REVIEW: Triscuit Wheatberry Clusters

What are Triscuit Wheatberry Clusters?

They are absolutely not Triscuit crackers. Instead, they’re more like trail mixes in brittle form. There are three varieties available — Cranberries & Cashews, Pumpkin Seeds & Sweet Corn, and Cherries & Almonds. This review is about the first two.

What are wheat berries?

They are whole kernels of wheat. When milled, they become whole wheat flour. When roasted whole, they become a part of Triscuit’s first non-cracker in its history.

How are they?

The Cranberries & Cashews one starts off tasting like a diet Cracker Jack, and then its flavor morphs into something I’d expect from a Kashi cereal. I thought the cranberries would enhance everything as they do in trail mixes, but they aren’t too noticeable. They seem to provide a slight tang and chewiness. The cashews add a nutty flavor that complements the nuttiness from the wheat berries. Because I love cashews, I’ve been enjoying this one more.

While the Cranberries & Cashews variety is slightly more sweet than savory, the Pumpkin Seeds & Sweet Corn one is the opposite. Some of the sweetness comes from the corn, and its savoriness comes from the pumpkin seeds and wheat berries. It’s not bad, but it has a less exciting flavor, and it gives me the same feeling I get when I’m eating plain tortilla chips.

Also, I can’t put my finger on it, but it tastes like something I’ve had before. Maybe a Japanese rice snack? According to the ingredients list, brown rice syrup seems to glue everything together, so perhaps I’m not going crazy thinking it tastes like a rice-based snack.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The toasted wheat berries give the clusters a hearty crunch.

Apparently, “wheatberry” is one word, while “wheat berries” are two words.

See that decent sized bag above. See where my finger is pointing? That’s the amount of clusters there are in the bag. So the snack takes up only 1/4 to 1/3 of the pouch. The rest is wheatberry stank.

Conclusion:

I’m surprised by how much I dug these Triscuit Wheatberry Clusters. I like them more than most Triscuit crackers I’ve had. But there’s something about these that rub me the wrong way, besides the amount in each pouch. The packaging says they’re “plant based fuel,” which makes them sound as if they’re nutrient dense, but they’re low on protein, carbs, fiber, and sugar. I dunno, it’s a little disingenuous to me to make it seems like these can help us power through our days.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 5 oz. pouches
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Cranberries & Cashews)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Pumpkin Seeds & Sweet Corn)
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) Cranberries & Cashews – 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Pumpkin Seeds & Sweet Corn – 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.