If you think you’ve got granola all figured out, think again. This classic, crunchy snack with a laid back reputation takes on a bold new personality at Unruly Nature Granola, made in southeastern PA. Founder Kim Bernaus grew the company from her kitchen to wholesale production after a pandemic pivot, and still does all of the baking herself.
Kim Bernaus at Good Food Fest
We chatted with Bernaus about growing a business in a saturated market, redefining a time-honored snack and how she arrives at such ingenious flavors.
Not long ago, Bernaus had a career in education, serving as the director of a preschool for over 15 years. After the pandemic turned the educational world upside down, Bernaus decided it was time for a new chapter. She’d already been making granola casually with a friend when they realized, “Maybe we have something here.”
The two got to work on a business plan, one they knew had to stand out. “It’s a very crowded market,” says Bernaus. “We recognized that, if we’re going to make granola, we have to make something different. That’s where our flavors came from.”
The Unruly Nature Granola collection includes ten distinct flavors conjuring a variety of sumptuous, silly and cozy moods. Monkey Business is all play and no work with peanut butter granola, banana and chocolate chips while Touch of Old Fashioned is a bit more “grown up” with bourbon notes, hints of orange and cherry and a kick of cardamom. There’s also bright and velvety Tuscan Orange and Black Forest Bliss and the sweet-hot fan favorite Spicy Hot Chocolate, among others.
Bernaus says she crowd sourced her flavor ideas with friends and family to get them just right. Many spring from ingredients she enjoys at home, like tea. Cha-Cha Cha, made with Anjali’s Cup Chai Masala, and Campfire Crunch, which draws its smoky quality from Lapsang Souchong tea, were inspired by years of sipping. Unruly Nature’s flagship variety, The Everyday, is the same granola recipe Bernaus has made in her kitchen for years.
Cha-Cha Chai granola
Seasonally, Bernaus offers enticing flavors like Lemon Lavender Haze and, our favorite, Oh, Snap!, made with molasses, ginger and turmeric. All of the granola varieties are gluten free, another differentiator born from dietary needs in Bernaus’ household.
Part of carving a niche was learning how people enjoy granola. Bernaus says, “In our research, we realized that people were using cereal as a snack during COVID in greater numbers. We thought that, if we could make a granola that gives you the ability to snack on it, not just put it with yogurt, we could generate flavors based on snack appeal.”
Indeed, the granola holds its own as a grab-and-go, power-up snack, not just a topping. It’s chunky, for one thing, with large pieces you can grab and hold instead of a gravel-like consistency that runs through your fingers. It’s also bold and satisfying, with flavors that venture out of the sweet zone and into spicy, smoky and savory territory.
Unruly Nature Granola offers a 2 ounce snack-pack size bag, which Bernaus says is “perfect for taking on-the-go. Pack it in a lunch, take it on the trail, power a bike ride, fuel up at the beach or keep it in the car for a day of errands.”
The online shop offers suggested uses and pairings for each variety, and Bernaus shares some of her personal favorites. “I recently made grilled peaches with mascarpone and put the granola on top to add some depth of flavor and crunch,” she says. “The campfire crunch is really great on a salad or in soup as a crouton replacement, especially if you’re gluten free. There are a lot of baking uses, like adding to the top of banana bread. And the spicy hot chocolate on vanilla ice cream is amazing.”
Grilled peaches with blueberries, mascarpone cream, mint, The Everyday granola, and balsamic glaze
By following her instincts and remixing the familiar, Bernaus has landed on something extraordinary. “I’m not from the food world, so there’s been a lot of learning along the way,” she says. “It’s been surprising to see just how many people are looking for something that’s local, clean and doesn’t taste bland. I knew I liked those things, that my family and friends like those things, but it’s been amazing how well it’s been received.”
You can find Unruly Nature Granola products both online and in-person at farmers markets, cafes and grocers throughout eastern PA. Follow Unruly Nature Granola on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop!
- Feature photo: Leigh Green
- All other photos: Unruly Nature Granola
