How the Stroopwafel Could Help Power Your Next Outdoor Adventure
If somebody requested, “Need an power waffle?” what could be the very first thing that popped into your thoughts?
A crispy, fluffy Eggo smothered with some questionably wholesome, sugar-coma-inducing toppings?
For these not “in the know” on the power waffle, don’t be bummed. The phenomenon really began centuries in the past in the Netherlands, when bakers in the Dutch city of Gouda started making what they known as Stroopwafels—literal translation “syrup waffle”—a hand-pressed deal with concocted of candy syrup created from beet sugar and skinny, crisp wafers.
However the small-yet-filling (and curiously satisfying) deal with has solely actually risen in US markets in recent times, significantly with the lively outside crowd. Firms like Honey Stinger, GU Power Labs and Rip Van Wafels, have unleashed the on-the-go snack to the plenty; they will even be present in the power bar part of REI and different shops that cater to outside and lively life.
The historical past of the stroopwafel getting used for power dates again to their adoption by the Belgium bicycling group. Cyclists turned to the stroopwafel, in search of an easy-to-pack, energy-revving choice that could possibly be tucked away in a jersey.
Whereas it might appear arbitrary, this custom is one which’s well known in the area.
“The Dutch are avid cyclists so it is smart that they picked up on the stroopwafel’s high-carb-to-sugar ratio changing into the good fuel-up earlier than or throughout rides,” says Netherlands native and Rip Van Wafels Co-founder Rip Pruisken. “It may additionally get to be fairly chilly in the Netherlands so previous to your experience the conventional method of consuming the waffle—warming it on prime of a espresso or tea—can also be the good pre-ride ritual.”
Lately, corporations competing in the area have subbed out syrups for barely completely different, extra health-conscious components like honey and tapioca syrup, supporting a sustainable power launch over lengthy intervals of time.
What would these corporations say to individuals who assume the stroopwafel is only a glorified cookie?
“We’ve bought a loopy loyal following of lively outside athletes that eat our waffles in the morning with espresso or tea, throughout breaks whereas they bike or on a hike to assist maintain power ranges up,” says Honey Stinger Co-owner Len Zanni. “Plenty of clients report utilizing them as gas for marathons and extremely working occasions or lengthy distance biking rides.”
The stroopwafel remains to be a novelty to many, and we have been curious to place the completely different variations to the take a look at.
Style Check
Rip Van Wafels, launched in 2010 at Brown College via a Kickstarter marketing campaign, is now based mostly in San Francisco. Their mantra is to create handy meals choices which might be more healthy.
Along with Rip’s, we put waffles to the take a look at from Colorado-based Honey Stinger and Berkeley, California GU Power Labs.
Honey Stinger has been round for many years, however began placing power waffles on the market in 2010, with assist and inspiration from part-owner and well-known bike owner Lance Armstrong.
The whole lot Honey Stinger does revolves round (you guessed it) honey. Their waffles have a thicker profile than Rip Van Wafels, and seem to comprise extra filling while you chunk into it.
Honey Stinger has additionally launched a gluten-free choice for these with sure meals restrictions. We had an opportunity to style these, and the refined distinction in style is nearly indiscernible.
For this comparability, although, we tasted Honey Stinger’s Natural Honey Waffle. Honey Stinger’s outer wafer tasted much less sugary in comparison with Rip Van Wafels’, whereas the inside filling had a refined sweetness to offset this.
Rip Van Wafels’ filling was a thinner layer than Honey Stinger’s, however was extra chewy and gooey in consistency.
The GU Stroopwafel had the least chewy consistency of all the fillings, and the outer wafer additionally appeared to comprise a bit extra oil to the contact. Although it might simply have been indicative of the two flavors we tried—Salty Caramel and Salted Chocolate—GU’s wafels tasted a bit extra sodium-heavy than others.
From a pure style perspective, Honey Stinger and GU tasted extra like one thing we’d deliver on the path, whereas Rip Van Wafels have been equally as scrumptious, however actually tasted extra like a deal with we wouldn’t really feel as unhealthy indulging in.
Our favourite taste from Rip was a tie between the Chocolate Brownie and the Dutch Caramel and Vanilla. We weren’t a giant fan of the Toasted Coconut.
Diet Comparability
When discussing power, it’s frequent sense to try a few of the primary sources, like carbs, sugar, and protein.
Honey Stinger’s waffles comprise about 11 grams of sugar and 21 grams of carbs in a serving, which is one, 1-ounce waffle. You might be getting 150 energy in a serving, which may energy a fast run or longer hike or bike experience.
GU incorporates 140 energy, and equally has 10 grams of sugar and 21 grams of carbs.
Rip Van Wafels hover round eight to 9 grams of sugar relying on the taste, and comprise 18-20 grams of carbs and 130 energy.
Rip Van Wafels even have roughly eight to 9 grams of “added sugars” along with the sugar listed above.
One other factor that caught out to us about Rip Van Wafels is that one in all our favourite flavors, the Chocolate Brownie, contained 155 mg of sodium.
Curious if that was the norm, we took a take a look at the others, and realized that different Rip Van Wafels flavors and the Natural Honey Waffle from Honey Stingers solely contained roughly 55-60 mg of sodium. The 2 flavors from GU, nevertheless, did additionally contained 150 mg of sodium.
Fats content material didn’t fluctuate an excessive amount of between the completely different waffles—Honey Stinger with 7 grams, GU with 6 grams, and Rip Van Wafels with 6 grams.
Whereas all of the waffles for this take a look at comprise wheat, eggs, and milk, there have been ingredient variations to notice. Rip Van Wafels’ components are non-GMO verified, and comprise chickpea flour and natural tapioca syrup.
Honey Stinger and GU each use natural wheat flour as its principal components. Honey Stinger additionally incorporates natural rice syrup.
Honey Stinger and GU comprise soy flour, one thing for these with allergy symptoms to notice.
All three waffle corporations use palm oil and cane sugar.
Every comprise about 1 gram of protein per serving, and whereas GU and Honey Stinger will not be vital sources of calcium, Rip Van Wafels incorporates about 2 p.c of day by day worth in a single serving.
GU’s flavors comprise an amino acid mix of L-Leucine, L-Valine and L-Isoleucine, which set them other than the others. Upon additional analysis, this mix may assist stop muscle breakdown throughout lively pursuits.
Conclusion
We discovered every of those waffles actually did maintain starvation cravings and power all through the day for average exercise ranges, particularly if eaten round breakfast with a cup of espresso.
After a couple of hours, power ranges dip and it’s worthwhile to replenish, particularly if collaborating in high-intensity actions.
The benefit of packaging actually does permit for fast snacking nearly anyplace, anytime, which helped make us a fan of the power waffle. To not point out, they are surely indescribably tasty.
Taking each style and vitamin into consideration, the following could be our suggestions:
Greatest General Taste: Honey Stinger
Greatest Chewy, Gooey Consistency: Rip Van Wafel
Greatest for Sustainable Power: GU or Honey Stinger
Greatest Indulgent Deal with: Rip Van Wafel’s Chocolate Brownie
Gluten-Free Possibility: Honey Stinger
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