A few months back I had the pleasure of attending Expo West (an eco convention in Anaheim), and scouted out all the coolest, tastiest, healthiest foods. Rather than doing a long list of products and companies here (which is forthcoming on a different outlet), I am going to start sharing my discoveries in a sort of anecdotal form, with my reviews, and in some cases, giveaways.

So, yesterday, as it happens, one of my colleagues was snacking on granola and offered some to the rest of us. Another colleague declined, regrettably, stating that, even though she loved granola with yogurt, she was staying away from gluten, which oat-based granola is typically chock full of. We all kind of sighed, lamenting the sad states of everyone’s seemingly new allergies, and got back to work.

Only when I got home later – ! – I remembered I had picked out a few types of granola at Expo West, and decided that it would make for a nice early evening snack.

I reached into my bounteous sack of samples, and pulled out a simply-labeled pouch of “Purely Elizabeth” Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola. I read the label as I am wont to do as I eat, and was really (re)impressed by all the great ingredients. First of all, and quite serendipitously, I read that the first ingredient is certified gluten-free oats! As I kept reading I saw how much thought and care was put into the creation of this little tasty mélange.

Here’s the full list of ingredients: certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar, organic raw virgin coconut oil, organic raw pumpkin seeds, dried figs, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia seeds, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. That’s it! (And aren’t they just ideal?)

Anyway, talk about rich in nutrients… and flavor! It tastes a little nuttier and grittier than boring old granola (the kind that has the text-book definition taste of “granola” that automatically equates with sugar). It’s not super sweet, but I liked it plain, and really liked the bits of fig that added a nice chewy component. I bet it would be amazing with fresh fruit!

If you’re looking for a new flavor in your life, especially if you have gluten sensitivities, taste this granola! You can find it and other Purely Elizabeth products at select stores across the U.S., but you can also order it directly from their website.