Top 8 granolas tested
Oil or butter are usually used to add to the toastiness of the mixture, which often includes rolled oats as the base. After that, it can be any mix of seeds, nuts and fruits.
If you want to keep sugars to a minimum, choose the fruit-free versions, but watch ingredients lists for added sugar which may come in the form of agave syrup, black treacle, honey, inverted sugar syrup or regular sugar.
Granola has a good amount of fibre provided by the oats, nuts and seeds, which is good for the gut, and has far more protein than more refined cereals.
This means you could get to lunchtime on a 40g portion with a dollop of plain yoghurt.
Milk, yoghurt or fresh orange juice will add to nutritional content, as well as fresh fruit.
You can expect to consume about 250 calories with a 40g portion — about six dessertspoonfuls — and a little yoghurt, so keep the portion size down.
For our survey, we looked for a reasonably low amount of sugars, high protein and fibre and ideally made in Ireland.
We marked on health, balance, price and flavour.
We tasted 17 samples to reach this final eight.
Easily the best selection of nuts here with a total of 25% including nicely lightly toasted whole hazelnuts, cashew pieces, pecans and slivered almonds. Sugar is a high enough 19%, coming from honey, black treacle and added sugar, making it taste quite sweet.
Fibre is 6.4%, and protein 12% from 49% oats, plenty of pumpkin seeds and some coconut. Nicely crunchy, though tasters would like some clusters for texture interest.
7.5
Fruit free with no added sugar, and also gluten, wheat and dairy free, this mix has had very little toasting and seems a bit dry at first. However, it is relief to taste so little sweetness — sugars at 3.1% are the lowest of the samples.
Lots of sunflower, chia and pumpkin seeds in 62% gluten- free oats make up a mix that was a little too fine and not crunchy enough for most tasters. At 14.2% fibre is very good as well as 16.7% protein is a good balance
7.25
Lots of pumpkin seeds here in a base of 54% oats and 8% each of linseeds and sunflower seeds, all nicely toasted come to a decent 16.1% protein. Chicory fibre which provides inulin, a soluble fibre, has been added to the seeds and oats to bring it to a moderate 7.7% fibre.
Sugars are 12.7% are moderate, coming mainly from agave syrup. A nice, short list of ingredients, tasters liked the overall crunchy texture. Fair price.
8
A decent 57% oat flakes, 3% flaked almonds and some sunflower seeds brings fibre to 6.8% and protein to 9.9%. Sugars at 24% are high and tasters thought it tasted too sweet.
While there is 13% raisins as well as honey, there is glucose syrup which often adds a dense sweetness. The cheapest of the selection, so apart from the sugars, it is a good introduction to granola.
6
A moderate 13% sugars content comes from sultanas and goji berries which are not plump or juicy, along with agave and molasses but the overall taste was not too sweet.
The base is 47% oats, with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, wheatgerm, coconut, cashew nuts. At 7.9% fibre is average and protein a decent enough 13.4%. Nicely crunchy and more chewy than some other samples. Made in Ireland.
7.5
Organic oats, seeds (plenty of pumpkin), dried fruit, nuts (plenty of pecans), coconut, quinoa, linseed, local honey, cinnamon. Well toasted and tasty, this mix works well as a snack in the hand to nibble on.
Delicious. Tasters thought the cost high and would like to breakdown of nutrients that appear in supermarket brands. From Nash 19 food shop on Princes Street, Cork.
8.75
No oats here. Instead coconut chips are listed first and there are plenty of them. Sunflower seeds, milled linseed, chia seeds, cashew and Brazil nuts help with the 7.2% fibre. A high 22% sugars comes from big raisins, chunks of dates, goji berries and dried cranberries. 13% protein is decent enough.
Beetroot powder accounts for the mix looking a light pink. Some tasters found the texture unusual and the price very high, but liked the organic list of ingredients.
7
A high 23% sugars comes from jumbo raisins, but also oat granola syrup. Protein is 8.9% coming from 40% oat flakes, 4.5% pecan, flaked almonds, hazelnuts, 2.5% sunflower seeds, 2% flaxseeds and 1% coconut chips.
They provide a fair 7.8% fibre. Overall a slightly oversweet, pleasant, nicely crunchy, but uninteresting mix. It was no-one’s favourite, but acceptable to all, with a fair enough price. Made in Ireland.
7
