Biena Chickpea Snacks come in 5 Rockin’ Dairy-Free Flavors

Have you ever made your own roasted chickpeas? They are quite delicious, but it can be hard to get them as perfectly crisp as pre-made versions like Biena Chickpea Snacks.

I’ve always been a fan of garbanzo beans, but I’m still leery of many chickpea products and recipes. And I certainly haven’t been won over by the flood of chickpea dessert recipes on the internet. For me, chickpeas must tread lightly in the world of sweet. Fortunately, Biena Chickpea Snacks tackle both savory and sweet with complementary flavors that aren’t trying to be something they’re not.

Tasting Notes for Biena Chickpea Snacks

Since my first review of Biena Chickpea Snacks, they have discontinued the Cinnamon Crunch, and replaced it with a flavor that contains dairy(!). Dairy-free consumers should avoid the newer Sour Cream & Onion flavor, which can be a bit deceiving. Not only is it their only flavor that contains milk, it also has what looks like a bold kosher pareve label on the front. I have to assume that the kosher certification for that flavor is not pareve, but it isn’t displayed with a “D.”

Nevertheless, the following flavors appear to still be made without dairy. They were previously certified kosher pareve, but I’m not sure if this designation still stands for these flavors, since they are probably made on shared equipment. Also, their packaging has changed in look! I’ve included images of the current packaging next to each flavor. The ingredients and product are the same.

Sea Salt

I would refer to these as the “Original” flavor of Biena Chickpea Snacks. They’re light yet hearty, crispy yet not too crunchy, and overall, a great chip replacement. I liked the underlying chickpea flavor, but would love it if they sprinkled on just a touch more sea salt.

Ingredients: chickpeas, sunflower oil, sea salt.

Nutrition (per ounce / about 50 chickpeas): 110 calories, 3g fat, 16g carbs, 6g fiber, 2g sugars (includes 1g added sugars), 6g protein.* (The added sugars is a bit confusing since there definitely appear to be absolutely no added sweet ingredients of any kind.)

Rockin’ Ranch

Yes, dairy-free ranch flavoring on a snack! This is definitely a rare find, and these are rockin’ with a touch of spice and a bold flavor. They had just a little too much garlic for me, but I think garlic ranch fans would be in heaven.

Ingredients: chickpeas, sunflower oil, ranch seasoning (salt, sugar, tomato powder, garlic powder, onion powder, gum arabic, yeast extract, spices, natural flavors, mustard, dehydrated parsley, malic acid, lactic acid (from beet sugar), citric acid, sunflower oil).

Nutrition (per ounce / about 50 chickpeas): 110 calories, 3g fat, 16g carbs, 6g fiber, 2g sugars (includes 1g added sugars), 6g protein.*

Habanero

In terms of the texture, this flavor was a nice mix of crunchy and crispy. Each bite was warm and flavorful, with a savory Tex-Mex heat that sneaks up on you.

Ingredients: chickpeas, sunflower oil, habanero seasoning (salt, tomato powder, onion powder, cane sugar, garlic powder, , dehydrated lemon peel, habanero pepper, blac pepper, cumin, citric acid, lemon oil).

Nutrition (per ounce / about 50 chickpeas): 110 calories, 2.5g fat, 16g carbs, 6g fiber, 1g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 6g protein.*

Honey Roasted

This is the only non-vegan flavor. It’s good, with a very nice balance of sweet an savory, crispy and crunchy. The nice little burst of honey does make this flavor taste a little like a treat, but still snack-worthy.

Ingredients: chickpeas, cane sugar, sunflower oil, wildflower honey, sea salt, natural honey flavor.

Nutrition (per ounce / about 50 chickpeas): 110 calories, 2g fat, 19g carbs, 5g fiber, 6g sugars (includes 6g added sugars), 5g protein.*

Barbeque

Unlike the sugary notes of most barbecue-flavored snacks, these are smoky and savory with only the slightest hint of sweetness. The deep flavor was paired with a bite that was notably crunchier than the Sea Salt or Rockin Ranch.

Ingredients: chickpeas, sunflower oil, bbq seasoning (sea salt, evaprated cane juice, yeast extract, paprika, onion powder, tomato powder, garlic powder, citric acid, natural smoke flavor, paprika extract, cayenne pepper), cane sugar, salt.

Nutrition (per ounce / about 50 chickpeas): 110 calories, 2.5g fat, 16g carbs, 5g fiber, 4g sugars (includes 3g added sugars), 6g protein.*

The Facts on Biena Chickpea Snacks

Price: $1.69 to $4.49 per 1.2- to 5-ounce bag

Availability: Biena Chickpea Snacks are sold at Sprouts, Whole Foods, Smiths stores, and other grocers in the U.S. You can also order them online via Amazon.

Certifications: Biena Chickpea Snacks are Certified Kosher and Non-GMO Verified.

Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Biena Chickpea Snacks are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian. Most varieties are vegan, but one flavor uses honey.*

For More Product Information: Visit the Biena Foods website at bienafoods.com.

*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy. 

Old recipe was better and healthier

Rated 4 out of 5

November 16, 2021

I like honey roasted veriety, but the new recipe got me disappointed, with more sugar and less good stuff. I guess on this earth things don’t change for the better…

Elmira

Great snacking option

Rated 4 out of 5

August 21, 2020

I love chickpeas, but am not big on a lot of the chickpea products coming out. But these are pretty good. My favorite was the barbeque, which is more smoky than sweet. Be warned that they use a heavy hand with garlic on a lot of their flavors. It was too much for me on the Ranch.

Alisa Fleming