Rabeko Protein Spread

What is Rabeko's Protein Spread?

The Rabeko Protein Spread is a chocolate spread enriched with protein, offered in Nutty Chocolate, made with Belgian chocolate and hazelnuts, and White Chocolate. It belongs to our protein snacks section, and the Dutch brand's full range can be found in the Rabeko section.

What sets it apart from an ordinary spread comes down to two formulation choices. Sugar is replaced by maltitol, a polyol, which takes first place on the ingredients list. And whey protein concentrate is added, which brings the protein content up to 20 g per 100 g. The Nutty Chocolate version contains 13% hazelnuts, skimmed milk powder, fat-reduced cocoa, cocoa butter and a blend of vegetable oils — sunflower, coconut and shea.

One detail that matters and that we will look at closely: the fat, on the other hand, has not been taken out. This is a spread reduced in sugars, not a spread reduced in calories, and that distinction changes everything in use.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

Figures for the Nutty Chocolate version. Let us point out the missing boxes rather than fill them in: the manufacturer publishes neither the “of which saturates” line, nor the sugar content per 100 g, nor the “of which polyols” line. That last one is nevertheless the most telling here — the gap between 10 g of carbohydrate and less than 2 g of sugars per serving corresponds very largely to maltitol.

Now let us look at the figure nobody likes to lead with. 509 kcal per 100 g and 38 g of fat is the level of a conventional spread, and on fat sometimes even a little above it. The gain, then, is not a calorie one: it is entirely on the sugars, with less than 2 g per serving where an ordinary spread delivers 15 to 17 g for the same spoonful. If your aim is to cut sugar, this is real progress. If your aim is to cut calories, this product will not do it for you.

The 20 g of protein per 100 g represent roughly 16% of the product's energy. That is above the 12% threshold that permits the “source of protein” claim, but below the 20% that “high in protein” would require — so we will not be using that second wording. Six grams of protein in a 30 g serving is still a genuine contribution: it is about the same as an egg.

How should you use the Protein Spread?

Dose: 30 g, or two tablespoons. Liquid: none. When: at breakfast, as a snack, or at the end of a meal. Frequency: 1 to 2 servings a day at most. Duration: none, it is a food.

The step that changes the result: keep the jar between 12 and 20 °C, and serve it between 18 and 22 °C. This spread contains cocoa butter and shea, two fats that harden in the cold. Straight out of the fridge it is impossible to spread; at room temperature it is smooth. Stir it before use, as the texture is not uniform once it has been standing.

Beyond toast, it works into a yoghurt, a fromage blanc, a smoothie or a baking mix. The most coherent pairing remains one with a complex carbohydrate — wholemeal bread, protein pancakes, oats — which balances the profile of the meal.

Reseal tightly and use within four weeks of opening. And stick to one or two servings a day: this is not a rule for the sake of it, it is a matter of calories and polyols, which we come back to right now.

Who is this spread for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who wants to keep a chocolate treat while cutting sugars sharply, anyone looking for a little protein in an indulgent format, and anyone who prefers a spread that satisfies over a sugary product that leaves you empty.

It contains MILK, HAZELNUTS and SOYA. Traces of other NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS and GLUTEN are possible. The manufacturer does not recommend it for pregnant or breastfeeding women and rules it out in case of allergy to milk proteins. If you are on medical treatment, seek advice.

It is not for you if you tolerate polyols poorly. The manufacturer carries the regulatory wording: excessive consumption of maltitol may have a laxative effect. Start with half a serving to gauge your tolerance. If you are affected by irritable bowel syndrome, caution is frankly called for.

What you should not expect of it, and this is the most useful point on this page: it is not a weight-loss product. At 509 kcal per 100 g, it sits at the level of a conventional spread. Its value lies in replacing the sugar, not the calories. A 30 g serving weighed out on a spoon is reasonable; three spoonfuls taken “because it is protein” is 450 kcal. Nor is it a protein source in the sense that a shake is: 6 g per serving rounds out a day, it does not build one — for that, you need to look at the protein powders.

Protein spread or zero-sugar jam?

This is the real breakfast trade-off, and the two products do not play the same role at all. Best to say so plainly before choosing.

Zero-sugar jam delivers around 55 kcal per 100 g, roughly ten kilocalories per spoonful. It is the unbeatable choice if calories are your priority: you spread it without it weighing on your day in any way. It also delivers plenty of fibre. What it does not do: satisfy, and supply protein or fat.

The Protein Spread is the better choice when satiety counts. Its 11 g of fat and 6 g of protein per serving turn a slice of toast into a snack that holds — where toast with jam alone leaves you wanting an hour later. It is also markedly closer to the taste of a real spread, which is precisely what you are after when a chocolate craving arrives.

The compromise we recommend most often: zero-sugar jam for everyday toast, protein spread for the evening sweet craving or the post-session snack. And if your priority is protein per pound spent on a slice of toast, a plain peanut butter remains more effective, with a simpler fat profile.

Frequently asked questions

Is it lower in calories than a conventional spread?

Barely, and that has to be said. 509 kcal per 100 g is the level of an ordinary spread, with even a little more fat. The real gain is on the sugars: less than 2 g per 30 g serving, against the usual 15 to 17 g. It is a product with no added sugar, not a reduced-calorie product.

Why 35.9 g of carbohydrate for less than 2 g of sugars?

Because most of the carbohydrate comes from maltitol, a polyol used as a bulk sweetener. It counts within the carbohydrate without being a sugar. Unfortunately the manufacturer does not publish an “of which polyols” line, which would make this table immediately readable.

How much hazelnut does it contain?

13% in the Nutty Chocolate version, which is an honest content for this type of product. Hazelnuts come fourth on the list, after the maltitol, the vegetable oils and the whey protein concentrate. The White Chocolate version has a different composition.

Does maltitol cause digestive trouble?

It can, in quantity. The manufacturer carries the legal wording about a possible laxative effect in case of excessive consumption, and recommends starting with small amounts to gauge your tolerance. That is advice worth following: reactions vary enormously from one person to another, and a 30 g serving goes down far better than 60.

Can it be heated or cooked with?

Yes, it works into a cake batter and melts very nicely on hot pancakes. Just be aware that the cocoa butter and the shea make it very runny in the heat: do not count on it to hold as a topping on a hot dish, it will run.

How long does an opened jar keep?

Four weeks, resealing tightly after each use. Keep it between 12 and 20 °C, never in the fridge: the cold hardens the fats and makes the spread impossible to spread without leaving it to come back to temperature for a long while.

Is it suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

For vegetarians, yes: no meat-derived ingredient goes into the composition. For vegans, no — the whey protein concentrate and the skimmed milk powder rule it out. Nor is it suitable in case of allergy to milk proteins, hazelnuts or soya.

Where to buy the Rabeko Protein Spread?

The versions can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

This is the kind of product you buy on an impulse and sometimes regret once the jar has been finished too quickly. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we would rather state the 509 kcal per 100 g before the purchase than after: used well, at two weighed spoonfuls, this spread has every place in a well-managed day. The rest of the indulgence aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition.