Crunchy with a hint of sweetness, and delicious with a dollop of Greek yoghurt, there’s a single easy-to-prepare breakfast food that consistently triumphs above the rest. Forget buttered toast, bagels and gloopy porridge - we’re talking about granola.
Though we may not have pumpkin-spiced and novel matcha-infused Trader Joe’s own granolas, there are a variety of artisanal and supermarket brands to browse online – and we’ve selected the best of the best.
We reference the American supermarket chain Trader Joe’s for a reason. If you’ve ever taken a trip across the Atlantic to the US of A, you might just agree that American granola tends to be superior. Surprisingly, this is not because their granola has been imbued with oodles of added sugar and nasties such as palm oil. Rather, it’s because the United States is the birthplace of granola – specifically, New York state.
While munching on grains in the morning has been popular since the Ancient Greeks, Hilary Greenbaum and Dana Rubinstein tell us that it wasn’t until the 19th century that the idea of eating cold cereal was truly embraced. In their New York Times article titled ‘Who Made That Granola?’ they explain how holistic health specialist Dr. James Caleb Jackson began experimenting with cold cereal recipes in 1863.
From his home in Dansville, New York, Dr. Jackson created a cold breakfast cereal consisting of crumbled and baked graham flour – a coarse, ground flour with a similar texture to oats. He dubbed this creation ‘granula’ and registered a trademark for it in the late 19th century. Soon after, John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg) developed a similar cereal which he also called granula, trading in graham flour for oats, wheat flour and cornmeal. However, Kellogg later changed the name to granola to avoid legal trouble with Dr. Jackson.
Unfortunately for Dr. Jackson, it was Kellogg’s invention that really took off. After a few decades of dormancy, granola witnessed a revival in the 1960s thanks to the health-orientated, free-loving hippie movement. Though Gen-Z’ers might think that the ‘granola girl’ aesthetic – consisting of Patagonia fleeces, Blundstone boots, always-ready-for-hiking, farm-to-table granola-eating girlies – is a modern trend, it’s just a revival of 60s counterculture.
Is granola gluten-free?
Not all granola is gluten-free. Though all oats are naturally gluten-free – some granolas and granola bars contain wheat flour or wheat germ. It’s always important to double-check the label on your granola if you suffer from coeliac disease or are gluten intolerant.
What is grain-free granola?
Grain-free granola is granola without oats. In our humble opinion, this just isn’t real granola – it’s toasted nuts and dried fruits. Some people go grain-free due to health conditions, or simply because grain-free granola ‘feels’ healthier.
What’s the difference between rolled oats in granola, and porridge oats?
Rolled oats have been crushed or husked, whereas porridge oats are finely stone-ground. The result is a difference in texture, with the former being crunchier – especially after baking – and the latter producing a creamy, smooth texture when cooked.
Is granola healthy?
So long as your granola is free from nasty additives and isn’t too high in sugar, granola is a wonderfully healthy food which is filled to the brim with zinc, magnesium, B vitamins and fibre.
Whether you identify with granola girl’ism, or simply adore the healthy, oaty cereal in the morning and as an afternoon snack, we’ve rounded up a selection of our favourites. Keep scrolling for oaty goodness.
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Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola
One of our favourite granolas of all time has got to be the Rude Health natural granola, which is sweetened with a dollop of honey. However, the top spot has officially been taken by the plant-based brand’s chocolate crunch granola. It’s like eating your favourite childhood cereal, without any of the guilt.
High in fibre, vegan and kosher, the only thing that holds this granola back is the fact that it’s not gluten-free. Pair it with your favourite plant-based milk and some fresh fruit for the ultimate health-conscious chocolatey breakfast.
Buy now £2.80, Ocado
Daylesford Organic Coconut & Mulberry Granola
Posh granola doesn’t usually do it for us – but that was until we tasted the Daylesford coconut and mulberry granola. Filled to the brim with dried white mulberries, toasted coconut chips, coconut sugar, chopped apricots – and our absolute favourite – chewy chopped dates, this granola is free from gluten and refined sugars.
Delightfully sweet and tempered with some light acidity thanks to the white mulberries, this extra crunchy and clustery granola is certainly in our top three.
Buy now £6.15, Ocado
Bio&Me Apple & Cinnamon Gut Loving Granola 360g
Created by Dr Megan Rossi, known to some as ‘The Gut Health Doctor’, Bio&Me is on a mission to deliver the tastiest, microbiome-boosting granola on the market. It’s safe to say they’ve succeeded, with the amount of super ingredients packed into each and every box – including chicory inulin and 13 different grains, fruits and even some hidden veggies.
Soft but not chewy, tasty but not overly sweet, and delightful as a dry snack, Bio&Me has truly hit the mark with this health-conscious granola. When it came to choosing our favourite, it was a toss-up between the apple and cinnamon flavour and the super berry option – which is slightly tangier.
Buy now £3.95, Sainsbury's
Biona Organic Pure Oaty Granola
Another cluster-full granola option, this time as pure and simple as it gets. Certified organic and GMO-free, Biona’s granola is made from rolled oats, rice syrup, extruded rice, malted barley flour, puffed spelt and a sprinkling of coconut. Enjoy this as a classic crunchy cereal alternative or sprinkle it over some kefir yoghurt for a wholesome, zero-fuss and healthy start to your day.
Buy now £5.00, Ocado
Whole Food Earth Honey Toasted Oat & Rice Crisps Clusters
For the largest clusters we’ve ever come across in a granola, look no further than Whole Food Earth. Complete with a touch of honey and made form toasted oats and rice crisps clusters – this is a no-nonsense breakfast option for those looking for a granola formulated with high-quality ingredients, without too many bells and whistles.
Buy now £3.99, Amazon
Rollagranola Healthy Hazelnut Granola
Packed with deliciously smooth hazelnuts, brazils and almonds which have been rolled and crushed to form crunchy clusters, this nutty granola is complete with a sprinkling of cinnamon for sweetness – but no added sugar.
Buy now £4.99, Rollagranola
Eli’s Granola Chocolate Chip Quinoa Granola: 2 Pack
This chocolate chip quinoa granola by nutritionist Eli Brecher will make you feel like you’re having dessert for breakfast, but it has the added bonus of boosting your gut health at the same time.
You may prefer to start your mornings with the likes of granola, kefir and fruits and reserve the chocolatey goodness of this granola to snack on throughout the day. It’s also dairy and wheat free and contains no added sugar.
Buy now £11.50, Eli’s Granola
Chai Spiced Mulberry Granola
Available in quantities of 450g, 1kg and 2kg for the granola-obsessed, this artisanal chai spiced mulberry granola by Husk & Honey tastes just like a cardamom bun. Baked at the brand’s HQ in Bermondsey, the mouth-watering recipe includes gluten-free jumbo oats and puffed oats, mulberries, chopped dates, coconut flakes, wildflower honey, a blend of delightfully aromatic spices and even some Himalayan rose salt for some added flair.
Buy now £6.80, Husk & Honey
