In a blind taste test of 19 muesli and nut bars, conducted by muesli enthusiast Nicholas Jordan and four friends at a Sydney cafe, the results challenged expectations. Jordan, who has tried over 80% of muesli bar brands available in his area, set strict criteria excluding chocolate, yoghurt, or protein-forward bars to focus on simple, lunchbox-friendly options.
The top performer was Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Canadian Maple Syrup, praised for its satisfying crunch and toasty biscuity flavour. One reviewer noted it was 'begging for a glass of milk'. It scored highly for texture and taste, reminiscent of Anzac biscuits. The Nature Valley Granola Oats & Honey also scored a 7/10 but lacked the maple flavour.
Nut bars generally outperformed traditional muesli bars. Sam's Pantry Honey Salted Macadamia With Roasted Almonds Nut Bar was a standout, described as 'energy dense but in a whole food kind of way' with a honey-butter appeal. Hillcrest Premium Nut Bars Almonds, Cashews & Cranberries from Aldi also impressed with diverse texture and flavour, though tasters noted the nuts could be more roasted.
Jordan observed that many muesli bars on the market are 'undercooked' with raw or under-roasted nuts, and the ideal muesli bar – good muesli bound together – was rarely achieved. Instead, the test revealed a middle range of basic oat products and some unusual offerings.
