Flavors Tried: Vanilla Bean Cupcake & Brownie
Price: $24.99 for 10 servings ($2.49 per serving)
Nutrition: 100 Calories, 0g Fat, 4g Carbs (2g Fiber & 0g Sugar), 20g Protein
I never thought I’d see the day when “animal-free” and “whey protein” shared the same sentence. But it’s 2023, and here we are.
Natreve has unleashed a line of whey protein that’s free from animal products, yet it’s still not plant-based.
But… how?
I’ll paraphrase how the Natreve website explains it: By using microflora, fed with a DNA copy corresponding to cow’s milk protein. These microorganisms convert their food into milk protein in fermentation tanks. After filtering out the flora, the end product is animal-free whey protein, identical to the protein found in cow’s milk.
What exactly does all that mean?
It means that even vegans can now enjoy whey protein!
If you have a milk allergy you still can’t enjoy this, since it is in fact still dairy, but there are absolutely no animals involved in the creation.
But if you’re lactose-intolerant, this is still completely safe to consume since there are no animal products used.
Science is crazy, man.
This animal-free whey protein is even used in Nick’s Vegan Ice Cream, which I’ve reviewed and really loved. You’d never know that it was vegan.
So, given that this is whey protein and not plant-based, I had high expectations for the flavor. I put two of their flavors to the test: Vanilla Bean Cupcake and Brownie.
And while there are lots of ways to consume protein powder, I kept it classic for the purposes of this review and just mixed each protein powder with my favorite almond milk.
Vanilla Bean Cupcake Flavor Review
When I opened this one up, it definitely smelled like a sweet vanilla cupcake much more than a simple vanilla flavor. So, off the bat, that’s a big win.
I tasted the powder on its own (because I’m a lunatic and always test protein powder dry first) and it resembled vanilla frosting way more than plain vanilla.
Considering this has no sugar, that was extremely surprising.
Once mixed with liquid, it pretty distinctly mirrors a vanilla cake rather than a generic vanilla protein. For those with a sweet tooth like myself, that is likely a big plus.
As a post-workout shake, I can see the sweetness level growing old. But if you need something sweet to take the place of a dessert, this can definitely deliver.
It has no off-putting aftertaste, and you’d never know the difference between this and an animal-based whey protein. Color me impressed.
Brownie Flavor Review
The brownie flavor wasn’t nearly as sweet as the vanilla, so if your sweet tooth isn’t as big as mine, you’ll be happy that this flavor option exists.
Trying this flavor plain, you can definitely taste notes of brownie vs generic chocolate protein, much like how the vanilla flavor actually has hints of cupcake & frosting.
Upon mixing it with liquid, it takes a bit of a dark turn, embodying a rich, dark chocolate profile that’s quite bitter.
Those who appreciate dark chocolate might find this flavor right up their alley. However, it didn’t quite hit the brownie mark for me, needing a touch more sweetness for that.
The vanilla might have been too sweet, and yet the brownie was not sweet enough.
How that happens, I have no idea.
So, I took matters into my own hands and mixed the two, which surprisingly resulted in a balanced milk chocolate flavor that I found way more enjoyable than the flavors on their own. So, if you find yourself with both, I definitely recommend mixing them up.
Otherwise, this flavor will appeal to those of you who like bitter dark chocolate, but will be disappointing if you’re after a sweet treat.
Overall Thoughts: Moo-Less Protein Powder
For the vegan community, this is a game-changing product. While it doesn’t top my list of favorite protein powders, it shows a promising start for the animal-free whey journey.
As it’s relatively new, I expect the flavors to improve as more companies embrace this wild new science, so we’ll see where this thing goes. The company creating the whey protein, Perfect Day, seems like it’s only a matter of time before they partner with major brands, which will lead to some really delicious vegan products going forward.
Natreve’s current animal-free whey protein flavors are decent, but they will obviously have much more appeal for vegans.
For non-vegans, there’s nothing standout about the flavors, but if you’re only used to having plant-based protein, I can see these flavors really impressing you.
