Normally I come out of Costco exhausted, and poor. Today, I came out jubilant.
The big-box giant is now carrying Mareblu Naturals, one of the most delicious, nutritious snacks around. Each nugget – one inch of dry roasted nuts and seeds held firmly together with a hint of evaporated cane juice, rice syrup and sea salt -- offers layers of flavor and an irresistible crunch. Some varieties also contain dried fruit bits
According to the package, they're All Natural, Gluten-Free, 100% Vegan, Kosher, Cholesterol-Free, Dairy-Free, Wheat-Free, Peanut-Free, GMO-Free, and Trans. Fat 0g.
I don’t normally get so excited over something as mundane as a packaged snack mix. But I’ve been crazy about this product ever since I discovered it several years ago at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. (Staged by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade twice a year and open only to the trade. Read my blog about what I found at the January 2009 show.)
In fact, it was Mrs. May’s Naturals that I fell in love with at that show. But a year or two later, there were two booths in S.F.’s Moscone Center, Mrs. May’s and Mareblu, offering basically the same products. In a chat with a Mareblu founder, I learned that some members of the original Mrs. May’s team had split from that company and started the new company.
Why? Because Mrs. May’s products, yummy as they are, are manufactured in China. Mareblu products are dry-roasted and made into Crunch in the USA.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I wouldn’t dream of eating food made in China. In light of the recent scares and scandals, it seems foolhardy to me to ingest something prepared in a country that doesn’t share our concern for food purity and safety. I’ve also stopped buying dog treats and toys that are made in China.
So, now, to be able to buy a whopping 20-ounce bag of the U.S. product at Costco for just $8.89 (only $5.89 right now, with the coupon from Costco’s latest newsletter), well, that’s jubilation.
Sixteen Mareblu flavors are available, including Pistachio Pumpkinseed Crunch, Cranberry Pomegranate Crunch, Cashew Crunch and Coconut Almond Crunch. At present, Costco carries just the newest flavor, Blueberry Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch. It has a touch more sweetness than some of the other varieties, but it’s still savory enough to accompany cocktail hour with style. (It’s really delicious with a glass of Prosecco or an Aperol Prosecco Spritz cocktail.)
In most sores, the family size (20-ounce) costs between $10 and $14 (it’s currently on sale for $9.99 at the Mareblu Web site). Small 3-ounce snack packs are offered for about $3.50.