figs, cocoa, and ramon seeds, and it boasts natural fiber from chicory root. 

The "tee-bags" brew very similar to tea, and are great for a convenient single serving. In this form I received the Chocolate (Dark Roast), French Roast (Dark Roast), Vanilla Nut (Medium Roast), and Hazelnut (Medium Roast). I also sampled the grinds that can be used in a coffee maker: Mediterranean Vanilla Nut, Maya French Roast, Maya Chocolate, and Mediterranean Hazelnut were the varieties I received. 

I have enjoyed all the flavors I sampled and am now a definite Teeccino fan!

This company also makes a hot cereal mix called TeeChia Superseeds Cereal. These handy and nutritious mixes are gluten free and sugar free and include a blend of chia, flax, quinoa, amaranth, ramon, and pumpkin seeds. The two flavors I tried were Cinnamon Cranberry and Blueberry Date. These packets are quick and easy to make and both varieties were very good. This would be an excellent choice for breakfast. Think of it as an enlightened update on instant oatmeal. Unlike most packaged instant oatmeal and grain cereals, though, TeeChia isn't sickly-sweet. 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing on this blog. I received no monetary compensation.