Taste Test: Trader Joe's Organic Raisin Bran Clusters Cereal

The Trader Joe's answer to Post's Raisin Bran was the subject of this week's taste test by our panel of food experts. The box's side panel displays that this Raisin Bran contains 5 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber per serving, and notes that it can be eaten with milk or "straight from the box for a delicious, healthy snack."

We decided to taste the cereal straight from the box (because we had no milk around), and were generally quite pleased with the results. Most agreed that it tastes better than Post's without milk, largely due to the fat that there are loads of big, (very) crunchy granola clusters that have a slight coconut flavor (in fact, coconut is listed as an ingredient). They're quite crunchy, though, and one taster said that she was afraid she'd break a tooth on them. The bran flakes are also a bit sturdier than Post's, and there are plenty of raisins in every box, too.

Some of our panelists would have liked some cinnamon flavor thrown into the mix, though, and just about everyone agreed that it "tastes healthy."

So while milk is certainly a cereal's best friend (and would definitely help to temper the excessive crunchiness here), we also agreed that Trader Joe's Organic Raisin Bran Clusters would also pair very nicely with yogurt, and agree with the box's suggestion that it can be eaten all by itself.

The cereal has 3 grams of fat, 190 calories, and 41 grams of carbohydrates per 1 cup serving, and is completely organic.