1,625
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #4,186 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★★
Plant Power, Not So Vanilla After All!
Quality 5/5
Taste 4.5/5
How well it blends 4/5
Affordability 3/5
For starters, I did not receive this product free or discounted, I bought it. I decided to do this review because at the time, there were no other reviews on it. And about me, I'm hardly a fitness guru or expert on protein powders. I am however, a former Marine, recreational runner, who likes to workout, do yoga, swim etc. so fitness and protein powders are no stranger to me. I have always used whey proteins though, so many of my comparisons will be to whey.
Why I chose this protein? Well unless you live under a rock somewhere, I'm sure you've heard about all the nasty things that are in our food nowadays. That being, but not limited to: GMOs, growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and so on. So obviously because of this they can be in our supplements too. Here lately, I'm personally trying to watch what I put into my body especially GMOs. I've grown tired of most supplements having bad fillers and "mystery ingredients". I wanted something clean, with better transparency on its ingredients and with legitimate certifications to prove it. This protein is also very clear with its amino acid profile, it's not hidden like some brands do. So those are reasons why I decided to give this protein a chance over staying with whey.
About the protein itself, it's somewhat different from others I've used. That being it's not very pleasing visually or to smell. It kinda smells like playdough, with a slight hint of vanilla. It appears to look and behave a little different than whey protein. It clumps into tiny balls on top of itself some when you shake the container to unsettle and mix the powder. It fluffs up some too, just not quite as good as whey powder. The small clumps easily break with the slightest touch though, so don't let that deter you. It also has a slightly different texture than whey. When whey protein gets on something you can just wipe or brush it off most of the time. With this protein powder it leaves behind a fine residue, similar to something a talc or corn starch powder would do. With that said, it's kinda hard to brush off, you practically need to wash it off or wipe it up with something damp. So be warned, this product is more messy than your average whey powders. And you will quickly discover this when you dig for your measuring scooper.
As far as mixing and taste go, mixing it seemed no different to me than most whey powders. I used my blender bottle, same as I would with whey powder and I noticed no notable difference between the two powders. In fact it mixed very well, similar to a more higher end whey powder. The taste was surprising! Given the smell that is, which also got better once it was mixed. I mixed this with almond milk, same as I do with whey powders. And I've got to say, I was definitely impressed with the taste, it's quite delicious. It also seems like a taste that will grow on you, so I'm looking forward to that. The flavor was vanilla, in case you were wondering.
Money time, talking the dollar per grams of protein, which you can easily determine with any protein powder. In this case, one serving is 21g and 15g of that is protein and there are 38 servings. So we have 15x38 being 580 grams of total protein. Now divide that, by whatever you pay for the product and you have your ratio of protein per dollar. You will likely find a lower number on this product. Because let's face it, for the amount of protein you get here, this product is fairly expensive. I'm not a fan of the price, but sometimes in life you get what you pay for. So you have to ask yourself, is the extra money worth it, for your health and peace of mind? You decide.
Why I gave this product 5 stars? The quality! It has several certifications to verify how clean it is. That gives me peace of mind and confidence knowing I can trust the product. Not having to worry if it's potentially harmful through the use of cheap fillers and toxic ingredients. I also feel this protein is amongst the top of its class compared to other plant-based proteins. This product is also about 71% pure protein, which compared to most plant-based proteins is notably higher. Also and surprisingly, the price isn't too bad when you shop it against other plant-based proteins. Use the dollar per grams of protein ratio and see for yourself. And as I've already noted, the taste is pretty great and it mixes well too. You also get the added benefit of probiotics, antioxidants and a solid BCAA profile. So if you're looking for a healthier protein supplement, this may be the one for you. I'm personally making the switch to this plant protein over whey proteins and I couldn't be happier.
If I notice anything out of the ordinary with this product, good or bad I will do an update.
A warning: for those of you who are caffeine sensitive or simply just avoid having it in your diet. The chocolate flavor, does in fact contain caffeine, 7mg per serving.
January 2017 · Health and Household · verified purchase