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Hail Merry—“Raw, Vegan, and Gluten-Free”—Review and Giveaway

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UPDATE:  This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who took the time to comment! Congratulations to the following winners! (I will be contacting each of you via email.)

~ Vegyogini(Hugger Food) “I’d love to try the Orange Cranberry Granola! Thanks for the giveaway!”

~ Rita:  “I hope these products come to my area. I want to try them all but if I could have only one, those coconut macaroons have called me by name.”

~ Beverly:  “I couldnt decide between the choco macaroons or pecans…yum!”

Do you know about Hail Merry foods? Oh my goodness, you’re in for some surprisingly wonderful treats if you don’t. Their products are fabulous! Hail Merry’s products are labeled raw, vegan, and gluten free. These products are certified gluten free to less than 10 parts per million (ppm) by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Although labeled raw, Hail Merry states on its website and individual packaging that its foods are not 100% raw. You can read more on that subject and the nutritional benefits of eating Hail Merry foods in their brochure, but here are some key points from Hail Merry:

“We don’t use heated or processed oils, synthetic vitamins, soy fillers or stimulants, which flood the so-called nutritional performance snacks found on the market today. Hail Merry Foods are made from 100% unadulterated ingredients.”

Hail Merry further states, “We believe in the healing power of certain plant-based oils in their raw state. Raw nuts and cold pressed coconut oil contain healthy fats proven to improve our cholesterol profile, increase metabolism, reduce inflammation and provide an excellent source of fuel for our body. Another added benefit of these dietary oils is more radiant skin and hair.”

Susan O’Brien is the raw food chef behind Hail Merry and is now in partnership with two other ladies who make up this women-owned business. You can read how Hail Merry was “born” here and here. See Susan talk about “no more gluten-free junk food” (including her thoughts on bars) in this video below.

So let’s get to the specifics, shall we?

Son sampled the Blonde Macaroons, which he proceeded to call “coconut balls” and lapsed into “Valley Girl-speak” when he proclaimed “they are the best stuff I’ve had in like forever.” I sampled them, too, and agree … they are delicious.

I also sampled the Chocolate Macaroons. These treats were amazing. “Hand made with organic shredded coconut, dark cocoa, organic expeller pressed coconut oil, pure maple syrup, organic Mexican vanilla and sea salt.” Oh, they are so, so very good!

Son also loved the Orange Cranberry Grawnola. He liked the Lemon Agave Grawnola, too, but far preferred the Orange Cranberry Grawnola. This granola includes: “almonds, *organic maple syrup, organic buckwheat groats, orange juice, organic apples, raw pecans, organic cranberries (evaporated cane juice), organic raw sunflower seeds, raw walnuts, raw Madagascar bourbon vanilla, organic flax seeds, cinnamon, organic rice bran solubles, sea salt.” I completely understood his preference for the Orange Cranberry Grawnola flavor because although I’m a fan of lemon in many foods and recipes, granola is not usually one of them. Plus, Hail Merry’s orange-infused products are simply divine.

Why do I say that? Well, Hail Merry also sent plenty of its Orange Rosemary Pecans (1.75 ounce packets) for my last support group meeting. To say that I was extremely skeptical that I’d like this snack was an understatement. But what a surprisingly delightful flavor combination the orange and rosemary turned out to be with the pecans (which had been soaked and dehydrated). This snack was also very satisfying. I didn’t have the urge to open another package when I had finished the packet. I also added some of the Orange Rosemary Pecans to my new Applesauce Muffin recipe that I’ll be sharing in my upcoming March Muffin Madness event. And let me just say that those pecans added exactly the right touch to the recipe. Nice little giving bites of orange and rosemary! The Orange Rosemary Pecans were enjoyed by all who tried them. They were one of the items that did “their job” to keep folks pleasantly satisfied while we were waiting for all the pizzas to be ready.

I also thought the Vanilla Maple Almonds were lovely sweet treats that were not overly sweet. The almonds have been soaked and dehydrated. Okay, I admit it … with that treat, I was actually a little sad when that snack bag was empty and I found out that it was the only one of its kind in the products sent me for review. I might have actually tilted the bag to my mouth to get every little bite of goodness.

Note that I did not get to try all of Hail Merry’s products. I didn’t get to try the Salt N Pepper Sunflower seeds or Chimayo Chili Pecans. And I didn’t get to try Hail Merry’s most praised products, its Merry Miracle Tarts. Voted Best New Vegan Product 2011 in Food Expo West, these beautiful tarts are pretty pricey, but like all the Hail Merry products they are made of very high quality ingredients. In addition, these tarts are coconut oil based and require refrigeration at all times. So overnight shipping is included in the price. The Merry Miracle Tarts come in several different flavors: Chocolate, Chocolate Almond Butter, Chocolate-Mint, Meyer Lemon, and Persian Lime.

The important part … Hail Merry is giving three gfe readers The Assortment 4-Pack, which includes one 3.5-ounce bag of each of the following:  Chocolate Macaroons, Blonde Macaroons, Orange Cranberry Grawnola, and Lemon Agave Grawnola. Plus, one 1.75-ounce bag of the Vanilla Maple Almonds is also included in the giveaway prize package. Each winner’s gift package is over $25 in value.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment stating which product sounds most appealing to you. (Note that additional comments will not be eligible entries.) The giveaway ends Tuesday, March 27, at midnight Eastern.

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Comments

  2. The blonde macaroons sound so delish. My Mom used to make homemade macaroons, so they are definately a comfort food for me.

    Reply

  5. Hands down the blonde macaroons! I am going to have to look for Hail Merry products near me. They all sound yummy, and just right to keep in my bag for snacks on the go. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Would love the macaroons, both flavors! The nuts sound fab and definitely the grawnola as well! Excited to know about these products 😉

    Reply

  13. Those chocolate macaroons sound absolutely delicious!! I am such a sucker for chocolate. Although, I have to say, the vanilla maple almonds sound pretty good too. 🙂

    Reply

  16. The Grawnola sounds tasty to me – I love adding granola to my yogurt. Or the almonds, which are one of my favorite, easy, on-the-go snacks.

    Reply

  17. I want to try the Merry Miracle Tarts!! The Chocolate, Chocolate Almond Butter, and Chocolate-Mint all sound amazing!:)

    Reply

  18. I don’t think we have these here in Canada yet, but boy, do they sound amazing! Those pecans in particular. . . so different! And how great of them to send enough for your whole support group. 🙂 I’d love to try these!

    Reply

  23. Oh gosh, I would love to try anything, it all sounds amazingly good! But if I had to choose only one it would be the chocolate macaroons, those look soooo good!! 🙂
    Ana

    Reply

  24. The chocolate macaroons sound divine!! I am a sucker for anything chocolate and coconut related.

    Reply

  26. I am a huge fan of their tarts but haven’t tried any of their other products. Those chocolate macaroons sound amazing though!

    Reply

  28. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hail Merry stuff. And love that she’s from Dallas. 😉 I wish you would have been able to sample their tarts. They are SWOON-worthy for sure. Those macaroons are delightful too. And their grawnola. And their nuts. Okay I love all of their stuff. Can you tell?

    Reply

  41. They contain rice, so not for me. I was hoping there might be one more source for those of us that must avoid all grains and legumes. Buckwheat, Quinoa, Amaranth aren’t reaction inducing so it was good to see Buckwheat.

    I like Laughing Giraffe Raw snacks that are truly raw and completely grain, legume free.

    Reply

  45. Ohhh Shirley! This is a giveaway we can really sink our teeth into. 😉

    I had the pleasure of enjoying both the regular and the chocolate macaroons on my last trip to Houston, TX. They do not have Hail Mary in any of our local stores, so I have yet to venture past that. Undoubtedly the orange cranberry granola is just as delicious as it sounds.

    What a great giveaway!

    Reply

  47. As a newbie with celiac disease, a little bit of chocolate sounds grand right now, so Chocolate Macaroons it is!

    Reply

  49. Oh my gosh! The chocolate macaroon sounds wonderful!
    I’ve tried the coconut oil tarts, they are unbelievably good!

    Reply

  54. Macaroons sound wonderful and I’d like to try the grawnola as well. I haven’t tried anything but their lemon and chocolate tarts. The chocolate tarts are probably the most decadent thing I’ve eaten in ten years. Triple love them so if the macaroons and grawnola are as good as the tarts, this is a phenomenal giveaway.

    Reply

  58. The chocolate macaroons sound divine. So did almost every product you mentioned. I want to try them all.!

    Reply

  66. The coconut macaroons and the vanilla almonds sound irresistable to me! Orange and rosemary with nuts? I am willing to try! It all sounds yummy to be honest.

    Reply

  67. I’ve had the miracle tart before and it was fabulous!! I’d love to try the chocolate macaroon. Thank you for this giveaway. 🙂

    Reply

  75. Blond Macaroons!!! Anything with coconut!!! Too bad the Orange Rosemary Pecans are not included in the giveaway!! They sound intriguing…. And dare I say, divine????

    Reply

  79. I hope these products come to my area. I want to try them all but if I could have only one, those coconut macaroons have called me by name.

    Reply

  81. I’d like to try the Orange Cranberry Grawnola. I made some GF orange-cranberry muffins from a GF recipe I got and they didn’t come out like I hoped they would. Looking forward to tasting what they should have tasted like (or close to it!).

    Reply

  88. Love Hail Merry. I’ve been wanting to try the cranberry granola but they haven’t had it in my store. Also the tartlets are to die for. Yum.

    Reply

  89. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hail Merry… that was really cool to see the video of the founder!! She inspires me! She took the words right out of my mouth and I feel so passionate about the things she talked aobut. I have already tried the macaroons and the chocolate macaroons and I have NEVER had a GF treat that is store bought that compares! There is no other treat I would have GF, healthy or otherwise! I look forward to trying some of her tarts!! I just wish there were a whole foods near my home. Maybe they can consider selling in Sprouts farmers markets? I believe Sprouts/Henry’s and Sunflower markets are all owned by the same company and they are more accessible to me and I would think many more people.

    Reply

  93. Thanks so much!!! I can’t wait to try them! When I can find something that is convenient, healthy, gluten free and vegan it’s pretty exciting!!!!!

    Reply

  94. I can’t believe it! I was one of the giveaway winners. This has never happened to me before. I will camp by the mailbox in a couple of days. I can’t wait to try this product. Just in time for Easter too!

    Rita

    Reply

  96. Hello! I’ve enjoyed all of my Hail Merry treats! My favorite were the macaroons, enjoyed the day they arrived. I’m not crazy about granola, so took my time sampling it. It was good, to my surprise. My favorite was the orange cranberry…it had a nice spice flavor (like ginger and cinnamon maybe.) My friend’s birthday seemed like an appropriate occasion for the chocolate macaroons. They are chocolatey thru and thru. It was like almost like eating a truffle…mmmm.
    Thanks again Shirley and Hail Merry!!!

    Reply

  97. I guess you haven’t tried Emmy’s Organics raw vegan gluten-free products – They are better than Hail Merry and sustainably packaged in compostable packages, unlike HM which are packaged in non biodegradable plastic. They have a line of gf,raw,vegan products . They are my very favorite treats and they are made with love and integrity. http://www.emmysorganics.com

    Reply

  98. My favorite is the Lemon Thyme Pecans! No one mentions these, but they are so yummy that I could not stop and ate the entire bag (100g)in one day!

    Reply

    • David–I think it would be very easy to eat the whole bag in one day. Uh … I’ve done it. 😉 Their flavor combinations are surprising, but totally irresistible! Thanks for sharing your favorite. 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply

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