When it comes to Protein powder, there’s a lot to be said for quality and key features. However, the one thing that will determine whether or not you consistently take your protein powder is going to be its overall taste. If your protein shake tastes like you just swallowed a handful of sand, you’re not going to keep taking it regardless of how good it is for you!

In this article, we’ll review the impact of taste on protein powder and discuss what goes into creating the best tasting protein powder possible. We’ll also highlight the five best tasting protein powders available today.

TL; DR: What You Need to Know

• The best tasting protein powder for increasing muscle mass is 100% Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs.
• The best tasting protein powder for weight loss is Plant Protein by Ladder.
• The best tasting plant protein powder is Plant Based Protein Powder by Onnit.
• The best tasting protein powder for women is Plant Protein by Care/of.
• The best custom protein powder on the market right now is True Nutrition. They offer a create-your-own blend option where you can select from 27 different flavors.

Comparison of the 5 Best Tasting Protein Powders

Impact of the Five Basic Tastes on Protein Powder

Many people think that humans have only two tastes; sweet and sour. However, we have five of them which include:

• Sweet
• Bitter
• Sour
• Salty
• Umami

These different taste sensations are due to chemical reactions that take place between food and our taste buds. The most popular taste, by far, is sweetness, which results from an interaction between sugars (carbohydrates) and the taste buds. Thus, in order to produce a sweet taste, protein powders must include some form of sugary content which is usually achieved through the addition of a natural sugar, such as Stevia. [1]

Bitterness is a sharp taste that is unpleasant to most people. It is not a taste that manufacturers of protein powders consider to be desirable.

Sourness is the result of acidity being created in the interaction between the food and our taste buds.

Saltiness comes about as the result of sodium being present in the food. This taste is sometimes added to protein powder flavors such as Salted Caramel with the addition of sodium to the ingredient profile.

The final taste sensation is umami. It comes from the Japanese for ‘pungent.’ While difficult to define in English, it is the type of taste and flavor you find in many Asian foods. It is generally considered by foodies to be the second most desirable taste after sweetness.

Which Flavors Taste the Best?

Nowadays there are dozens of protein powder flavors to choose from. Some companies, such as True Nutrition, even allow you to build your own protein powder with a customized blend of flavors. However, there are five flavors that stand out as the most popular:

• Chocolate – It is no surprise that chocolate consistently ranks as the most popular protein powder flavor. Everyone seems to love the taste of chocolate and the fact that it has the ability to lower stress levels and improve the functioning of our brains doesn’t hurt either.
• Peanut Butter – Peanut butter is a natural fit with protein, with millions of drinkers around the world loving the nut butter flavor. It goes especially well with unsweetened almond milk and generally has a higher protein account than other flavors.
• Cookies and Cream – Cookies and cream flavor is by far the most popular recreation of a sweet treat in a healthy protein drink. You need to be careful with this one that the sugar, artificial flavors and carb count is not too high.
• Strawberry – Whether it’s protein powder or a standard milkshake, strawberry remains one of the most popular flavors on the planet. You can, of course, enhance the flavor and goodness even further by throwing in one or two real strawberries.
• Vanilla – You may be surprised to find vanilla on a list of the top five tasting protein powders, but its neutral taste allows you to add almost anything with it to provide your own customized flavor. You can also use vanilla protein powder and recipes on your rolled oats or serial. Be aware that many vanilla flavors leave a chalky aftertaste, so you need to do your homework before purchasing a vanilla-flavored brand.

How Did We Research the Best Tasting Protein Powders?

In order to provide you with the five best tasting protein powders, we conducted extensive online research, tried out individual products, and took into account online reviews and testimonials.

What to Look for in the Best Tasting Protein Powders

When looking for the best tasting protein powder, you need to consider more than just the taste. As we’ve noted, the taste is extremely important but so too are the protein content, the pureness of the ingredients and the addition of extra health benefits such as BCAA’s, digestive enzymes and fatty acids. A protein powder that tastes absolutely delicious but that is stacked with sugar and artificial flavors is not what you want. [2]

Here are the key things to look out for:

• Protein Source – If you are after a protein to be taken during the day or after your workout, then you should look for a whey protein isolate. This type of protein is derived from cows milk and has the lactose (milk facts) and carbohydrates removed. It is around 90% pure protein by weight. [3] If you are after a protein powder to be taken in the evening prior to going to bed, choose a casein protein powder. This type of powder, also derived from cow’s milk, is slower digesting to provide a gradual release of amino acids into your system as you sleep.
• Protein Quantity – You should expect your protein powder to provide you with between 20 and 30 grams of protein per serving.
• Calorie and Carb Count – When you’re after the best tasting protein powder you need to pay particular attention to the calorie and carb count. These may be inflated in order to provide a better taste. If your intention is to remain lean while putting on muscle mass, you don’t want more than 2 to 3 grams of carbs per serving and 200 calories per protein shake.
• Texture – The last thing you need is a protein powder that tastes great but ends up with clunky lumps and a chalky aftertaste in your mouth. Check reviews regarding the texture of the shake when it is mixed. It should dissolve easily evenly when mixed in a shake the bottle or with a spoon to provide you with a smooth, milkshake-like consistency. All of our reviewed products provide you with a smooth, silky taste.
• Additives – It can be tempting to overlook the addition of artificial flavorings when you are looking for the best tasting protein powder. That, however, would be a mistake. If you find the words on the ingredient label that you can’t pronounce, then you can be pretty sure that it doesn’t belong in your body. It is possible to create a great tasting protein powder without adding in the harmful substances and those other products that should get your custom. [4]
• Cost – Protein powders are available in budget, medium, and high price ranges. Often this price is determined more by the branding than the actual quality of the product. A budget protein powder would be considered to be less than $10 per pound or $25 per KG. Medium priced powders run in the price range of between $10 – 25 per pound or $25 – 50 per KG. Anything over $25 per pound or $50 per KG would be considered an expensive protein powder.

Take-Home Message

The key to success with protein powder comes down to consistent use. And the key to consistency comes down to taste. If you like it, you’ll keep taking it. Balancing that great taste with ingredients that are good for you is difficult but now you can confidently get that great taste fully confident that your protein shake not only tastes good, it’s good for you