I don’t typically reach for vegan protein powder, and it’s not because I dislike protein powder (I’ve tested over 40 whey protein powders in search of the best). I simply prefer the taste of whey. So when I was tasked with finding a slate of plant-based options that taste good (oh, the joys of being BA’s resident packaged food and supplements reviewer), I was skeptical. The ones I’d tried were usually gritty, with tasting notes ranging from “copper pipe” to “sawdust.”
Several years and dozens of tubs later, I’ve tasted my way through the category in the name of journalism and lived to tell the tale (though I’ll let you guess how much havoc the research wreaked on my gastrointestinal system). My initial assessment held up: most vegan protein powders are hard to get down. A few, though, surprised me. They go beyond tolerable into, dare I say, enjoyable, and they deliver a solid dose of protein with a good balance of essential amino acids.
Best unflavored vegan protein powder: Form Pureblend Protein
Best single-ingredient: NorCal Organic Premium Pea Protein Isolate
An all-in-one protein powder: Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
For an extra boost of fiber: Mikuna
The most affordable: Orgain Organic Protein
Best flavors: Be Amazing Vegan Protein
Cleanest tasting: Truvani
To make sure my palate wasn’t the only one vouching for them, I polled the BA staff for the tubs they keep in permanent rotation, whether they’re drinking them simply shaken with water or blended into a smoothie.
After testing 20 options, here are the vegan protein powders that won over a skeptic and earned a standing spot in our editors’ shakers.
New in this update: We tested the chocolate and vanilla vegan protein powders from Nobull and Thorne, neither of which we liked enough to include on this list. We also retested the chocolate and vanilla protein from OWYN and decided to remove it from our list. While we appreciated the inclusion of greens, we disliked the effect they had on the overall flavor. If you’re still thinking of trying OWYN, we’d recommend the chocolate over the vanilla.
Tester: Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager Why we
Tester: Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
Why we love it: Most protein powders contain at least an ingredient or two that wreak havoc on my digestive system, but Form’s Pureblend Protein, made with a mix of pea, brown rice, and pumpkin seed protein, manages to pack 15 grams of protein per serving without causing me an ounce of digestive distress. I tend to gravitate toward an unflavored protein powder, but Form goes the extra mile of omitting the gums, lecithin, thickeners, and artificial sweeteners you’d be surprised to find in so many protein products. It’s really, truly just three ingredients. Plus, it seamlessly mixes into my chia pudding, oatmeal, or smoothies without affecting the texture or taste.
What we’d leave: If an unflavored protein powder is what you’re after, you won’t find much to dislike here.
Tester: Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior cooking editor
Why we love it: NorCal Organic Pea Protein powder contains only pea protein isolate, sourced from USDA-certified organic yellow peas. Each crop is third-party tested for nutritional content, allergens, and heavy metals (test results are shared on its site). It’s a complete protein, a strong source of iron, and has an impressive amino acid profile for a vegan product—NorCal claims “4.8 grams of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and 2.18 grams of arginine per serving.”
Because it’s unflavored and unsweetened, NorCal Organic tastes rather neutral, perhaps slightly earthy, on its own. It’s a great option to blend into my morning smoothie because it doesn’t alter the taste at all. I’m personally sensitive to sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners (like sucralose), so I love having an option that doesn’t contain anything but protein. I use it mostly for smoothies, but I stirred some into overnight oats and hot oatmeal and both tasted great.
I’d recommend it for vegans/vegetarians, anyone with allergies or intolerances, and folks who prefer an unflavored, unsweetened option without fillers or additives. It’s an excellent single-ingredient option.
What we’d leave: As with all pea protein, NorCal Organic remains a bit gritty, even after blending. This is not a protein powder that will completely dissolve, so I’d recommend it only for shakes, smoothies, and oatmeal to disguise the texture. A single serving is two scoops, and the powder is quite finely milled, so it’s a bit messy to portion out.
Tester: Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior cooking editor
Why we love it: Aloha’s vanilla protein powder provides 18 g of complete protein per 2-scoop serving from a blend of pea, brown rice, pumpkin seed, and hemp seed protein. It notably contains agave inulin, giving each serving 5 g of fiber. It’s really finely milled and blends easily into smoothies and oatmeal without leaving a gritty or grainy texture behind. Plus, Aloha’s got a natural, real-tasting vanilla flavor from ground vanilla beans. I really enjoyed the mix of protein sources here, which helps round out the amino acid profile, but also provides significant sources of other micronutrients (e.g., pumpkin seed and pea proteins are high in iron, so you’ll get about 35% of the daily value per serving). The inclusion of MCT oil and a touch of added sugar also makes it a good option for consuming post-workout.
Aloha does mix into nut milk on its own pretty well (though I’d drink it within 20–30 minutes or it tends to thicken and needs a vigorous stir or shake to redistribute), but I prefer it in smoothies or oats. It tasted great in my standard blueberry-and-greens smoothie—though my drink was noticeably sweeter than usual.
I’d recommend this for someone seeking a stevia-and-sugar-alcohol-free protein powder who still wants a flavored and lightly sweetened option.
What we’d leave: It’s a matter of personal taste, but I find the powder a bit too sweet.
Despite several listed certifications (B Corp, Climate Neutral, Fair Trade, Non-GMO, USDA Organic, Vegan, etc.). there is no apparent third-party verification of Aloha protein powder’s nutritional content.
Best high-fiber protein powder: Mikuna Pure Chocho Protein
Best high-fiber protein powder: Mikuna Pure Chocho Protein Powder
Tester: Olivia Tarantino, senior shopping editor
Why we love it: Mikuna is the first vegan protein powder I’ve found that checks all my boxes: unflavored, unsweetened, and completely pea-protein free (which is key because pea protein makes me bloated and gassy). It’s made with chocho, a legume that’s a complete protein and naturally lectin-free, so it’s much easier on my stomach.
What I love most, though, is that it’s high in fiber—8 grams per serving (29% of your daily value!)—without any added ingredients. I struggle to get enough fiber some days, so having a protein powder that does double duty in my morning smoothie is a game changer. Chocho’s slightly nutty flavor also plays really well in smoothies, especially my go-to peanut butter and strawberry combo, and I love how easily it blends. No gritty texture or chalky finish, and it doesn’t use any thickening agents, like guar gum or xanthan gum, that you’d find in other protein powders. Just clean, simple plant-based protein.
What we’d leave: Honestly, there isn’t much to dislike about this protein powder. It solved the digestive issues I’d experienced with other vegan protein powders, it has an impressive amount of fiber and 20 grams of protein per serving, and the nutty flavor adds to recipes rather than muddying them. If I had to pick, I’d say the only negative is that it’s not the best as a straight-up water–and–protein powder shake—but I never drink it like that.
Tester: Alaina Chou and Amanda Shapiro, contributor
Why we love it: Orgain is one of the more affordable vegan proteins on the market. It is made from a protein blend of pea, brown rice, and chia and has 21 grams of protein per each 150-calorie serving. It’s got more calories and carbs than most other protein powders, making it a suitable pick for active people in need of some fuel post-workout. Orgain also has a surprisingly great flavor, even with water alone. It mixes up silky smooth and just thick enough, like a glass of vanilla soy milk, and it has an inoffensive flavor with no weird vegetal aftertaste that makes it drinkable mixed just with water or great in a smoothie. We also love that it’s available in single-serving packets, which are convenient for travel or taking on the go.
What we’d leave: This powder is sweetened with erythritol, a sugar alcohol that might upset some people’s stomach and has somewhat of an aftertaste.
Tester: Alaina Chou
Why we love it: If flavors like Brown Sugar Oatmeal and Double Blueberry Pancakes sound enticing to you, the vegan proteins from Be Amazing should be right up your alley. Each flavor features a mix of pea and pumpkin seed protein, plus a couple of grams of added apple and blueberry fiber. The Brown Sugar Oatmeal is my personal favorite—it tastes like an oatmeal cookie in the best way, and reminds me of the packets of instant oatmeal I ate as a kid. Feeling a bit less adventurous? The brand also makes chocolate and vanilla. One thing to note: The powders are sweetened with either sucralose or monk fruit, depending on the flavor, so be sure to check if you’re sensitive to either of the two.
What we’d leave: These powders are on the sweeter side, so they’re best reserved for true dessert fiends.
Tester: Kate Kassin Why we love it: Truvani
Tester: Kate Kassin
Why we love it: Truvani makes one of my go-to options for a snack bar that relies on protein from organic nuts like almonds and cashews rather than just dumping in a load of protein powder. That being said, the brand makes one of my favorite vegan protein powders (or collagen peptides, if you’re into that too). It’s made with only three ingredients—organic pea protein, organic pumpkin seed, and organic chia seed protein—and boasts 20 grams of protein per scoop. I opt for the unflavored and unsweetened variety, but if you prefer one with flavor, Truvani does use high-quality ingredients like organic vanilla powder and organic alkalized cocoa rather than mysterious, undisclosed natural flavors.
What we’d leave: The flavored powders are sweetened with monk fruit, which has an aftertaste that some may not love.
To test plant-based protein powders, we drank a lot of protein shakes. We tested the powders mixed into water or plant-based milk alone to see how well they dissolved, and we made smoothies to test how well they blended with other ingredients. Many of the protein powders on this list are personal favorites of our staffers or contributors—products they’ve been using regularly for extended periods of time.
It feels like there are as many vegan protein powders on the market these days as there are stars in the sky, and ingredient lists can vary widely brand to brand. To help steer us in the right direction and give us some insight into what vegan protein powders are and why they’re worthwhile, we spoke with registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist Jackie Topol, MS, RD, CDN.
Avoid certain artificial sweeteners: “I try to select protein powders that don’t have any artificial sweeteners, and I also typically don’t recommend protein powders that have stevia in them—unless I’ve tasted it myself and I know that they taste good,” Topol says. Sugar alcohols in particular (like erythritol and xylitol) are one class of artificial sweetener that’s quite common in protein powders, and Topol warns that they can cause digestive issues like bloating and gas in some people.
Know your own sensitivities: Of course, all of this will vary person to person. Having a sense of which sweeteners your body or taste buds have aversions to will help guide you as you make your selection. And if you try a protein powder and notice some adverse effects, it’s helpful to know which ingredients might be the cause.
Don’t stress about bonus ingredients: Besides a protein source and sweetener, many powders also include a number of additional ingredients boasting their own benefits. “It’s what I call bonus ingredients,” Topol says. “Those might be some fruit or vegetable powders, probiotics, or digestive enzymes. Those are all certainly beneficial, but not necessarily a must-have.”
Other vegan protein powders I tested
Momentous 100% Plant Protein Powder: Unlike a straight-up
Momentous 100% Plant Protein Powder: Unlike a straight-up vanilla protein powder, this pea- and rice-protein powder also has ingredients like cinnamon bark powder, ginger root powder, and anise seed powder. Those temper the cloying, saccharine vanilla flavor that goes hand in hand with most vanilla-flavored protein powders, taming it to a gentle tickle of sweetness.
Sakara Protein + Greens Super Powder: This is a powder best reserved for mixing into smoothies and the like—despite a small amount of coconut sugar and stevia in the mix, it was one of the more bitter powders of the bunch. When mixed with just water, it tastes like a straight-up greens powder, which is to say, not great.
Thorne Plant Protein: While Thorne makes my all-time favorite whey protein powder, I didn’t love the brand’s plant-based version. It uses monk fruit as a sweetener, which lent an unpleasant aftertaste.
OWYN Protein Powder: The vanilla protein powder from OWYN was very sweet, with a definite aftertaste and tongue-coating texture I didn’t care for. I liked the chocolate version better—it had a rich flavor, and I appreciated the hint of salt. These protein powders both contain a greens blend, and you can definitely taste it (especially if mixing the powders with only water).
Nobull Plant Protein: The vegan protein powders from Nobull were disappointing. The vanilla was very viscous, with a strange flavor I couldn’t put my finger on. The chocolate lacked that rich chocolate flavor I was looking for.
Ghost Vegan Protein (Chocolate Chip Cookie): If you want your protein shake to taste like dessert, you might like Ghost’s chocolate chip cookie-flavored vegan protein. It’s quite thick even when shaken with water, and has a malted milkshake vibe I appreciated. I did pick up a bit of a bitter aftertaste, but it wasn’t intolerable.
Quince Organic Plant Protein: Both the chocolate and vanilla plant protein powders from Quince were bitter, grainy, and thin.
Ora Vegan Protein Powder: Ora’s chocolate vegan protein powder had notes of “copper pipe,” according to a colleague who tasted alongside me, and I unfortunately have to agree.
Read about the best whey protein powders
Shop our editors’ favorite high-protein snacks and protein bars
In need of some plant-based protein recipe ideas? Give this episode of Dinner SOS a listen.
Source: www.bonappetit.com
