Review: goh-goh granolas

Last week I reported on the innovative new goh-goh cereals that only require added water because of the powdered milk in the single-serving cups. This is intended to be the ultimate in cereal convenience. Sunny Crunch Foods sent me samples of their four current offerings, and here's a combined review of them.

While goh-goh is expected to be eventually available in other cereal types, at present the focus is on granola. The four varieties are: Blueberry Greek Yogurt, Chocolate Chip Crunch, Honey Hemp & Flax, and Raisin & Almond.


The unique selling point of goh-goh cereals is the powdered milk. So, when evaluating taste the issue extends beyond the normal profile of ingredients. The ultimate question is: Can goh-goh match the taste of real milk in cereal? In short, the answer is, mostly. I must admit to having been skeptical at first, having many bad memories of disgusting skim milk powders in the past. goh-goh is really clear that they are using dehydrated whole milk, and the difference is noticeable. While I cannot say that the taste is 100% identical to real milk, it comes pretty close according to my taste buds. My wife, however, is much more taste sensitive, and was not as forgiving. Nonetheless, I believe that most people will not be distracted by the milk taste, and if anything, will overlook any minor differences due to the convenience advantages.

As far as the cereals themselves are concerned, they are fairly typical granolas, despite the variance in ingredients. My favorite, clearly, was the Blueberry Greek Yogurt, followed by the Chocolate Chip Crunch. Most disappointing was the Raisin & Almond. There were maybe 3 or 4 raisins in the entire cup, and its incorporation of rice crisps lessened that wholesome granola impact. All said, the taste of these hardly stand out, however, any one would be satisfying for most people on the run.

As granolas, these cereals are fairly predictable as far as texture is concerned. The oats have substance and hold out well in milk. Generally, the ingredients were much finer than in typical granolas, and there were virtually no granola clusters anywhere. The only texture disappointment relates to my previous comment on the Raisin & Almond variety. The rice crisps made for a much less hearty serving.

The convenience of just adding water contributes greatly to a wow experience for those looking to eat breakfast on the run. Again, this is what makes this cereal stand out. the packaging highlights this, but I find the overall design of the single-serving cups too cluttered, thereby potentially distracting from the strong message that consumers need to see when seeing these in a store.

goh-goh also wants to position these cereals as wholesome and nutritious. As granolas they meet that standard, for the most part. Each serving is in the 220-290 calorie range and with significant fiber. Sugar content, as is typical with granolas, is slightly higher than ideal, in the 20-30% range of total weight category; but in reality it is actually higher compared to other cereals, considering that milk is also included in the calculations. Nonetheless, you could do much more worse in picking a cereal.

In the end, goh-goh granolas are a solid choice for consumers, especially when considering the convenience factor. Having these on the go would be an excellent option for most people, and may keep more people eating cereal in an age when people are turning to other foods for their morning nourishment. 

All you need is a spoon.