PowerBar Performance Energy Blend gel

Consuming energy products on the go can be a trial, though the problem is usually the taste not the texture. The Powerbar Performance Energy blend is tasty and more substantial than your average gel but the texture won't appeal to all.

The plus point of the Performance Blends is their fruitiness but the thicker texture is very different from most gels. Think perhaps of something on the lines of well, baby food. The fruit feels as if it has been pureed, giving a fuller texture that feels a bit strange after years of gels as we are used to them. The flavours aren't bad though.

Lots of gels are pretty similar; Powerbar have brought forth something a little different. The Performance Energy Blend gels are more akin to something a bit more fulfilling. The two flavours, apple/mango/strawberry and banana/blueberry come in handy little pouches that are easy to carry and open with a twist top.

In terms of nutritional value, the 90g pouches are full of energy, carbohydrates and vitamins. By value you get 374Kj of energy, 21.5g of carbohydrates of which 19.8g are sugar (quite high) and 76.57mg of vitamin C. Powerbar recommend taking one pouch 30-60 minutes before exercise with no more than four in a day.

The pouches are quite bulky compared to your average gel; you'll need a lot of storage space to stow more than a few of them. The pouch has a solid plastic nozzle that once you get the easy twist cap off makes it easy to neck. The pureed texture is a bit of a surprise but both flavours are tasty.

Do they work? The Powerbar Performance Blends offer a fruity alternative to other sweet gels, so as an alternative the answer is a definite yes. However as they are bigger than your average offering you won't or can't carry too many. But they are worth making the effort for, especially if you're a fan of fruit puree.

Verdict

Bulky gels that have a pleasant flavour and unusual, pureed-fruit texture