If somebody requested, “Need an power waffle?” what could be the very first thing that popped into your thoughts?
A crispy, fluffy Eggo smothered with some questionably wholesome, sugar-coma-inducing toppings?
For these not “within the know” on the power waffle, don’t be bummed. The phenomenon truly began centuries in the past within the Netherlands, when bakers within the Dutch city of Gouda started making what they referred to as Stroopwafels—literal translation “syrup waffle”—a hand-pressed deal with concocted of candy syrup created from beet sugar and skinny, crisp wafers.
Heated over a cup of espresso or tea, the power waffle is a heat, gooey power supply. Picture: Rip Van Wafels
However the small-yet-filling (and curiously satisfying) deal with has solely actually risen in US markets in recent times, notably with the energetic outside crowd. Corporations like Honey Stinger, GU Power Labs and Rip Van Wafels, have unleashed the on-the-go snack to the lots; they’ll even be discovered within the power bar part of REI and different shops that cater to outside and energetic life.
The historical past of the stroopwafel getting used for power dates again to their adoption by the Belgium bicycling group. Cyclists turned to the stroopwafel, on the lookout for an easy-to-pack, energy-revving choice that could possibly be tucked away in a jersey.
Whereas it might appear arbitrary, this custom is one which’s widely known within the area.
“The Dutch are avid cyclists so it is smart that they picked up on the stroopwafel’s high-carb-to-sugar ratio changing into the proper fuel-up earlier than or throughout rides,” says Netherlands native and Rip Van Wafels Co-founder Rip Pruisken. “It could possibly additionally get to be fairly chilly within the Netherlands so previous to your journey the standard approach of consuming the waffle—warming it on prime of a espresso or tea—can be the proper pre-ride ritual.”
Whether or not dunked or simply calmly steamed over your morning beverage, the stroopwafel is touted to offer sustainable power. Picture: GU Power Labs
Today, corporations competing within the area have subbed out syrups for barely totally different, extra health-conscious components like honey and tapioca syrup, supporting a sustainable power launch over lengthy intervals of time.
What would these corporations say to individuals who assume the stroopwafel is only a glorified cookie?
“We’ve obtained a loopy loyal following of energetic outside athletes that eat our waffles within the morning with espresso or tea, throughout breaks whereas they bike or on a hike to assist preserve power ranges up,” says Honey Stinger Co-owner Len Zanni. “Loads of clients report utilizing them as gas for marathons and extremely working occasions or lengthy distance biking rides.”
The stroopwafel remains to be a novelty to many, and we had been curious to place the totally different variations to the check.
Style Take a look at
We taste-tested three main power waffles. Right here’s what occurred. Picture: James Rodney
Rip Van Wafels, launched in 2010 at Brown College by a Kickstarter marketing campaign, is now primarily based in San Francisco. Their mantra is to create handy meals choices which are more healthy.
Along with Rip’s, we put waffles to the check from Colorado-based Honey Stinger and Berkeley, California GU Power Labs.
Honey Stinger has been round for many years, however began placing power waffles in the marketplace in 2010, with assist and inspiration from part-owner and well-known bicycle owner Lance Armstrong.
The whole lot Honey Stinger does revolves round (you guessed it) honey. Their waffles have a thicker profile than Rip Van Wafels, and seem to include extra filling whenever you chunk into it.
Honey Stinger has additionally launched a gluten-free choice for these with sure meals restrictions. We had an opportunity to style these, and the refined distinction in style is nearly indiscernible.
For this comparability, although, we tasted Honey Stinger’s Natural Honey Waffle. Honey Stinger’s outer wafer tasted much less sugary in comparison with Rip Van Wafels’, whereas the inside filling had a refined sweetness to offset this.
Rip Van Wafels’ filling was a thinner layer than Honey Stinger’s, however was extra chewy and gooey in consistency.
The GU Stroopwafel had the least chewy consistency of all of the fillings, and the outer wafer additionally appeared to include a bit extra oil to the contact. Although it might simply have been indicative of the 2 flavors we tried—Salty Caramel and Salted Chocolate—GU’s wafels tasted a bit extra sodium-heavy than others.
From a pure style perspective, Honey Stinger and GU tasted extra like one thing we’d deliver on the path, whereas Rip Van Wafels had been equally as scrumptious, however actually tasted extra like a deal with we wouldn’t really feel as dangerous indulging in.
Our favourite taste from Rip was a tie between the Chocolate Brownie and the Dutch Caramel and Vanilla. We weren’t an enormous fan of the Toasted Coconut.
Diet Comparability
Biking and stroopwafels are an ideal marriage for a lot of within the biking group. Picture: Rip Van Wafels
When discussing power, it’s frequent sense to check out a number of the primary sources, like carbs, sugar, and protein.
Honey Stinger’s waffles include about 11 grams of sugar and 21 grams of carbs in a serving, which is one, 1-ounce waffle. You’re getting 150 energy in a serving, which might energy a fast run or longer hike or bike journey.
GU incorporates 140 energy, and equally has 10 grams of sugar and 21 grams of carbs.
Rip Van Wafels hover round eight to 9 grams of sugar relying on the flavour, and include 18-20 grams of carbs and 130 energy.
Rip Van Wafels even have roughly eight to 9 grams of “added sugars” along with the sugar listed above.
One other factor that caught out to us about Rip Van Wafels is that one in every of our favourite flavors, the Chocolate Brownie, contained 155 mg of sodium.
Curious if that was the norm, we took a have a look at the others, and realized that different Rip Van Wafels flavors and the Natural Honey Waffle from Honey Stingers solely contained roughly 55-60 mg of sodium. The 2 flavors from GU, nonetheless, did additionally contained 150 mg of sodium.
A burst of power is required to energy by that late afternoon run. Picture: Honey Stinger
Fats content material didn’t fluctuate an excessive amount of between the totally different waffles—Honey Stinger with 7 grams, GU with 6 grams, and Rip Van Wafels with 6 grams.
Whereas all the waffles for this check include wheat, eggs, and milk, there have been ingredient variations to notice. Rip Van Wafels’ components are non-GMO verified, and include chickpea flour and natural tapioca syrup.
Honey Stinger and GU each use natural wheat flour as its principal components. Honey Stinger additionally incorporates natural rice syrup.
Honey Stinger and GU include soy flour, one thing for these with allergy symptoms to notice.
All three waffle corporations use palm oil and cane sugar.
Every include about 1 gram of protein per serving, and whereas GU and Honey Stinger should not important sources of calcium, Rip Van Wafels incorporates about 2 p.c of every day worth in a single serving.
GU’s flavors include an amino acid mix of L-Leucine, L-Valine and L-Isoleucine, which set them other than the others. Upon additional analysis, this mix might assist stop muscle breakdown throughout energetic pursuits.
Conclusion
We discovered every of those waffles actually did maintain starvation cravings and power all through the day for average exercise ranges, particularly if eaten round breakfast with a cup of espresso.
After a couple of hours, power ranges dip and you might want to replenish, particularly if collaborating in high-intensity actions.
The benefit of packaging actually does permit for fast snacking nearly anyplace, anytime, which helped make us a fan of the power waffle. To not point out, they are surely indescribably tasty.
Taking each style and diet into consideration, the next could be our suggestions:
Greatest Total Taste: Honey Stinger
Greatest Chewy, Gooey Consistency: Rip Van Wafel
Greatest for Sustainable Power: GU or Honey Stinger
Greatest Indulgent Deal with: Rip Van Wafel’s Chocolate Brownie
Gluten-Free Possibility: Honey Stinger
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