01-08-2025
Kindling Protein Pretzels do the job, even if they're a bit boring
Protein snacks are having a whole moment, and I'm here for that. In recent years, there's been a swell of healthier-for-you chips, crackers, even donuts that promise the protein to provide gains and minimal calories. Crisps made out of chicken? Wilde's got you. Tortilla chips and peanut butter cups? That's Quest's purview. Pretzels? Well, Crisp Power made a pretty solid impression last year. Now, here comes Kindling.
Kindling Protein Pretzels offer the traditional twists you'd get from Snyder's or Rold Gold. Except inside that 120 to 130 calorie serving size is eight to nine grams of protein. It comes in a modest variety of flavors (or "flavours," as the website notes even though the founder is from Nashville). It's ready to go in snack form and looks generally appealing. Let's see what we've got.
Note: There is also a dill pickle flavor. Er, "flavour." I absentmindedly ate my lone bag before realizing there weren't any more. It was tangy, slightly sour and extremely dill. Pretty solid! But I don't have enough data for a real review.
Honey Mustard: B-
Dumping the bag onto the plate uncorks roughly 20 small knots, solidly dusted in dark yellow honey mustard powder and big crystals of salt. The smell is sweeter than it is spicy, but there's a small, lingering protein powder musk lurking underneath.
Despite what looks like a proper heap of flavor, Kindling comes up short when it comes to making sure the honey mustard lasts through each bite. It starts off crisp with a solid sweet tang -- the honey outweighs the mustard, for sure -- but after it wears away you're left with a slightly bland pretzel that's left to fight against the chickpea protein powder with which it's been infused.
The texture is pretty basic -- not as layered and crisp as Crisp Power or as soft and crumbly as Moore Crunch. Kindling doesn't go above and beyond with its offering. You're getting regular pretzels with a low calorie count and useful amount of protein (130 and eight grams, respectively). But they do it well enough to be worth a few bags.
Sea Salt: B-
Yep. These are pretzels, all right.
That's pretty much it. Salt, bread, crunch. If you like regular pretzels, this will feel a lot like a Snyder's production. Not much to say about that other than they taste like pretzels, even with that extra protein inside.
Garlic Parmesan: A-
Opening the bag is a vital reminder. If you *can* put garlic on something, you *should* put garlic on something. These smell more appealing than Kindling's other options, even if there's a bit of a stale tinge to the parmesan sprinkled across each twist.
The power of Italian staples goes a long way here. While the other varieties are underseasoned, these are full-bodied with tangy flavors that linger through the end of each bite. While there's no doubt my breath is a borderline tragedy after a few of these. It's well worth it.
Garlic Parmesan serves as proof Kindling can make a compelling snack as long as it's willing to get a bit creative and find flavors that extend the appeal of otherwise boring pretzels. The honey mustard wasn't enough and the dill pickle was basic. But this cacophony of flavors settles together to give you a garlic bread vibe in a significantly healthier package. And garlic bread, it must be noted, rules.
This was a bit of a big swing, but this and a punched-up honey mustard would serve Kindling well. There's potential here, even if the current lineup is a bit boring.
Would I eat it instead of a Hamm's?
This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking or eating to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I take a bag of Kindling Protein Pretzels over a cold can of Hamm's?
A different vibe, certainly. But if we're talking a one-to-one comparison... gimme the Hamm's.
This is part of FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.
