****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I know this product well, although it's original formulation was better in my opinion. The earlier version worked to level out one's blood sugar so was an excellent snack for a diabetic as I had friends with diabetes that bought them and always kept one close by. One friend only had to consume half a ball and was good to go. As the formulation is now, it's still a fine tasting nutritional snack and if I were raising children now, you can bet their lunches would often contain one.With the old formulation, when I missed a meal I knew I could eat one of the balls(I prefer the almond butter version) and feel as though I'd had a meal, every time, and in those days that was often as I was a very busy person. In retirement, and not having the earlier version available, I have come back to the balls as I know how good spirulina is for me.Spirulina you'll find to be a complete foodstuff with some research. I keep a powdered version(organic) in the food pantry as it has 'fed' me on many occasions. I just put some powder in water, mix real well, and drink it down. I've had years to get use to the taste and fully appreciate it for what it is, but some folks will gag on it as it has it's own distinct taste and smell.However, in this form, in the energy ball form, you don't taste or smell the spirulina. or I should say the average consumer won't. There will be those who are outlandishly finicky or picky and they will, but it will be their loss. I've only been back with this version a short time, so can say that the taste is very similar with the previous version but I can tell something's missing. Of course anyone starting out with this version won't as they won't have anything to compare it to.I can say of all the ways the food industry, be it the organic folks or the traditional sources, present we consumers with products containing spirulina, this is my absolute favorite hands down. If you desire to consume spirulina, then start with this product. And I should probably preface that by saying, no I haven't tried them all, but I rest pretty assured that it would be in the top 3 and at the very least the top 5.You might think me biased as they are made right here in Oregon, and they were originated by a mom who over the years attempted to make healthy snacks for her kids lunches. This particular product came about when an herb store where I live wanted a special snack they could sell in the store. They went to the manufacturer who already had a good number of healthy snack items established in the food industry and suggested they try producing a snack with certain ingredients. As they say, 'the rest is history'.They probably dropped the original version because it just didn't take off as hoped but it was next to perfect, in my humble opinion again. Many folks have yet to understand how some things that may not 'taste real good' or smell familiar, could ever be good for them. And though this review rambles, I loved spending time reflecting on this awesome product, although it's awesomeness isn't quite what it once was. It's still a good food snack in a world of junk foods and empty foodstuffs.If you wish to contact me I'll share how to connect with the maker of the 'green balls'.
