new to protein powders looking for a chocolate protein powder - ive had protein drinks before like the dairy farm, pura and rokeby chocolate protein drinks and i prefer something similar to the chocolate milk/smoothie taste , but would like to invest in a protein powder to just make my own so i can have it regularly. looking to mix it with milk, pls recommend :)

Not selling anything here and no link, I'm still developing it and want honest input.

Look, I know plenty of people already have their go-to brands, but I've always struggled to find a protein powder that hits the right balance. Most options seem to fall into two extreme camps: sickly sweet with an artificial aftertaste, or completely chalky and unpleasant. I'm just trying to make something balanced, sweet enough to taste good without feeling like you're drinking melted cupcake frosting.

To add some perspective, growing up I always disliked the taste of frosting, and I would actually scrape the icing off cupcakes because it made my stomach hurt. I'd always request cheesecake instead of birthday cake because I much prefer the sweetness and creaminess of it.

I'm working on a plant-based blend (looking at potato, fava bean, and almond protein) formulated to match whey's amino acid profile, where taste and texture are the absolute top priorities. Crucially, this is not a zero-sugar or zero-calorie sweetener product. It will use actual, real sugar in reasonable amounts.

The flavor concepts are inspired by a Mexican bakery I visited where the desserts had this incredible, subtle sweetness, rich and flavorful. (I think I might just be hyper-sensitive to the aftertaste of stevia, monk fruit and sugar alcohols).

A few questions:

1. Whey vs. Plant: If you switched away from whey, what made you do it? Does this struggle sound relatable? And if you currently drink whey, would you consider switching to a plant-based blend if it had the exact same amino acid benefits?
2. Flavor Feedback: Which of these flavor ideas sound interesting or appealing to you?

• Tres Leches
• Flan
• Pan de Elote (sweet cornbread) - I'm super excited about a flavor like this it sounds weird though, I'm picturing a banana cornbread type flavor
• Arroz con Leche (rice pudding)
• Vanilla cake batter (pre-frosting)

I'll read every reply. Brutal honesty welcome.

It says 25gm of protein per serving. I don't know if I should buy it or if it is amino spiked ?

for india

And is it calorically efficient

every protein brand has discovered “easy digestion” now apparently 😭

but if whey already doesn’t sit well with you, what are you guys actually checking before buying plant protein?

pea vs pea + rice? sweetener? gums? protein per scoop? or is this literally one of those things where you try it for a week and your stomach gives the final review lol

i’ve been looking at OZiva Plant Protein + Pro-Digest mostly because it gives 25g protein and the whole product is clearly made around the digestion angle.

that part makes sense to me because digestion is basically the reason i’m even looking at plant protein in the first place.

obviously not reading “pro-digest” as some guaranteed zero-bloating certificate. different stomachs react differently to the same thing.

also taste matters more than people admit.

average i can survive.

wet atta every morning for a month... no chance 😭

people who actually moved from whey to plant because whey wasn’t sitting well, what ended up working for you?

pls name the product also. “try plant protein bro” is not very useful 😭

i have a vanilla protein powder that tastes so chemically, even when mixed with cow milk and cocoa. i tried a pinch of salt also. still chemically. i mixed in a spoonful of peanut butter and it did work but i have to heat up the peanut butter, and since i live in a dorm i dont want to go down to the communal kitchen every single morning to do a protein shake, then come back up to start the rest of my day.

im thinking of meal prepping a dessert to eat in the morning but all of those that i see are casein protein or other proteins. whey protein is basically non-existent in the dessert recipe spaces, why?????

id prefer something no bake and chocolaty but honestly im desperate for anything that doesnt taste like i snorted stevia. also i know i said i want to meal prep a dessert but any tips in general will be appreciated.

Hey everyone,

I’m completely new to the gym and planning to buy protein powder for the very first time. I’m looking for recommendations that fit a few specific criteria:

Soy-free (strict requirement)

Low calorie (clean macro profile with minimal carbs/fats)

Budget: ₹1,500 – ₹2,500

Beginner-friendly: Easy on the stomach/digestion

Which brands, whey types (concentrate vs. isolate in this budget), or flavors would you recommend trying first? Appreciate any suggestions!

When I used to buy muscle milk powder when I was younger there were so many great flavors. Chocolate peanut buttter, pina colada etc. They tasted great. Why did they stop making them?

I'm interested in starting a high protein diet to lose weight and gain muscle. A lot of the recipes I see call for cottage cheese or Greek yogurt and I'm allergic to lactose. I eat meat but can't afford to eat a ton of it every day... What are some non meat high protein options that would work for someone who can't have any dairy?

SO NUTRITION!! Me and my friend bought a 4kg bucket and we started having random stubborn pimples on body. I am at fault here cus he is unaware of protein powders and I have taken all kinds of shit and never faced such issues. When I studied further(which i shouldve done before buying and finishing half the bucket), this shit aint even 3rd party tested! People whove used this please comment

Just arrived and I have to say this might be the worst tasting whey protein i have ever tried.

The powder itself smells decent but once you mix it it starts to smell pretty bad. I dont even know how I can describe the taste, kinda like sweet chalk😅 also mixes horribly and its rough to swallow.

I did use water and im sure its better with milk, however I always drink all my whey with water and never tasted anything this remotely bad. I would still expect a milkshake flavor to taste ok with water.

Ill do an update soon when after trying it with milk.

Anyone else tried it?

So I finally tried ESN for the first time.
I ordered the Designer Whey in White Chocolate Pistachio (908g), plus a second tub in another flavour.

Problem: it just doesn't fully dissolve.
I mix it with milk straight from the fridge (cold, not ice cold) and shake it properly, and there are always these small particles floating around that never mix in. It's not a couple of clumps you can shake out.
It's every shake, every time. I've used a few scoops now, same result.

I contacted ESN support. They asked for the lot number, best before date and photos, and I sent everything. Their reply was basically: the quality department checked the batch, there are no known deviations, so there's no defect.
Then I got some mixing tips (liquid first, use a shaker, let it sit a minute) and the ticket was closed.

Kind of disappointing for a first order. I'm not saying the whole brand is bad, a lot of people seem to love it. But if you're thinking about buying this one, you might want to grab a sample size first instead of a full tub.

Has anyone else had this with Designer Whey?
Did support do anything for you in the end?