Road test: 5 vegan protein products to fuel you
The most obvious variable among the protein powders we tried was taste: some of them you wouldn’t want to drink on their own
1. Sunfood Super Food Raw Organic Chocolate Protein Powder
Protein type: brown rice
Contains: 112 calories, 17 grams protein, one gram fat per 28-gram scoop
My hands-down favourite protein drink and the first I’ve tried that tastes good on its own. Looking at the ingredients it makes sense: protein, a bit of sweetener, and antioxidant boosting cacao. Light, flavourful and tasty.
2. Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein Vanilla
Protein type: pea and hemp seed
Contains: 100 calories, 19 grams protein, two grams fat per 25-gram scoop
A lighter protein mix with a pleasing vanilla flavour, but with a complicated woody, earthy aftertaste. I like using this protein in cooking and in protein shakes for its smooth consistency and lightness, but have trouble drinking it on its own.
3. Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion
Protein type: sprouted quinoa, pumpkin seed, brown rice protein and hemp
Contains: 110 calories, 16.3 grams protein, two grams fat per 33-gram scoop
Packs a serious nutritional punch with a range of proteins, greens and superfoods and even five billion probiotics, but it tastes like a bunch of ingredients have been thrown together that don’t match.
4. Vega Sport Performance Protein in Berry
Protein-type: pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed and alfalfa
Contains: 127 calories, 25 grams protein, 0.2 grams fat per 34-gram scoop
This had the most protein per scoop from a range of sources and also came in an unusual flavour – berry – so I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations, with a strange taste and smell. OK if used in a smoothie, but on its own it was a bit hard to take.
5. NuZest Lean Clean protein in Rich Chocolate
Protein type: pea
Contains: 93 calories, 20 grams protein, 0.49 grams fat per 25-gram scoop
This product has a much more ‘fresh’ and ‘planty’ taste compared to many of the sickly sweet and artificially flavoured whey proteins that I have tried in the past. I also like that it only contains a few ingredients. Definitely one of my favourites.