Eat Real Veggie Straws with a Sweet Barbecue Glaze, 110g

Eat Real Veggie Straws are thin, crunchy straws made from pea and rice flour rather than potato, and this bag carries a sweet barbecue glaze flavour. It is the 110g sharing bag, which the label suggests serves five. The full product name on the pack is yellow pea and rice based snacks with tomato, kale and spinach, with sweet barbecue glaze flavour seasoning, and the pack names Eat Real Ltd as the maker.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the straws are made from yellow pea flour (26%), rice flour (25%), potato starch, rapeseed oil, a sweet barbecue glaze flavour seasoning (rice flour, sugar, salt, onion, paprika, garlic, tomato powder, natural flavouring, parsley, coriander seed, black pepper, smoked sugar, spirit vinegar powder, paprika extract and cumin), salt, tomato powder (0.6%), kale powder (0.3%) and spinach powder (0.3%).

Pea flour

Yellow pea flour is made from dried yellow peas ground fine. It gives the straws a slightly sweet, nutty flavour, and the label gives 8.7g of protein per 100g.

Rice flour

Rice flour makes up a quarter of the straw and appears again in the seasoning. It contains no gluten, and with pea flour and potato starch in place of wheat, the pack can carry a gluten free claim.

How much veg

The name says veggie straws, and the vegetables are really there, but in small amounts: tomato powder at 0.6% of the product and kale and spinach powder at 0.3% each. They add colour and a little flavour. The body of the straw is yellow pea flour and rice flour, at 26% and 25%, with potato starch.

The barbecue glaze

Sugar comes second in the seasoning, after rice flour, so the first taste is sweet, like a sticky barbecue glaze. Smoked sugar adds the smoke, spirit vinegar powder a gentle tang, and onion, garlic, paprika and tomato the savoury sauce base. Coriander seed, cumin and black pepper give a warm, spiced edge without chilli.

Smoked sugar

Smoked sugar is sugar exposed to wood smoke, and it carries the barbecue note in the glaze without any smoked meat.

Coriander and cumin

Coriander seed and cumin are the warm spices of a barbecue rub, earthy and slightly citrus, and they give the glaze depth without heat.

The straw

Pea and rice flour with potato starch make a light, airy dough, formed into thin straws. The result is a crisp, even crunch, lighter than a potato crisp, and a shape that is easy for small hands.

Numbers per serving

The label gives 103 kcal (433 kJ), 4.5g of fat, 0.4g of saturates, 13g of carbohydrate, 0.6g of sugars, 1g of fibre, 1.9g of protein and 0.41g of salt for each 22g serving. That is about 5% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 6% of the fat and 7% of the salt. Per 100g it is 470 kcal (1969 kJ), 21g of fat, 1.6g of saturates, 60g of carbohydrate, 2.5g of sugars, 4.5g of fibre, 8.7g of protein and 1.88g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 21g is red, over the 17.5g line, and salt at 1.88g is red too. Saturates at 1.6g are amber, just over the 1.5g line, and sugars at 2.5g are green.

Sweet, but not very sugary

Sugar is high on the seasoning list, yet the label gives 0.6g of sugars in a 22g serving and 2.5g per 100g, because the seasoning is a small part of each straw.

Five servings

At 110g, the bag suggests five servings of 22g. Tip a serving into a bowl with a dip rather than eating from the bag.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are highlighted in the published ingredients, and the listing gives no may contain advice. The pack says the straws are suitable for vegans and carries a gluten free claim; rice flour, pea flour and potato starch take the place of wheat. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

What the brand says

The brand describes its snacks as made with no artificial ingredients, and the only colour on the list is paprika extract, from peppers. It suggests pairing these straws with a fresh, herby green dip.

How hot is it

There is no chilli on the list. The spices, coriander seed, cumin and black pepper, give warmth and fragrance rather than heat, so the straws suit children.

Who it suits

A vegan, gluten free straw suits a mixed table, and the light texture and sweet, smoky flavour suit children. The salt figure is high, so a 22g serving is the sensible portion.

Serving ideas

The straws are made for dipping: try a green herb dip, a houmous, a salsa or a garlic and herb dip. They also make a good party bowl snack beside potato crisps.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the straws make a sweet, smoky crumb for chicken strips or a topping for a bean chilli. They also add crunch to a salad of grains and roasted vegetables.

Storage

The pack advises a cool, dry place, and the bag is packaged in a protective atmosphere. Clip it shut between servings.

Other Eat Real packs

For a plainer straw, Eat Real Sea Salt Veggie Straws come in the same 110g bag, with 1.79g of salt per 100g. For lentil chips, we stock Eat Real Salted Lentil Chips and Chilli and Lemon Lentil Chips.

The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.