Plant-Based Protein Taste Test: The Scoop on Vegan Protein Powder

Each day our bodies need macro and micronutrients to carry out their daily activities. Protein, along with carbohydrates and fat, are important macronutrients, meaning the body needs large amounts of them to thrive. Our hair and nails are made up mostly of protein and our body requires it for chemical reactions. It’s a building block for muscles (that’s why it’s a body builders food of choice) as well as bones, cartilage, blood, and skin!

Many of us don’t consume enough dietary protein, especially when we don’t eat meat, and supplement our intake through plant-protein powders. We tried five of the highest rated vegan options out there and we’re giving you the scoop on which ones are a must and which ones were a bust.

Vega™ Protein Smoothie
Nutrition: 5/5 | Taste: 4/5:

This is one of my favorites! The texture is great and from a nutritional standpoint, it’s hard to beat. It has 15 grams of complete protein, which means it contains all the essential amino acids. Each scoop also has two servings of veggies and it’s gluten, dairy, and soy free with no sugar added. It doesn’t really have a strong taste, which I preferred, because I could easily add it to my favorite cinnamon cashew butter workout smoothie without changing the flavor.

Clean Program Essentials Shake
Nutrition 3/5 | Taste 5/5

Dr. Junger launched the Clean Program a few years ago to much success. At the core of the 21-Day Cleanse is the Essentials Shake, which I’ve taken to using on a daily basis. It’s gluten, dairy, and soy free and sweetened only with Stevia. It has 12 grams of protein per serving, a little lighter on the protein than its counterparts, derived from brown rice, making it an incomplete protein. The flavor and texture of this protein was great and I found myself even mixing it with cashew butter and eating it like it was Nutella.

Perfect Fit™ Protein
Nutrition 4/4 | Taste: 4/4

I love the Tone It Up® girls and their mission to make the world healthier! Their Perfect Fit™ Protein powder is another good option to stealthily make your morning smoothies even healthier. Their powder also packs a 15 grams per serving punch. Like the others it is gluten, dairy, and soy free with no added sugar. The non-GMO label also scored some major points with me. However, the main source of protein is brown rice, which, like the Clean Essentials Shake, makes it an incomplete protein. I like the vanilla flavor, but I also ordered the special edition cinnamon role flavor and was not a fan.

Sun Warrior Warrior Blend
Nutrition 5/5 | Taste: 3/5

This vegan protein powder is allergen and GMO free like the other contenders. It has a 19 grams of complete protein and seemed to leave me fuller longer than the others did. The taste was palatable, but not my favorite so I tried to mask it with fruit. It went down easiest with a flavorful smoothie like the Sweet Peach Smoothie.

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70
Nutrition: 5/5 | Taste: 3/5

It seems like hemp is the talk of the town lately! While it’s often making headlines, it’s also an excellent source of protein. This particular brand boasts 20 grams of protein and 3.4 grams of omega 3 and 6! It also contains all the essential amino acids and has been hailed a superfood. Though it’s an excellent vegan source of protein, the taste was quite earthy and the texture a bit grainy. It blends well with a green smoothie like our Holiday Detox Smoothie.

Do you have a favorite protein powder? Let us know in the comments below!