Energy compotes, energy purées, energy pouches, energy fruit pulps... there are several names for this category of sports nutrition products, created by Mulebar in 2016 and subsequently adopted by several brands. That is the price of success and proof that we were right about the value of such products. If you are wondering what they are, what they are used for, when to consume them, and what type of sporting activity they are suitable for, read this article and discover our Mulebar sports energy compotes.
What is an energy compote?
It is a fairly liquid mixture of blended fruit and/or vegetables and carbohydrates, packaged in a small, resealable soft pouch. Its texture is reminiscent of jam or a liquid purée.
It is a practical and quick way to replenish your energy during physical activity. This type of product is therefore aimed at athletes. You certainly don't consume it as an afternoon snack like a cereal bar!
What is the difference between compotes and energy gels?
How should sports energy compotes be used?
A compote is generally consumed straight from the pouch, but some, such as the fairly liquid Mulebar varieties, can also be diluted in water to make a drink. During fairly intense activity, the recommended frequency for consuming a vegan energy compote for sport is one pouch per hour. Ideally, consume it in 3 or 4 servings rather than all at once.
The human body needs sugar (glycogen) to power the muscles, but it does not respond well to fluctuations (the “yo-yo” effect). That is why consuming it in small portions is recommended during exercise to maintain stable blood sugar levels. One sip every 15 minutes, or one pouch per hour, is a good frequency. If the pace is very fast, you will need to consume more. You should also always drink water immediately afterward to rinse the sugar from your mouth and aid digestion.
You should never wait until you feel your energy dropping before refueling. It will be too late! Consuming too much sugar when the body is running low on energy can even trigger reactive hypoglycemia.
Reactive hypoglycemia generally occurs after consuming too much sugar. In response to this hyperglycemia, the pancreas secretes a large amount of insulin (a blood-sugar-lowering hormone that facilitates glucose storage in muscle cells) to lower the sugar level, but sometimes too drastically.
Every athlete has experienced this problem at least once in their life, usually during a competition that they ended up missing because of it! Afraid of running out of energy, they consume too much. It must also be acknowledged that some brands encourage consumption in their recommendations. The ideal approach is therefore to plan your race nutrition during the training phase, in the weeks leading up to the competition.
Which sports are energy compotes intended for?
Generally speaking, these are endurance sports or sports involving phases of very intense effort. The best examples are road cycling, triathlon, and cross-country mountain biking, which are practiced for hours but punctuated by climbs before which it is advisable to have a little pick-me-up... quite literally! Marathon and half-marathon runners are also major consumers, especially during the second half of the race, when their legs become heavier and chewing solid food is incompatible with breathing. Finally, trail runners and ultra-trail runners round out the list of athletes who are very fond of energy compotes.
Team-sport participants (soccer, handball, volleyball, rugby, basketball, etc.) are also increasingly consuming them. A compote is a great boost at halftime to get back into the game at full strength.
We also have many hikers among our loyal customers. They are not seeking performance but safety. It is always a good idea to have a source of energy in your backpack in case hunger strikes. The pouches are highly durable, so they won't be damaged and can be kept for months.
How long does it take to feel the effects of an energy compote?
While a cereal energy bar takes about twenty minutes to start being digested, a very fluid compote or energy purée enters the bloodstream within 5 minutes of consumption, like an energy gel but more nourishing and fruitier.
During long activities, it is advisable to alternate between solid and liquid foods, except during fast-paced running, when chewing is not possible.
Discover our 6 original Mulebar recipes
Enjoying yourself is the most important thing when you exercise, because when your body lets you down, your mind takes over to get you to the finish line.
Just as with energy bars, Mulebar was a pioneer in the energy compote market. We developed original recipes that, for the first time, combined fruit and vegetables to create new flavors you never get tired of. The reviews are unanimous!
The low number of ingredients in our recipes, along with the absence of gluten, preservatives, artificial colorants, and other synthetic flavorings, makes our energy compotes easy to digest with no risk of stomach problems. Of course—they're 100% natural!
We use brown rice syrup as an energy base because this sugar contains no fructose, the worst of all sugars and one to avoid as much as possible. In fact, fructose is not processed by all the cells in the human body, but only by the liver, which converts it into fat.
- Apricot purée - organic and vegan
- Banana purée - organic and vegan
- Pineapple and coconut purée - vegan
- Orange, carrot and lemon purée - vegan
- Sweet potato, orange and carrot purée - vegan
- Strawberry, redcurrant and beetroot purée - vegan
- Chestnut purée - vegan
All our recipes are gluten-free. Mulebar energy fruit purées are packaged in 65 g pouches with a resealable spout, called a Doypack. This highly resistant packaging is unlikely to burst in your bag or if dropped. It also provides a 24-month best-before period without affecting the quality of the mixture it contains.
At €2.80 per pouch, they are positioned around the market average.
Where are Mulebar energy fruit purées made?
It was in the Ardèche region that we found our partner to source the various ingredients and package our purées. As you will see in this film showing the production of our purées, everything is automated except for the labels, which are applied by hand, and the boxing.
Where do our ingredients come from?
- Organic apricot - France
- Organic banana - Ecuador
- Pineapple - Philippines
- Coconut - Singapore, Indonesia
- Strawberry - Poland, Morocco, Turkey
- Redcurrant - Poland, Denmark
- Beetroot - France
- Orange - Spain
- Carrot - France
- Lemon - Spain
- Sweet potato - France, Spain
- Chestnut - France, Poland
Try our Mulebar energy fruit purées—you definitely won't be disappointed. Just take a look at our customers' reviews on forums or on our website. If you don't participate in sports where energy fruit purées can be useful, take a look at our hydration drinks, Mulebar energy bars, and protein bars.
