Product Review: Blue Diamond Barbecue Flavor Almond Thins
I really wanted to start today’s piece with a song, but that won’t translate well into text, I’m afraid :) It’s just that kind of day. The birds are singing, the humidity is low- It is the perfect picture of a summer morning.
The product review I’m going to share with you today has a great summer feel to it too. With the Fourth of July fast approaching, I’m turning my attention to the snacks that will be perfect for the weekend. I’m pretty sure that Blue Diamond Almond Thins will make the list.
In case you haven’t tried any of the Blue Diamond Nut Thins, let me start with the basics. Nut Thins are rice and nut crackers. In general, they are rice crackers with the added texture and flavor of nuts. The nuts used in the barbecue flavor are almonds. To start with a review for these gluten free snacks, I’m going to start where I started- the ingredients label. Yes, it says gluten free right on the box, but I always like to check anyway.
The first three ingredients are rice flour, almond meal and potato starch. Not a bad beginning for rice and nut crackers :)! The fourth ingredient gave me some personal warm fuzzies. It is KC Style BBQ Seasoning. As a native of Kansas City I had to smile a bit…
Okay, my personal city love aside, I want to make a note of something else on the ingredients panel. The allergy statement reads:
Made in a facility that also makes products containing: soy, pecans, hazelnuts and WHEAT
Seeing that is like a yellow light to me. I have been known to pass up products with that on the label because I am so sensitive. Blue Diamond covers themselves right under that, though:
Each production run is sampled and tested to confirm gluten levels do not exceed 20ppm
Do you have any idea how many fact checking phone calls it would save me if every company was this informative?! Moving on…
Barbecue Almond Nut Thins are pretty tasty! The hearty, nutty crunch creates a texture that is totally addictive. You never want to stop munching. The BBQ flavor is bold and spicy, which became my only drawback. I’m more of a sweet BBQ lover, but that is a personal preference. Anyone who loves a spicy BBQ will find that these gluten free crackers really deliver.
The cost of Barbecue Almond Nut Thins is not really any higher than any other box of crackers- “regular” gluten filled ones, that is. I found my box in the cracker isle of the grocery store. No special trip required.
A word of caution- These go stale fast! Make sure you tightly seal the bag after opening it. I had to put mine in a ziplock inside the box to prolong the life. Of course, I live in a very humid climate. I’m suddenly curious about the shelf life of food in drier areas…
Overall, I’d say that this was a gluten free snack worth eating again. It also made me curious to try the other flavors of Nut Thins that Blue Diamond offers.
