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(More customer reviews)I've just finished writing this review. It is a rather long one. Perhaps my longest yet!
So, if you don't have the time or desire to read a lot of info about barley grass products, here is....
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This is the best barley grass powder I know of. If you want to buy barley grass JUICE powder, this is the one. In my experience it is better than Green Magma and the AIM International products in both nutritional quality and PRICE. Much cheaper.
Avoid buying all the grass products that don't have the word JUICE on them. Barley Grass Powder is a cheap and poor substitute for Barley Grass Juice Powder. It's like comparing olives to extra virgin olive oil -- when what you want is a nice oil.
Buy this one, try it, and enjoy. PRICE NOTE: This particular item on Amazon may not be the best price, and currently does not have Amazon Prime. Shop around on Amazon, and elsewhere if you want the best price.
Read on if you want a deeper understanding of why I say all of the above...>
For those not overly familiar with grass juices, etc., I'll share a few important points. I encourage you to take the time to read this, as I am sure you'll find it very helpful in navigating your way through the potential confusion of different barley grass products.
>> POWERED JUICE COMPARED TO POWDERED GRASS
As far as I know the first Barley Grass JUICE Power that became commonly avaialable was developed and manufactured in Japan by Dr. Hagiwara back in the 60s (from memory). Since then is has been sold under various labels/brands. I understand the process that was developed in Japan is now used elsewhere, such as in the USA.
The main product that is still associated with Dr. Hagiwara is produced by Green Foods: Green Magma - Barley Grass Juice Powder 11 oz.
Here is the ingredients of Green Magma:
Powdered juice from organically-grown young barley grass, maltodextrin (a complex carbohydrate), organic brown rice.
Here is the sugar / carbohydrate content:
Serving Size (2 Teaspoons/6g):
Total Calories 20 cal
Total Carbohydrate 4 g
Protein 1 g
As you can see, it is 67% sugar (a complex sugar, but sugar none-the-less), which is almost entirely coming from the maltodextrin (a complex sugar) they add into it. The rise is also ultimately no better than a filler ingredient.
Another long standing brand (since 1982) is AIM International. As far as I can tell they licensed or copied the manufacturing process developed in Japan.
AIM has recently changed their formula, which has increased the nutritional content. This suggests to me they have increased the amount of actual grass juice and decreased the amount of maltodextrin (essentially a nutritionally useless filler that is introduced as part of the low temperature spray drying process they use, as developed in Japan). Both AIM and Green Foods use a drying process that involves the introduction of maltodextrin (a sugar). AIM adds in some kelp, which is nice, but there are much more affordable ways to get kelp powder if that is what you want.
AIM BarleyLife® Nutritional Profile (reduced to show just carbohydrate)
Per 100g Per 5g
Calories339Kcal16.95Kcal
Total Carbohydrates54.15%2.7075g*(3.25g per 6g)
Total Dietary Fiber4.1%0.205g
Total Sugar15.9%0.795g
As far as I recall, the AIM product use to have a higher sugar/carbohydrate content (similar to Magma). As mentioned, I think they reduced the amount of maltodextrin and increased the juice content.
Both AIM and Green Foods make a true barley grass JUICE powder product, but both have maltodextrin which at the end of the day is an inexpensive filler. In my opinion, the same goes for the rice in the Green Magma product, and the kelp in the AIM product.
Another competing product is from PINES: Pines International - Wheat Grass Juice Powder, 6 oz powder
I have not tried it. I notice they add arrowroot to it. No idea how much.
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The maltodextrin in the AIM products comes from cornstarch (according to their product literature). I would guess the same is true for the Green Magma product. Neither state that this particular ingredient is certified organic. As most of the cornstarch produced in the USA is from genetically modified (GMO) industrial corn, I would not personally use the AIM product until I had it confirmed they are using a non-GMO cornstarch for their maltodextrin. I'd also want to know from Green Foods about their GMO status before using Green Magma. But, with Just Barley available, this all becomes a moot point.
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Before I found the Just Barley product I use to go without barley juice when travelling (which is much of the past 15 years). When I am in one place long enough I grow (LOTS) of barley grass and make fresh juice each day. But when on the move, I've had to go without and it's the one "food" item I really miss since I started travelling and lecturing so extensively. I tried Green Magma (numerous times) and the AIM product. But both failed to give me the lift I feel when I drink fresh juice. Both felt like they lacked something, and both were very sweet (due to the maltodextrin). About the best I have been able to do is drink fresh shots of juice whenever I find a juice-bar that sells barley/wheat grass juice.
In my experience, Just Barley is the real deal. 100% pure, GMO free, gluten free, organic barley grass JUICE powder. No fillers. No cheap rice. No cheap kelp. No cheap and potentially GMO maltodextrin.
I now have a new travel companion. For the past two years I nearly always have this product on hand.
It is a very light powder. 1 teaspoon weighs in at around 1g. Whereas 1 tsp of the other products mentioned come to 2.5 to 3g. That extra weight is from the other ingredients (maltodextrin, etc.).
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My only warning is to be very careful when eating this powder straight from a spoon. If you happen to breath in or out you are likely to either blow fine green dust over yourself, or inhale fine green dust into your lungs which will most likely result in coughing and that will then blast the dust everywhere!!
So eat it from the spoon with caution. Otherwise mix it into water (or juice, if you find the taste a bit too much to handle).
If you have any questions, feel free to ask through the comments.
I wish you all the best of health,
- Jonathan Evatt
International lecturer, spiritual mentor, natural health expert, and award-winning author of Peace, Power, and Presence: A guide to Self Empowerment, Inner Peace, and Spiritual EnlightenmentP.S. If you are still learning about WHY one would even want to eat barley and/or wheat grass, here as a few potentially useful and informative books.
The Green Foods Bible: Everything You Need to Know about Barley Grass, Wheatgrass, Kamut, Chlorella, Spirulina and More
Barley Grass Juice: Rejuvenation Elixir and Natural, Healthy Power Drink
Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grasses to Revitalize Your Health
Why Suffer? The Answer?: Wheat Grass God's Manna!
The Wheatgrass Book: How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality (Avery Health Guides) (I have this book, and highly recommend it. In this book you will also learn about how to grow it yourself)
P.P.S. If you find you really like grass juice, I highly recommend you look into growing it yourself. It's relatively easy, and the fresh juice is a lot better than ANY of the powered products. Just Barley is the closest I can get to the fresh juice, but you can't beat the fresh stuff. It's also MUCH cheaper to grow it yourself.
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