Chocolate Protein Powder Review

SO many of you enjoyed our Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder Review that we decided it was due time to put chocolate protein powders to the test!

As with the vanilla powders, we did a formal, side-by-side review of some of the most popular vegan protein powders on the market. We also added in some lesser known, innovative brands. Our goal was to see which protein powders delivered on taste and nutrition and which ones weren’t worth the hype, saving you the time and money of doing the research yourself!

THE GROUND RULES //

• We tested 10 protein powders and only ordered those we could find on Amazon because they are most accessible to people and usually have the best prices.
• This review is not sponsored in any way. We were not given free product or compensated for any of our reviews, and we had no contact with any of these brands.
• We excluded any products containing artificial colors or sweeteners, and did our best to include products with high-quality ingredients.
• We tried to be as unbiased and objective as possible when reviewing.
• When testing powders with non-dairy milk, we mixed 1/3 cup (80 ml) Forager Unsweetened Plain Coconut Cashewmilk with 1 Tbsp (15 g) protein powder in a mason jar with 2 ice cubes then shook vigorously for 30 seconds.
• When testing protein powders in smoothies, we blended 1/4 large frozen banana, 1/3 cup (80 ml) Forager Unsweetened Plain Coconut Cashewmilk, 2 ice cubes, and 1 Tbsp (15 g) protein powder. We blended for 45 seconds in a small blender.
• We graded the protein powders on a scale of 1-5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent) on:
  • Texture
  • Sweetness
  • Overall flavor
  • How well it blended with non-dairy milk
  • How well it tastes/blends with smoothies
• For consumer awareness, we also examined:
  • Type of protein base (i.e. brown rice, pea, hemp)
  • Grams of protein / serving
  • Cost per serving (US $) – subject to variability
  • Type of sweetener(s)
  • Additives – potentially undesirable ingredients added to improve flavor, texture, etc.
  • Quality of ingredients (i.e. organic, non-GMO, etc.)
  • Additional perks (i.e. probiotics, greens, superfoods, quality salt)
  • If we would repurchase

Results //

First place: Aloha Organic Chocolate Protein Powder
Second place: Nuzest Clean Lean Protein – Rich Chocolate
Third place: Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Protein Powder
Fourth place: SoTru Organic Vegan Protein Shake – Chocolate
Fifth place: Nature Sustained Boosted Choco Protein (UPDATE: product has been discontinued by manufacturer)
Sixth place: Vega Essentials Shake – Chocolate
Seventh place: SANO Organic Plant-Based Protein – Chocolate
Eighth place: Sunwarrior Organic Classic Chocolate Protein
Ninth place: Pure Food Protein Powder – Raw Cacao
Tenth place: Moon Juice Deep Chocolate Adaptogenic Protein

Protein 101 //

Why is protein important?

Protein is a component of all of the cells in our bodies. It supports the production of enzymes, hormones, and so much more to keep us feeling good!

How much protein do we need?

The Institute of Medicine has recommended that adults consume 0.80 grams of protein daily per kg of body weight. For example, it’s recommended that an adult weighing 150 pounds (68 kg) consume ~54 grams of protein per day.

The protein powders tested in this review contain between 17 and 20 grams of protein per serving.

Why protein powders?

Chances are, if you are eating a nutritionally balanced diet, you are probably consuming enough protein.

However, for some (such as those following a vegan or vegetarian diet), it may require a little extra attention to ensure adequate protein intake is achieved. Not to mention, sometimes you’re just too busy for cooking — that’s when protein powders come in extra handy.

Though we prefer to have most of our meals closer to their “from the farm” roots, we find protein powders to be a great option when traveling, on-the-go, needing something simple, or when the fridge is low!

The Review //

#1: Aloha Organic Chocolate Protein Powder

Texture: 5 – smooth with a little chalkiness
Sweetness: 5 – apparent but not overwhelming
Overall flavor: 4.5 – pleasant chocolate flavor with a slightly artificial sweetness aftertaste
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 5 – really well
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 4.5 – texture is good, but slightly too sweet when blended with banana
Protein base: Pea protein, Brown rice protein, Hemp seed protein, Pumpkin seed protein
Protein / serving: 18 g
Approximate cost per serving: $1.60
Type of sweetener(s): Coconut sugar, Monk fruit extract
Additives: Acacia fiber, Natural flavor, Xanthan gum
Quality of ingredients: Organic, Non-GMO
Other perks: MCT oil

Overall score: 24/25
Overall impressions: Overall really good, but the aftertaste was very mildly unpleasant. Reminded us of a SlimFast shake, though not necessarily in a bad way.
Would we repurchase? Yes

#2: Nuzest Clean Lean Protein – Rich Chocolate

Texture: 5 – very smooth
Sweetness: 3.5 – a bit much
Overall flavor: 4 – decent chocolate flavor, but with lingering over-sweetness
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 5 – really well
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 4 – blends very smoothly, but definitely too sweet with banana and detectable artificial sweetness aftertaste
Protein base: Pea protein isolate
Protein / serving: 19 g
Approximate cost per serving: $2.14
Type of sweetener(s): Thaumatin (fruit-derived protein and sweetener)
Additives: Natural vanilla flavor, Natural chocolate flavor
Quality of ingredients: Non-GMO
Other perks: N/A

Overall score: 21.5/25
Overall impressions: Simple ingredients, really smooth, and not chalky, but tastes like it’s trying to be too healthy. We would like it better if the chocolate flavor was more prominent and there was less sweetness.
Would we repurchase? Yes

#3: Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Protein Powder

Texture: 4.5 – creamy, only slightly chalky, visible chia seeds
Sweetness: 4.5 – mild, with a little room for improvement (doesn’t have that artificial sweetness flavor, though!)
Overall flavor: 4 – nice chocolate flavor, no bitterness or strange aftertaste, a little on the bland side
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 4 – very good other than the chia seeds
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 4 – smooth and creamy; chia seeds mixed well. Not too sweet. Chocolate flavor is noticeable; wish it was a little stronger. We noticed a very slightly bitter aftertaste.
Protein base: Pea protein powder, Chia seed
Protein / serving: 20 g
Approximate cost per serving: $1.83
Type of sweetener(s): Cane sugar, Monk fruit extract
Additives: Chicory root fiber, Cornstarch, Organic inulin
Quality of ingredients: Non-organic
Other perks: Probiotic added (Bacillus coagulans)

Overall score: 21/25
Overall impressions: Overall good chocolate flavor and mild sweetness. We don’t love that it includes chicory root fiber and inulin, which can contribute to digestive upset for some people. Overall it wasn’t a love, but wasn’t a hate.
Would we repurchase? Yes (especially if it didn’t have chicory root fiber and inulin)

#4: SoTru Organic Vegan Protein Shake – Chocolate

Texture: 4 – a little grainy and powdery, but not chunky
Sweetness: 4.5 – slightly too sweet but not bad and no artificial sweetness detected
Overall flavor: 4 – detectable and very pleasant chocolate flavor with no bitterness or harsh aftertaste
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 4 – a little powdery / grainy
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 3.5 – nice chocolate smell. A little too sweet. Initial taste is okay, but then it goes bitter. A little grainy when blended. Slight chemical taste.
Protein base: Brown rice protein, Quinoa, Amaranth, Mushroom blend (Reishi, King trumpet, Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, Himematsutake, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, Maitake), Chlorella, Spirulina
Protein / serving: 18 g
Approximate cost per serving: $1.95
Type of sweetener(s): Stevia leaf extract
Additives: Organic flavors, Xanthan gum
Quality of ingredients: Organic
Other perks: Fermented fruit & veggie blend, Probiotic added (Bacillus coagulans), Digestive enzymes

Overall score: 20/25
Overall impressions: Overall really enjoyable, pleasant flavors, not overwhelmingly sweet, and impressive ingredients. We only wish it mixed a little better.
Would we repurchase? Yes

#5: Nature Sustained Boosted Choco Protein (UPDATE: product has been discontinued by manufacturer)

Texture: 4 – chunky (some chocolate, some chia) and slightly grainy
Sweetness: 4.5 – doesn’t taste artificial, not overwhelming, just right
Overall flavor: 4 – chocolate flavor is pleasant and detectable, but superfoods give a slightly unpleasant aftertaste. Mushroom powder slightly detectable.
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 4 – a little grainy with visible chunks of chia and chocolate, and grainy residue at the bottom of glass
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 3.5 – smells good. Chocolate flavor is detectable but not very strong. Bitter. Pretty smooth. Not too sweet.
Protein base: Organic raw yellow pea protein powder, Organic raw brown rice protein powder, Organic raw hemp protein powder, Organic raw chia seed
Protein / serving: 18 g
Approximate cost per serving: $2.00
Type of sweetener(s): Luo Han Guo (monk fruit) flavor, Organic Stevia powder
Additives: None
Quality of ingredients: Organic, Raw, Wildcrafted
Other perks: Organic raw criollo arriba cacao powder, Organic camu camu berry powder, Organic raw maca root powder, Organic raw cordyceps mushroom powder, Organic raw acai berry powder, Himalayan sea salt, Organic vanilla bean (ground)

Overall score: 20/25
Overall impressions: Impressive considering clean ingredient profile and added superfoods. Not incredible tasting but it has a pleasant chocolate flavor and no bitterness or off-putting aftertaste. We wish the texture was smoother, but overall it is good.
Would we repurchase? Yes

#6: Vega Essentials Shake – Chocolate

Texture: 4.5 – not creamy, but smooth and not chalky
Sweetness: 3.5 – not incredibly overwhelming, but artificial sweetness is very detectable
Overall flavor: 2.5 – chocolate flavor not prominent, algae and spirulina are mildly detectable, and leaves an overall unpleasant flavor on the palate
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 5 – really well
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 2.5 – The smell is off-putting, too sweet, and has a chemical / medicinal flavor
Protein base: Pea protein, Flaxseed, Hemp protein
Protein / serving: 20 g
Approximate cost per serving: $1.65
Type of sweetener(s): Stevia leaf extract
Additives: Natural flavors, Organic acacia gum, Pea starch, Xanthan gum, Sunflower seed oil powder
Quality of ingredients: Non-GMO
Other perks: Marine algae, Organic spirulina, Acerola cherry extract, Bromelain (an enzyme), Fruit & vegetable blend, Mushroom powder

Overall score: 18/25
Overall impressions: Smells off-putting, but doesn’t taste quite as bad as it smells. The chocolate flavor is not very prominent, but the artificial sweetness is overwhelming. Overall, we disliked this one.
Would we repurchase? No

#7: SANO Organic Plant-Based Protein – Chocolate

Texture: 3 – a little grainy
Sweetness: 3.5 – not overwhelming. Level of sweetness is good, but flavor of sweet is not great.
Overall flavor: 2.5 – chocolate flavor tastes artificial, slight aftertaste, overall unpleasant
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 3.5 – overall okay, but a little grainy
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 4.5 – Much improved when blended with banana. Pretty smooth texture. Takes on a slight caramel taste when blended. Not too sweet and no artificial sweetness / flavor detected. Tastes like a chocolate shake!
Protein base: Organic pea protein, Organic flax (seed), Organic hemp protein
Protein / serving: 20 g
Approximate cost per serving: $2.14
Type of sweetener(s): Organic Stevia (leaf)
Additives: Organic natural vanilla flavor, Organic guar gum
Quality of ingredients: Organic
Other perks: Organic lycium (goji berry), Organic cassia (cinnamon bark), Himalayan pink salt

Overall score: 17/25
Overall impressions: Initial taste is off-putting, but it gets better the more you drink it (though we still don’t consider it great). We wish the chocolate flavor was more prominent.
Would we repurchase? Yes (if blending with smoothie, but not for shaking with dairy-free milk)

#8: Sunwarrior Organic Classic Chocolate Protein

Texture: 3 – pretty creamy with visually noticeable chunks
Sweetness: 3.25 – artificial sweetness flavor, a bit much
Overall flavor: 3 – noticeable chocolatey-ness, lingering unpleasant aftertaste, slight chalkiness, a little bitterness
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 4 – some noticeable chunks, but overall quite creamy
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 2.5 – Flavor is better blended in a smoothie than shaken. But still bitter and a subtle cardboard flavor. Chocolate flavor is not prominent, but artificial sweetness is. And it somehow remains a little grainy after blending.
Protein base: Organic brown rice protein
Protein / serving: 18 g
Approximate cost per serving: $1.20
Type of sweetener(s): Organic Stevia extract
Additives: Organic vanilla flavor, Organic guar gum
Quality of ingredients: Organic
Other perks: Ancient sea salt

Overall score: 15.75/25
Overall impressions: Pleasant chocolate flavor, but followed by too much sweetness and an unpleasant aftertaste. It’s a little too chalky and overall not enjoyable.
Would we repurchase? No

#9: Pure Food Protein Powder – Raw Cacao

Texture: 2 – slightly creamy, but mostly chalky and chunky
Sweetness: 2 – hardly detectable
Overall flavor: 1.5 – tastes bitter, chalky, chocolate flavor is not detectable, leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 2 – left some chunks, slightly chalky
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 3 – The initial taste is pleasant, however it quickly turns to a bitter and almost sour flavor. The texture is also a little grainy despite blending. Not too sweet though, even with banana.
Protein base: Organic pea protein, Organic brown rice protein, Organic hemp protein
Protein / serving: 20 g (2 scoops)
Approximate cost per serving: $2.50
Type of sweetener(s): Organic Stevia leaf
Additives: None
Quality of ingredients: Organic
Other perks: Organic cacao, Organic mesquite, Organic vanilla, Probiotic added (Bacillus coagulans)

Overall score: 10.5/25
Overall impressions: Simple and impressive ingredients, but not enough to counteract flavor and texture issues. It works better with something like banana that sweetens it up / masks the flavor. Still, overall unpleasant, slightly bitter flavor and chalky texture.
Would we repurchase? No

#10: Moon Juice Deep Chocolate Adaptogenic Protein

Texture: 1.5 – didn’t mix well; remained chalky and chunky
Sweetness: 1.5 – hardly sweet at all (which could be desirable if you’re blending with sweeter ingredients)
Overall flavor: 1 – barely palatable, virtually no chocolate flavor, leaves a bad aftertaste, and tastes like sand
How well it blended with non-dairy milk: 1.5 – not well at all
How well it tastes/blends with smoothies: 2 – Has a funky smell and cardboard and mushroom flavors; even when blended has some powdery-ness, but overall, use in a smoothie was way better than just shaken with dairy-free milk.
Protein base: Organic brown rice protein
Protein / serving: 17 g
Approximate cost per serving: $3.67
Type of sweetener(s): Organic Stevia extract
Additives: None
Quality of ingredients: Organic
Other perks: Organic maca root extract, Organic cacao powder, Organic shatavari root powder, Organic ashwagandha root and leaf extract, Organic cinnamon powder

Overall score: 7.5/25
Overall impressions: Maybe the worst protein we have ever tasted. It doesn’t have any pleasant qualities on its own and is significantly more expensive than most protein powders.
Would we repurchase? No

Results //

First place: Aloha Organic Chocolate Protein Powder
Second place: Nuzest Clean Lean Protein – Rich Chocolate
Third place: Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Protein Powder
Fourth place: SoTru Organic Vegan Protein Shake – Chocolate
Fifth place: Nature Sustained Boosted Choco Protein
Sixth place: Vega Essentials Shake – Chocolate
Seventh place: SANO Organic Plant-Based Protein – Chocolate
Eighth place: Sunwarrior Organic Classic Chocolate Protein
Ninth place: Pure Food Protein Powder – Raw Cacao
Tenth place: Moon Juice Deep Chocolate Adaptogenic Protein

Conclusion //

We tried to be extremely honest in this review, which is why it seems like a lot of the feedback was critical or negative. That’s because we honestly didn’t like many of the protein powders we tried.

But the standouts are definitely the top 3 (above), with numbers 4 and 5 being quite tasty, too.

*Despite Minimalist Baker having had a working relationship with Bob’s Red Mill in the past (which has since been discontinued), our relationship with them had nothing to do with this review. We had no communication with them about it. This post is entirely unsponsored.

*This post contains affiliate links. In the case that you would purchase something using our link, we receive a small commission from Amazon which helps support our work here.