All About Aussie Bites

Somewhere along the cookie/muffin spectrum, the Aussie Bite sits in a category all of its own. With origins in granola territory and health bar characteristics, this little morsel dares to go where others snacks won’t—that coveted place between healthy and delicious.

Born of Best Express Foods owner Jesus Mendoza’s passion for baking, the Aussie Bite journey dates back to the early 2000’s. Although the company dabbled in the baked goods industry since 1996, Mr. Mendoza found success with the chip and tortilla line, Las Fortunitas—most notably the five-pound chip bags that have been a staple in northern California Costco Wholesale Warehouses for years. But serendipity struck in the form of access to better baking equipment; Mr. Mendoza took the opportunity to dive back into his love of baking and began developing the first batch of Aussie Bites. Having always been a fan of the Aznac, a traditional biscuit with Australian roots, he set out to make a healthier alternative.

Fiber and omega-3 rich flax seeds were added for their many health benefits—fiber is known for aiding digestion and omega-3 is touted as a remedy for everything from depression to high cholesterol. Dried apricots were a high vitamin, low glycemic index solution for added sweetness, meanwhile coconut was added as a source of healthy saturated fats.

The first Aussie Bites label

Updated label design and recipe — now organic!

When the Aussie Bite first became available, primarily at Costco Wholesale Warehouses, there really wasn’t anything like it. It filled a cookie/muffin hybrid shaped hole in a snack market saturated by crunchy granola bars and sugary pastries. While it found a happy home in that void of the snack market, Best Express Foods looked to fill the affordable healthy snack market as well. Too many high-priced snacks crammed the shelves of specialty food stores, the sort of places the average family looking for a bargain were unlikely to visit. This is why it was decided that the Aussie Bite be simply packaged and moderately priced; consumers needn’t inherit the cost of marketing and advertising to enjoy a healthy snack. So the Aussie Bite became the true bang for the buck and the rest is history.

So what does an Aussie Bite taste like? The current iteration of the Aussie Bite, which is now certified organic and available here, is like the better looking sibling of an oatmeal muffin and the winner of a health bar pageant. It crumbles by design at first bite, packs an oats and honey flavored punch, and is then rounded out by crunchy flax seeds and delicious dried fruit. The more you eat, the more you discover flavor-wise!

Ready to experience? Pick up a pack and tell us what you think!

Peace, Love, and Aussie Bites,

— Best Express Staff

Looking for Aussie Bites near you? Visit our Where to Find page here!