The 8 Best Tasting Vegan Protein Powders You’ll Find In 2022
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If you’re vegan, and especially if you’re also into fitness, you’ve probably heard this question over and over: if you’re vegan, where do you get your protein?
While stocking up on nut butters and tempeh will help with the basics, fitness and workout enthusiasts will need more than that to keep everything balanced. That’s where the vegan protein powders come in.
But if this is something you’ll be consuming regularly, you’ll want a powder that won’t make you cringe in disgust every time you drink it.
Here’s our list of the best tasting vegan protein powders, as tested and ranked by our team.
The 8 Best Tasting Vegan Protein Powders (100% Plant Based)
We’re about to dive into the best tasting vegan protein powders, giving you all the details on the taste and the quality you can expect.
The options we’ll show you today were selected after a long and intense search. We’ve looked high and low, going through many different products.
We’re not going to lie; a lot of the products we’ve tried throughout our testing process tasted terrible.
We know taste is subjective, but we don’t think you’ll be missing anything from the products that didn’t make our list.
With the ones that we chose here, though, you’ll be good to go. Let’s start with our favorite, most popular, best tasting vegan protein powder.
1. Huge Vegan Protein
After a lengthy process, we were able to single out what we firmly believe is the best tasting vegan protein powder currently available. We’re talking about Huge Vegan Protein by Huge Supplements.
We’re not exaggerating when we say this product has it all. It has excellent macros, with each scoop packing about 20 grams of protein and around 100 calories.
Huge Vegan Protein is made out of multiple vegan protein sources: fava beans, mung beans, brown rice, and peas. This means you’re getting a complete amino acid profile – something you won’t see in many products.
Plus, Huge Vegan Protein mixes easily, unlike other products out there. Throw it in a shaker bottle and mix it with some almond milk or water, and you’ll get a smooth consistency.
But the best part about this product is the flavor. There’s a reason we crowned this product as the best tasting vegan protein powder, and that’s because it absolutely slaps.
Right now, you can get it in the following flavors:
- Marshmallow Madness
- Cinnamon Crunch
- Cookies and Cream
- Birthday Cake
- Graham Cracker
We weren’t ready for how tasty the Marshmallow Madness flavor was, though that’s not to say that any of these unique flavors underperformed. Cinnamon Crunch was a contender for our favorite too.
We’re not the only ones praising Huge Vegan Protein; there are hundreds of positive reviews. Notably, most of these reviews mention the stellar taste of this vegan protein.
This product is available for $39.95, with each container containing 25 servings. That’s a very acceptable price. In return, you’re getting a high-quality, delicious, and healthy vegan protein powder.
You can find it on the official Huge Supplements website – click here to visit the product page.
2. Transparent Labs Organic Vegan
Transparent Labs offering of Organic Vegan protein powder contains a formula of organic pea protein isolate, along with a hearty dosage of rice protein. It packs a punch with 24 grams of 100% plant based protein per serving.
How’s it taste, though? Organic Vegan doesn’t use any artificial sweeteners or colors, but that doesn’t mean it’s skimping on the flavor.
Organic Vegan comes in at #2 on our list of the best tasting vegan protein powders because the flavor really hits, it’s not overwhelming or underwhelming, and always goes down pretty easily. We didn’t love it quite as much as we did Huge Vegan Protein, but it was a solid second place.
“Organic” isn’t just a catchy tagline, here; this vegan protein supplement has a complete amino acid profile, and creates a biocompatible blend of rice and pea protein. This supplement is non GMO, soy free, and free of artificial preservatives.
One complaint we had is that it can run a little on the sweeter side – a problem for some, but not for others.
3. Naked Pea Protein
Naked Pea Protein slides in at number three on our list of the best tasting vegan protein powders. It only has three ingredients: yellow pea protein, raw cacao, and organic coconut sugar.
Just like with Organic, this blend is free from artificial sweeteners and colors, and is GMO free. It’s got a commitment to sustainability, too: all of Naked Pea Protein’s raw yellow peas are grown on environmentally friendly farms in the USA and Canada.
It packs in 25g of protein per serving, which is a pretty hefty dosage that is sure to keep you going strong.
The amino acids here combine well with whey protein and leucine – that’s important for muscle growth and maintenance for those who live in the intersection between fitness and veganism.
The vanilla flavor of this supplement is definitely the best, and it’s easily digestible to boot.
(If you’d prefer, there’s also a flavorless version that’s great for an addition to pasta sauces, smoothies, and your other favorite vegan meals.)
4. Orgain Organic Protein
Pumpkin spice fans rejoice (and pumpkin spice haters look away,) Orgain Organic Protein has a fall appropriate pumpkin spice flavor that’s pretty tasty, too. At 21g of plant-based protein, this supplement doesn’t skimp on flavor.
If pumpkin spice isn’t your style, Orgain is breaking the mold of protein supplement flavors. There’s the classic vanilla, chocolate, and coconut, but there’s also chai latte, peppermint hot cooca, cookies and cream, strawberries and cream, sea salt caramel, horchata, and more. The vanilla flavor has 54,000 reviews on Amazon, and an average rating of four and a half stars.
While the flavors are awesome, it does come up a little bit gritty if you’re not extremely thorough about mixing it. Make sure you take the time to really get in there and blend it before digging in.
It’s easy on the stomach, and fairly inexpensive at $20.42 for two pounds.
5. Gold Standard 100% Plant Protein
Gold Standard touts itself as a vegan protein powder that supports muscle health and recovery, while packing in full amino acids. It’s gluten free and vegan, and banned substance tested to keep your protein clean.
The taste is great, and it mixes well into iced coffee or smoothies. We loved that it didn’t have that ‘protein powder’ aftertaste. It also is not super filling, which will keep away a feeling of bloating that never makes for the best workouts.
Then again, that means it’s not the most effective meal replacement if that’s what you’d like to use it as. (In that case, just mix it into a meal that will do more of the heavy lifting in terms of filling you up, like oatmeal or a smoothie.)
If you’re diabetic, Gold Standard is also an excellent option, as it’s free from any of the components in some protein powders that are difficult for the kidneys to process.
Our biggest gripe? Don’t mix it in with hot liquids. Something about the chemistry of this vegan protein supplement makes it so the powder curdles into a sad, wet clump in the middle of your coffee cup. Not appetizing at all.
6. Truvani Plant Based Protein
In stylish packaging, the premium, hand selected ingredients in Truvani Plant Based Protein are meant to support a healthy, clean, full lifestyle. It’s free from artificial fillers and colors, as you’d expect, and is certified USDA organic. The pea protein is sourced directly from the United States. We also like that it’s only got 7 ingredients.
It’s not calorie dense, but it’s not zero calorie either.
With enticing flavors like vanilla, chocolate, banana cinnamon, and chocolate peanut butter, there’s a lot of sweet options that works well into vegan chia pudding or oatmeal. There’s no chalky taste here, and if you’re using a blender you can expect an extremely smooth result.
We did have a few small issues; that stylish packaging we mentioned earlier has a tendency to not close, which can be a bit of a pain.
We also couldn’t quite get a grit free mix from a regular shaker bottle, even after some intense shaking. There were some minor lumps and a small, but detectable amount of gain present. Using a blender did give better results, though, so we’d definitely suggest giving it a whirl in a blender – even a small, personal one like a Magic Bullet ought to do the job right.
7. Ascent Plant Protein
Ascent Plant Protein is a clean blend of pea, sunflower, and pumpkin protein that delivers a clean amino profile that will also contribute to post-workout recovery. Ascent is 25g of vegan protein that goes down easy and has decent blending capabilities – like a few others, it fared better in a personal blender than a shaker bottle.
It was also easy to digest; we didn’t note any stomach issues after consuming this powder.
It averages $39.99 for 18 servings, which is veering on the expensive side, and the fact that the cocoa in it is processed with alkali may be a turnoff to some who are expecting a higher quality of chocolate.
The cocoa powder also provides caffeine, which, again, may be a make or break for some people. If you’re taking it with coffee, try not to stack on other caffeinated beverages as the day goes on if you don’t want heart palpitations now and a big crash later.
8. Ghost Vegan Protein
With out of the box flavors like chocolate cereal milk, sour patch kids, and banana pancake batter, Ghost is definitely trying something different with these appetizing spins on vegan protein powder.
We really liked the flavors we tried out. Admittedly, we couldn’t sample every single one, since there are quite a few on offer, but the three we listed above were definitely as described, if not a on the overly-sweet side.
They fully disclose their vegan protein blend, which includes pea protein, pumpkin protein, and watermelon seed protein – something you don’t see often in these supplements. It is also soy and gluten free, if that’s what suits your diet.
However, we did notice that the containers we received were not fully filled, sort of like when you get a bag of chips to see that it’s about half empty. For $39.99, we expect more product in the packaging.
Speaking of the price, skip Amazon and go right to the company’s website for this one, if you choose to go for it. Amazon’s listing overprices it at $44 for 28 servings.
We also noted that it doesn’t go down quite as easy as some of the other offerings on this list, like Huge Vegan Protein or Orgain.
How We Chose The Best Tasting Vegan Protein Powders
So, now that we’ve given you the full rundown of all of the best tasting vegan protein powders, how did we come to these conclusions?
We certainly didn’t draw names out of a hat, here; this ranking was based on months of intensive, carefully controlled research and testing. We had to narrow down a lot of powders that ranged from flavorless, to underwhelming, to just plain nasty.
Here’s our criteria, and what we looked for in the best tasting vegan protein powders.
Taste And Flavor Options
Of course, the main focus of this article is the way these vegan protein supplements taste. This was the first thing we looked at when we started making our benchmarks. Many vegan proteins don’t really taste good, so we really set out to get our hands on the best of the best.
Taste is subjective, but the brands that got the most positive reviews from our team ranked higher. Huge Vegan Protein, for example, was almost unanimously enjoyed by our testers.
We also liked to see a lot of unique flavor options. Anyone can do vanilla, and chocolate isn’t exactly shaking up the landscape anymore. Brands that were trying something new earned a few points for creativity.
Of course, getting unique with flavor choices is meaningless if those new tastes aren’t appetizing. There was a careful balance to achieve here.
Product Quality
What is the vegan protein made of? Is it using quality protein sources, like beans, peas, and brown rice?
Or, is it like many vegan proteins that cheap out on their ingredients in the interest of saving a few dollars.
We also liked to see things like a full amino acid profile, a lack of artificial sweeteners, being gluten free, and being tested for banned substances.
Budget
Even the most delicious vegan protein powders aren’t going to be worth it if you have to upend your wallet to afford them. Are we getting enough value from these protein supplements?
Is the price for what we’re getting reasonable and fair, or do we feel like we just got ripped off?
We usually calculated this by looking at how many servings you’d get for the total cost, and use that to find the price per serving.
However, sometimes, a low price point isn’t always the best price point. Sometimes a product with quality ingredients and, of course, a delicious taste, can get away with charging a little more for what they’ve got to offer.
Product Ratings
Sample size is a crucial factor in proper analytical research, and we know that our team of testers does not always represent the larger percentage of people who are looking for the very best vegan protein powders.
For that, we turned to reviews. We looked for real words said by real people about what they thought of each product. A product should have a good reputation among those who have tried it in a real-world application.
Supplements that have been on the scene long enough to garner more reviews, and positive ones at that, were given higher spots on the list.
The Best Vegan Protein Powder Ingredients
So, what goes into vegan protein powders? Your vegan protein must be providing you with quality micronutrients.
Here, we’ll break down some of the amazing ingredients we consider to be among the best. If you’re in the market for plant protein, these are the names you want to see on the label:
Beans
Beans are a classic, long-trusted source of protein. They’re usually rich with the stuff and in other nutrients as well.
You’ll find that beans are loaded with complex carbohydrates, fiber, and even antioxidants. We think beans are a must-have for a quality vegan protein powder.
Pea
Pea protein might be something you wouldn’t have thought of in another context, but in the world of the best tasting vegan protein powders, it’s one of the main ingredients we like to see.
It’s also good to know that pea protein provides a complete amino acid profile, making it extremely effective and valuable. Plus, your body can digest it easily.
Rice
Another ingredient we like seeing is rice. It’s an excellent plant-based protein ingredient with many essential amino acids (not all) and other nutritional benefits.
Most of the time, companies use brown rice in vegan protein powder supplements. This is because brown rice is considered to have the best nutrients, and it has been shown to be an excellent alternative to whey.
Seeds
Another abundant source of protein, seeds can also pack in a great stock of micronutrients that give a great vegan protein powder the right stuff that your body wants – and needs
Some good examples of high-quality seeds are hemp, chia, linseed, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds. You’ll want to include these in your daily diet if you’re a vegan.
How To Use Your Vegan Protein Powder
Protein powder can be mixed up with water and chugged down, of course, and there’s nothing stopping you from this bare bones style of enjoying it, especially if the flavor is a hit.
However, shaking up the way you use it will help keep away the monotony that may come from drinking it daily, and give you even more delicious ways to devour it.
Vegan Protein Smoothie
This green foods vegan protein smoothie tastes amazing, and is full of healthy fats and carbohydrates that are ideal for your pre-workout.
- Step 1: In a blender, combine spinach, parsley, ½ an avocado, 1 tbsp of walnuts or almonds, a dash of cinnamon, ½ cup of a milk replacement of your choice, ½ tsp of maple syrup (or honey, or agave nectar), 1 tbsp of olive oil, 2 tsp coconut flakes, a pinch of sea salt, ½ cup of water, and your protein supplement of choice.
- Step 2: Blend all of these ingredients until they’re completely combined and totally smooth.
- Step 3: Enjoy your delicious vegan protein smoothie!
Vegan Protein Pancakes
The best thing about these vegan protein pancakes, besides that they taste amazing, is that it only needs a few ingredients to make, not counting the syrup you’ll drizzle on before you dive in.
- Step 1: In a medium sized bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour, if that’s more your speed,) ¼ cup of protein powder, 1 tbsp baking powder (for fluffiness), and ½ tsp of sea salt or kosher salt. Whisk until it’s fully incorporated and homogenous, and you don’t see any more lumps.
- Step 2: Next, add 2 tbsp of maple syrup, or the sweet, sticky sweetener of your choice. Slowly add in water; start with one cup, and keep incorporating it until it’s just barely mixed. Does it look a little lumpy? That’s fine, as long as it’s still pourable. If it’s too thick, though, add more water as needed.
- Step 3: Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Step 4: Coat the inside of a skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-low heat. Don’t let it get too hot before you start adding in the pancake batter.
- Step 5: Scoop about ¼ cup of the batter at a time, depending on how big you want your pancakes. Cook until you see the edges start to bubble while looking dry and firm, then flip with a spatula and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Step 6: Enjoy them while they’re hot with any toppings you love.
Is Vegan Protein Powder Good For You?
Yes, vegan protein powder is good for you! But it’s crucial that you get your hands on a high-quality product made with body-friendly ingredients and complete amino acids.
A good product will help you significantly increase your daily protein intake, which in return comes with many benefits, such as improving muscle growth and recovery.
As mentioned above, we swear by Huge Vegan Protein – they use multiple high-quality vegan protein sources (fava beans, rice, mung beans, and pea) and taste really good. If you’re looking for a good product that won’t disappoint, make sure to check it out.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a full time vegan, or just looking for a protein powder that’s made with cleaner ingredients for the sake of your health, a vegan protein powder should be your first stop.
When you’re shopping for one, make sure that you’re finding something that’s worth the price, is made with quality ingredients (and that they tell you what the ingredients are in the first place), and, of course, that tastes good.
If you’re going to be taking this stuff regularly, you’ll really need something that’s going to be delicious. Make sure you use one of the best tasting vegan protein powders for the best experience possible.
