Sweet and crunchy snack: Crunchies grapes

The picture on the label is of fresh grapes, not what's inside the package.

When I was offered a sample of Crunchies grapes for review, I looked at their Web page and couldn't find any reason not to try them — they're gluten-free*, vegan, raw, non-GMO, freeze-dried with no added ingredients. I swear, there are so many labels applied to food indicating what's in them and what isn't, it's hard to keep track. The one thing I didn't notice at first was that they aren't organic, and I usually buy organic grapes. A couple of the Crunchies products are organic, and I may not have been paying close attention when I looked at the grapes. If you only eat organic food, I guess we're done here, but if you're curious about what Crunchies freeze-dried grapes taste like, read on.

At first crunch, I thought I was munching a piece of very sweet candy. As I chewed, I detected more of a raisin flavor, which makes sense since raisins are dried grapes. Crunchies are nothing like ordinary dried fruit, though — they are hard (but not too hard) and crispy. They crush easily in the mouth, and provide a sweet burst of flavor, almost like the sweet fruit equivalent of a potato chip, but without the fat. I liked them a lot.

The package says that freeze-drying "retains 90% of the nutrients" of the fresh fruit compared with "an average of only 45% maximum" for air-dried fruits. It says that "1/4 cup of fruit crunchies has an average of five grams of total sugar while 1/4 cup of dried fruit has an average of 25 grams of total sugar." A package of Crunchies grapes contains 1.2 ounces (two servings of fruit) and costs $5.49.

I'm including the nutrition label for you to see. I always get a little weirded out when nutrition labels contain mostly zeros except for sugars, but maybe that's just me. Have you tried Crunchies? How do you interpret nutrition labels like this one?

* The Crunchies are certified gluten-free but are packaged in a facility that packages milk, eggs, wheat and soy products.

Remember to keep Crunchies grapes, and all grapes and grape products away from your dog. Ingestion of any amount of grapes or raisins can lead to sudden kidney failure in dogs. If your dog eats grapes or raisins, seek immediate veterinary care.

Full Disclosure: The Crunchies grapes were sent to me free of charge. I was not paid to write a review, and all opinions expressed here are my own.