Flavors Tried: All
Price: $29.99 for box of 24 ($1.25 per bag)
Nutrition: 110 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 17g Carbs (4g Fiber & 2g Sugar), 6g Protein
If you have never heard of broad beans, then you’re not alone. Before trying these Bada Bean Bada Boom snacks, I had no idea what broad beans were.
It turns out that broad beans are another name for fava beans, and they’re essentially a large, slightly sweet legume. To me, they closely resemble a larger version of edamame.
Crunchy fava beans are something I have never tried (nor heard of), but I’ve had plenty of crunchy chickpea snacks before. I find roasted chickpeas to be okay if they are generously seasoned, but they tend to have a pretty bland flavor profile, so they’re not my go-to snack.
But Bada Bean Bada Boom sucked me in with this “boom box” variety pack that they sell. As a 90’s baby, this packaging spoke directly to my heart and I could not resist.
This is, hands down, the best food packaging I’ve ever received. But this isn’t a review of the packaging, but rather what is inside the packaging.
The boom box contains all 9 Bada Bean Bada Boom flavors, which I’ll be reviewing here for you.
Nutritionally, each flavor is virtually identical with each small bag containing 110 calories and 6 grams of protein. I always like to expand the macros out to compare a snack to a typical protein bar, which tend to land around 200 calories.
In this case, two bags would be 220 calories and 12 grams of protein. If that were a protein bar, I wouldn’t be overly impressed with the macros, but 12 grams of protein even beats out some plant-based options like Zing bars.
Anyway, we’ve got 9 flavors to get through, so let’s get started.
Sea Salt Bada Bean Bada Boom
I won’t break down the texture of these roasted broad beans for every flavor since they are all the same, so I’ll use the basic sea salt flavor to describe these beans.
As you can see, they are bigger than chickpeas, and they almost look like a smaller version of Brazil nuts.
The crunch factor of these beans is undeniable, and I find these much more enjoyable than chickpeas. To me, roasted chickpeas have a dull flavor, and they always break down into a weird paper-like texture.
Roasted fava/broad beans are incredibly satisfying to crunch on, and they do indeed have a subtle sweetness that chickpeas lack.
But where this snack truly shines is in the seasoning. When I read “sea salt,” I expected a very basic roasted bean with some salt on it. The dusting of seasoning on these beans makes for a really pleasant experience that I enjoy much more than a basic roasted nut or bean.
Zesty Ranch Bada Bean Bada Boom
Zesty Ranch is easily one of my favorite flavors. You get ranch in the seasoning, but it isn’t over-the-top like other ranch-flavored snacks I’ve tried.
No, these won’t make you think you’re eating Cool Ranch Doritos, but each bean is generously coated in ranch seasoning and does not disappoint.
Combine the ranch flavor with the satisfying crunch, and you’ve got a winner here.
Buffalo Wing Bada Bean Bada Boom
I had high hopes for the buffalo wing flavor, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.
You taste some buffalo sauce flavor in these, but it’s a subtle flavor that mostly comes through in the aftertaste. I was hoping to get hit with some heat as I ate these, but the heat was virtually non-existent.
Since the heat factor isn’t quite there, and that’s something you expect from buffalo wings, this one was disappointing. It has good flavor overall, and I wasn’t unhappy to snack on these, but it’s not the buffalo wing flavor you would hope for.
Spicy Wasabi Bada Bean Bada Boom
While the buffalo wing flavor disappoints in the heat department, spicy wasabi makes sure some heat comes through.
Unfortunately for me, I absolutely hate the taste of wasabi, so I cannot fairly judge this flavor.
It certainly has that bite that wasabi offers, but I truly do not know if this tastes good or not, because wasabi is a no-go for me.
Sweet Cinnamon Bada Bean Bada Boom
All of the other Bada Bean Bada Boom flavors are savory, but they switch things up with this sweet cinnamon.
Honestly, I’m not sure I would use the word “sweet” in this flavor name, because it is not very sweet at all, but it does have more of a sweetness than the other flavors.
If you’re expecting something that resembles those candy-coated roasted nuts, these are significantly different. If you roasted a cashew and tossed it in cinnamon, you’d end up with a very similar flavor profile: slightly sweet, but mostly cinnamon.
All of that being said, I added these sweet cinnamon fava beans to a bowl with milk, and it worked very well as a cereal replacement. Sure, you’re still eating beans, so the sweetness of breakfast cereal is not there, but the flavor of the cinnamon combined with the crunch of the beans worked extremely well here.
Truthfully, I think this flavor works better as a bowl of cereal than on its own.
Sweet Onion & Mustard Bada Bean Bada Boom
Now we’re talking. Bada Bean Bada Boom nailed this flavor.
The seasoning on these beans tastes just like those honey mustard & onion pretzel pieces that Synyer’s sells (one of the greatest snacks of all time).
I have no notes for this one- it is easily my favorite of the bunch.
Mesquite BBQ Bada Bean Bada Boom
BBQ flavoring can go either way with me. I tend to lean towards the sweet side of the spectrum when it comes to barbecue sauce, and I don’t typically love the smoky flavor.
This mesquite BBQ flavor leans smoky, but it isn’t overpowering.
It is a solid BBQ flavor all around with enough smoke to satisfy BBQ lovers, but not too much that it’s off-putting to people (such as myself) who don’t enjoy smoke flavor.
Sweet Sriracha Bada Bean Bada Boom
If the honey mustard & onion flavor didn’t exist, sweet sriracha would be my clear-cut favorite.
As someone who adds sriracha to almost everything, this flavor hits home. Sriracha is iconic for being both spicy and slightly sweet, and that’s exactly what you get with this flavor.
There is definite heat here (more than the buffalo wing flavor) which is what you want. If you don’t like spicy, I would avoid these. They’re not overly hot by any means, but it’s enough heat to be true to the sriracha name.
Garlic & Onion Bada Bean Bada Boom
If you want potent breath, this is the flavor for you.
Jokes aside, this one has a great flavor profile. The garlic comes through without being overpowering, and the onion powder adds an extra depth of flavor that makes this a really good lunch companion.
It’s a tough flavor to describe, but it is definitely balanced, which is something I appreciate.
Badabean Bada Boom: Overall Thoughts
These broad beans have officially become a go-to snack for me. Since they are small 100-calorie bags, I now keep them stashed in my backpack and car for whenever I need a quick bite.
I used to snack on roasted chickpeas from time to time, but these are in a tier well above chickpeas. Given the choice, I would choose broad beans every single time.
The crunch is significantly more satisfying than chickpeas, and the generous seasoning that Bada Bean Bada Boom uses elevates these even more.
With only 6 grams of protein in a bag, these may not take your protein goals over the top, but they are a delicious way to get some protein in. If you eat plant-based, it’s a no-brainer. But even if you’re not, this is a delicious option.
And if you don’t want to commit to 45 bags in the boom box, here is my final ranking of flavors to help you choose:
- 9. Spicy Wasabi (I just don’t like wasabi, so take that with a grain of salt)
- 8. Buffalo Wing
- 7. Mesquite BBQ
- 6. Garlic & Onion
- 5. Sweet Cinnamon
- 4. Sea Salt
- 3. Zesty Ranch
- 2. Sweet Sriracha
- 1. Honey Mustard & Onion
