Garden of Life Organic Chocolate Vegan Sport Protein Powder

There have been many reviews recently highlighting that Garden of Life apparently changed this formula in July 2024. Like many others, we have consistently purchased this product and the chocolate flavor for years and come to rely on them both. However, in addition to the fact that the flavor has apparently changed to be less palatable, Garden of Life has made a number of other changes to this formula that conscious consumers should be aware of. First, as others have noted the amount of sodium per serving has more than doubled. Guar gum has been added to the ingredient list. In addition, a number of micro nutrients have been removed from the nutritional information, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, Selenium, and manganese. Many of these nutrients were at significant levels that would be helpful, especially to plant based eaters. The previous formula contains 50% of your selenium and now it appears to contain none. Likewise at 45% for zinc. And while iron levels have stayed the same calcium levels have dropped from 180mg to 80mg. In addition, the amino acid profile of the product has also changed. It now contains less than half of the arginine it previously did and less glycine. Some of the other amino acid amounts have also changed, though less significantly. This leads me to believe changes beyond just the addition of a couple ingredients have been made to the formula. In particular, if you use this the way I did, as more of a supplement and protein powder, this will no longer meet your needs in the same way. Finally, look carefully at the logos on the front of the container and the back. This newest formula is no longer tested by informedchoice.org. The switch was unannounced and instead in its place on the back, you see the carbon fund logo. That is great, but it is a little misleading. Unless you were looking closely, you would not notice the change. I unfortunately will be looking for a new protein powder.

Taste good and results are evident

Quality 5/5
Taste 4.5/5
How well it blends 4/5
Affordability 3/5

For starters, I decided to write this review because, at the time, there were no other reviews. A little about me: I’m hardly a fitness guru or expert on protein powders. I am, however, a former Marine who enjoys exercising and keeping active, so fitness and protein powders are no stranger to me. Typically, I have always used whey proteins, so many of my comparisons will be to whey.

Why did I choose this protein? Well, unless you live under a rock somewhere, then I’m sure you’ve heard about all the nasty things that are in our food these days. That being said, but not limited to: GMOs, growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and so on. So obviously, because of this, they can be in our supplements too. Recently, I’ve been personally trying to watch what I put into my body. I’ve grown tired of most supplements having bad fillers and “mystery ingredients”. I wanted something clean, with better transparency on its ingredients and legitimate certifications to prove it. This protein is also very transparent with its amino acid profile; it’s not hidden like some brands do. So those are some of the reasons why I decided to give this protein a chance over staying with whey.

About the protein, it’s somewhat different from others I’ve used. That being said, it’s not very pleasing visually or to smell. It kind of smells like playdough, with a slight hint of vanilla. It appears to look and behave a little different than whey protein. It clumps into tiny balls on top of itself when you shake the container to unsettle it and mix the powder. It doesn’t fluff up quite as well as whey powder. The small clumps easily break with the slightest touch though, so don’t let that deter you. It also has a slightly different texture than whey. Usually, when whey powder gets on something, you can just wipe or brush it off most of the time. With this plant powder, it leaves behind a fine residue, similar to what talc or cornstarch powder would do. With that said, it’s kind of hard to brush off, so you practically need to wash it off or wipe it up with something damp. So be warned, this plant powder is more messy than your average whey powder. You will quickly discover this when you dig for your measuring scoop!

As far as mixing and taste go, mixing it seemed no different to me than most whey powders. I used my blender bottle the same as I would with whey powder, and I noticed no notable difference between the two powders. The taste was surprising! Which was a nice surprise considering that the smell wasn’t pleasant prior to, but that also got better once it was mixed. I mixed this with almond milk, just as I do with whey powders. And I’ve got to say, I was definitely impressed with the taste; it’s quite delicious, in my opinion. It also seems like a taste that will grow on you, so I’m looking forward to that. The flavor was vanilla, in case you were wondering.

Money time! Let’s talk about the dollar per grams of protein, which you can easily determine with any protein powder. In this case, one serving is 21g, 15g of that is protein, and there are 38 servings. So we have 15×38, equating to 570 grams of total protein. Now divide that by whatever you paid for the product, and you will have your ratio of grams of protein per dollar. You will likely find a lower number on this product. Because, let’s face it, for the amount of protein you get here, this product is more expensive than most whey proteins. I’m not a fan of the price, but sometimes in life, you simply get what you pay for. So you have to ask yourself: Is the extra money worth it for you? For my personal health and peace of mind, the answer is yes.

Why did I give this product 5 stars? The quality! It has several certifications to verify how clean it is. That gives me peace of mind and confidence, knowing I can trust the product. Not having to worry if it’s potentially harmful through the use of cheap fillers and toxic ingredients. I also feel this protein is among the top of its class compared to other plant-based proteins. This product is about 71% protein, which, compared to most plant-based proteins, is notably higher. Also, surprisingly, the price isn’t too bad when you shop it against other plant-based proteins. Use the dollar-per-gram of protein ratio and see for yourself. You also get the added benefit of probiotics, antioxidants, and a solid BCAA profile. So if you’re looking for a healthier protein powder supplement, then this may be the one for you! I’m personally making the switch to this plant protein over whey protein.

If I notice anything out of the ordinary with this product, good or bad, I will do an update.

*A warning: For anyone who is caffeine sensitive and/or simply tries to avoid having it in their diet, the chocolate flavor does, in fact, contain 7 mg of caffeine per serving.

*Update 2/2024: Over the years, since initially trying plant-based proteins, I’ve discovered that my body tends to recover better when I switch between plant and whey proteins. Perhaps it’s just a placebo and/or a way to reduce being burned out from repeatedly consuming the thing. Regardless, I just wanted to confirm that I still use this exact same plant protein and organic grass-fed whey. Typically, I flip-flop between the two options, sometimes for no other reason than grabbing whichever one may be on sale at that time. Obviously, do whatever works best for you. Cheers!

Best protein powder. Really good for baking and taste amazing with just mixing with water. You do not get that chalky taste like other protein powders. My husbands and mine go to (-:

Very good very tasteful very fulfilling product specially if you own a plant-based diet this will be a good supplement substitute. If you’re on the go most of your time out your weekly schedule. I cried everywhere. I go. Am I to go back when I am away from home and I use it at home as well, also taste better cold water

I am New to vegan protein. I tried for a little whey protein and even if the taste was delicious I got bad face skin reaction, probably due to the not clean ingredients. The first time I tried the Vanilla Garden of Life protein I didn’t like at all. However, due to the organic & clean ingredients, the low sugar and low sodium I gave it a second chance. I have tried with yogurt & oat but the best combo is unsweetened almond milk and a shot of Espresso: delicious!. Now, I absolutely love the taste. So please, if you do not like the first time, try in a different way because it worth!!!