Some things look better than they sound. These frozen bean bars from Costco fall into that category. When I first picked up the box of the Imuraya Frozen Azuki Bars, I didn’t understand what they were made out of. The photo on the box is pretty colorful, so I assumed they were made from some kind of fruit. When I realized they were made from red beans, I was intrigued but wary. Taste is king, so how do they fare in that department?
If these pique your interest, you may also want to check out the Boba Lovers’ Treat Frozen Bars and the Brown Sugar Boba Bars.
Location in Store
These are located in the freezer section at Costco, the item number is 1576707.
Taste
I’ll just start by saying that while these bars may look like ice cream, they’re definitely not ice cream! My first hint that they’re very different from ice cream (aside from the fact that they’re very clearly made from beans) was the warning on the box about how hard they are. I laughed when I saw it, but I wasn’t laughing once I bit into one!
The texture is somewhere in between an ice cube and ice cream. They do get a bit softer when they melt, but the texture is kind of crumbly and chalky and not very creamy. Anyway, be mindful of your teeth when you bite in!
The flavor is also unique. They’re fairly sweet. Beyond that, I guess they taste like Azuki beans? That wouldn’t have meant anything to me before I tried them and I don’t imagine it means much to most of you, but it’s a mild flavor.
I wouldn’t say they taste like any beans I eat regularly (e.g., black beans), but when you eat them, you can definitely tell they’re made from beans, if that makes sense.
I probably wouldn’t recommend these unless you know you like Azuki beans or you love trying unusual foods. They’re not bad, but if you love ice cream and you’re expecting ice cream (both true in my case), you’ll be disappointed.
Cost
The box comes with 12 bars and costs $11.99 Canadian, so around a dollar per bar.
Convenience
The bars need to be kept frozen and the best-before date is just over a year from when I purchased them. The bars are individually packaged.
These red bean bars have a distinct flavor so I’m not sure if kids would like these as much as the Melona bars Costco carries.
Nutrition
Calories
One bar contains 100 calories, zero grams of fat, 23 grams of carbohydrates, zero grams of fibre, 15 grams of sugar and two grams of protein. The calories and fat are low and the sugar isn’t as high as some other frozen treats.
Ingredients
The ingredients list is short and sweet without any added emulsifiers or additives so that probably explains why they aren’t as creamy. If you’re following a gluten-free, dairy-free diet you’re in luck because these don’t contain any milk or wheat!
Scoring
Taste: 4/10
Cost: 6/10
Convenience: 10/10
Nutrition: 1/10
Overall
Walk on by!
I don’t like these that much, but I think some people might. If you’re looking for a fruity, creamy frozen bar from Costco, check out the Helados Mexico Ice Cream Bars.
Have you tried these Imuraya Frozen Azuki Bars? What did you think of them? Leave a comment below!
Please note that this review was not paid for or sponsored by any third party. This product was purchased by Costcuisine for the purpose of producing this review. The opinions in this review are strictly those of Costcuisine. Costcuisine is not affiliated with Costco or any of its suppliers. In the event that Costcuisine receives compensation for a post from the manufacturer of a product or some other third party, the arrangement will be clearly disclosed (including where the manufacturer of a product provides Costcuisine with a free sample of the product).
sweetened azuki beans are really common in asian desserts… mochi, ice cream, bread/buns, cakes, etc. i wouldnt really consider it “unusual” but i guess western palates arent accustomed to the thought of beans in desserts