Taste Testing Protein Powders 2025

Introduction

Over the last year and a half, I have taken health and fitness more seriously to build muscle and support functional strength as I get older. You don’t have to wander far into the fitness world to realise the importance of eating sufficient protein to reach these goals. I felt that I had a reasonable diet and was getting enough protein, but it wasn’t until I started tracking my macros that I realised how far off I was. This realisation kick-started me reconsidering my nutrition, how I prepare my meals, and how to incorporate more protein into my daily diet. 

Protein powders have exploded on the market in recent years. There is a vast variety of flavours and formulations available. They can be animal or plant-based and come in so many flavours, it’s overwhelming. The problem with protein powders is that they are generally quite expensive and don’t tend to come in sample sizes. Secondly, they are unnecessary for most people as it’s arguably better to get your protein in a less processed and more ‘natural’ way. Finally, they often contain artificial sweeteners, which I am a little wary of and tend not to like the taste. I prefer things sweetened with cane sugar, honey or maple syrup from a flavour point of view.

Despite my initial reluctance, I eventually gave in and started experimenting with protein powders. They’re by no means essential, but I’ve come to enjoy them as part of my daily routine. There’s something about adding them to my day that feels motivating — almost like a psychological nudge to stick to my workouts. So, after trying a fair few (ranging from gritty to overly sweet), here’s my verdict on the ones that taste palatable— and the ones that didn’t.

Earth Champ Vegan Protein Powder

This was the first powder I tried – it had generally good reviews on Amazon for its vegan plant-based formula, advertised as nutrient-dense, no nasties and with a natural taste. There is no dairy, soya or gums in it. I liked the packaging, which eventually swung it for me! For a first try of a protein powder, I did not have any comparison, and it was nice enough. Made with just water or milk, it was a bit sweet tasting for my liking due to the stevia extracts in it. The only way I could drink this was by blending it up with a banana. This addition made it more palatable and enjoyable, like a normal milkshake. I could have perhaps added it to yoghurt or porridge, but at this early stage in my protein powder experience, I didn’t think to do this. Overall, it’s a good reputable company with solid Amazon reviews. I would try other products in their range, but perhaps avoid those with stevia—no bloating or tummy issues with this one. 

Huel

I bought this in a black friday bundle for my husband as he takes the premade Huel drinks to work for his lunch. The premixed drinks are rich, chocolatey and filling. Whilst I don’t have them regularly, I do enjoy them occasionally when I need a quick lunch on the go. I bought the powder because I thought it would be cheaper and more versatile than the bottles, while still being as delicious. The pre-made drinks have sucralose; I don’t find them too sweet. I didn’t check the Huel powder before buying (a rookie error), and it contains steviol glycosides, which is something I now realise is too artificial tasting and sweet for my taste. It was also quite gritty and not as smooth as the premixed drinks. It hasn’t been a hit with my husband either, for this reason, and for quite a while it languished in the cupboard. Rather than waste it, I decided to incorporate it into other recipes, and this has worked well. I have made protein pancakes with it a few times, and these were good. I also use it in my current favourite breakfast – greek yoghurt, chia seeds, bran sticks, frozen cherries, honey and about 15g of Huel protein. When this is all mixed up the taste and texture is like cake batter, its filling and delicious so I am now addicted to having this on repeat in the mornings.

Proteinworks Vegan Wondershake

I bought this directly from the Proteinworks website using a TopCashback link. I conducted extensive research on this one, having become wiser from my previous protein purchase mistakes. The powder contains sucralose, which, although I am not a fan of sweeteners, I do prefer over stevia. I also got a Proteinworks shaker for a reduced price. Like the other products I have tried, this one is plant-based, and each shake contains 20g of protein and 94 calories. It mixes beautifully in the shaker, with no grittiness whatsoever. The taste is subtle but pleasantly chocolatey. I mix this with ⅓ milk and ⅔ water. This is my favourite protein powder to date, and I also love the shaker as it works so well. There’s absolutely no nose holding to drink this down in fact its a really tasty treat and feels full of goodness.

Myprotein – Clear Whey Protein Vimto

This Vimto-flavoured whey powder was on a clearance offer at Holland & Barrett. My son begged me to get it, despite my discouragement of him taking protein supplements. It was such a reasonable price, I decided to try it, having been nagged into submission. I thought having a fruit- or water-based drink would be a change from milk and more refreshing in the summer. This tasted exactly like Vimto, but it also had a sickly sweet quality. I also spied an anti-foaming agent (silicon dioxide) in it, which I didn’t particularly like the sound of ingesting. Additionally, despite the use of this anti-foaming agent, it wouldn’t mix well for us. It clumped, foamed and tasted gritty. We must have been doing something wrong, but unfortunately, this one is headed for the bin, which feels like such a waste.

Final Thoughts

Tasting protein powders has been a trial-and-error journey for me. Getting protein from whole foods is still ideal, but protein powders offer convenience and variety, albeit at a relatively high price. If you’re new to protein powders, I recommend checking the reviews for mentions of grittiness or an overly sweet taste, and also look carefully at the sweeteners used to make sure they are ones you can tolerate. If you end up with a powder you don’t like as a drink, consider using it to make pancakes or mixing it into yoghurt before giving up on it completely.