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Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors for everything for a good reason. It has a rich smell and taste.
It’s no surprise that for many protein powders, vanilla tastes a little different. Some of them can’t seem to get the flavor right. It’s either too sweet or too bland.
I took the time to try out some best vanilla powders to find the best one.
Here is what I discovered about the best vanilla-flavored protein powder in the market.
Best Tasting Vanilla Protein Powders (May 2023)
1 - Transparent Labs Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate (Editor's Choice)
This grass-fed whey protein isolate means that the whey protein content is higher than its concentrate counterpart, with 24 grams of protein for every scoop.
According to Transparent Labs, this grass-fed whey protein powder is less processed than most isolates. In fact, it has more immunoglobulins, cysteine, and the prebiotic lactoferrin, which help boost the immune system.
French Vanilla has a classic taste that mixes well with other fluids. This whey protein isolate has 5 other flavors available; salted caramel, strawberry, milk chocolate, mocha, and cinnamon pastry.
- Calories : 120
- Protein : 28g
- Carbs : 2g
- Fat : 0g
- 100% grass-fed cows are used for whey isolate
- Contains immune system boosters
- Lots of protein despite being whey protein concentrate
- Whey protein concentrate isn’t the best version of whey source
I personally reach out for either the vanilla or milk chocolate flavor of this best-tasting protein powder for my morning smoothie.
Get 10% off using coupon code: TOTALSHAPE
2 - Live Conscious Protein
This vegan-friendly product derives its protein from plant-based sources like yellow pea, brown rice, sacha inchi seed, and pumpkin seed.
Live Conscious’ organic powder claims that it can speed up metabolism and support muscle growth.
It is true that with 15g per scoop, you get less protein compared to other products but it can help increase your daily protein n.
This vegan protein powder has a delicious taste and just the right sweetness, which we especially liked. It's surprisingly good, especially since a lot of other plant-based protein powder supplements have bland flavors.
Supplement Facts
- Calories : 80
- Protein : 15g
- Carbs : 3g
- Fat : 0.5g
- Free of soy, gluten, and sugar
- Vegan-friendly
- Manufactured in the USA and third-party tested for label accuracy
- Lower protein amount per serving
3 - Ladder Whey Protein
Ladder used vanilla beans to create that natural vanilla flavor, mixing in some salt and a little hint of natural sweetener to bolden up the taste.
The result is a healthy protein drink that tastes like your favorite vanilla ice cream. The best part is the natural taste, making it enjoyable to consume regardless of where you are. You need not worry about it tasting like cough medicine, unlike some other brands.
We also did a full review on this Ladder whey powder.
- Calories : 130
- Protein : 26g
- Carbs : 5g
- Fat : 0.5g
- CFS Certified
- All-natural ingredients
- Excellent taste without artificial sweeteners
- Complete of essential and branched-chain amino acids
- A little bit on the pricier side
It’s like drinking your favorite dessert shake and getting the essential nutrients your body needs.
4 - Ora Organic Vegan Protein Powder
Ora has a unique vegan protein powder available with not one, not two, but THREE protein sources; organic brown rice, pea, and hemp.
On top of that, it has over 20 high-quality organic superfoods to help support your cognitive function and muscle protein synthesis.
Their vanilla flavor gets lots of rave reviews for having a clean taste. I only mix it with water, and it tastes great.
- Calories : 120
- Protein : 21g
- Carbs : 4g
- Fat : 2.5g
- Source of organic brown rice protein, pea, and hemp
- Vegan-friendly
- USDA Organic
- A little gritty texture if you don’t shake well
You can’t go wrong with their other two flavors though; chocolate and Vanilla Chai are delicious in their own right.
This one is considered one of the best protein powder products in the vegan community.
I have been searching to find a plant-based protein powder that was tasty and not chalky. This powder passed the test!
- Gayla W, Ora User
5 - Legion Whey+
Legion Whey+ prides itself on having one of the market's cleanest grass-fed whey protein isolate powders. This whey isolate also claims to be digested easier than its concentrate version.
Each serving has 22 grams of protein, and it's all non-GMO and from 100% grass-fed cows.
This whey protein powder is more expensive than others, but it may be worth it to you based on its quality.
- Calories : 100
- Protein : 22g
- Carbs : 2g
- Fat : 0g
- Uses grass-fed whey protein isolate
- Non-GMO
- No hormones, fillers, or unnecessary ingredients
- Pricey
The vanilla flavor is very sweet and has a creamy texture after it’s been mixed with a liquid. So if you're not keen on sweets, it's something to consider.
This whey protein isolate has 8 other flavors besides vanilla, including mint chocolate, cookies & cream, and strawberry banana.
6 - BSN SYNTHA-6 Whey Protein Powder
Their vanilla flavor is called “vanilla ice cream,” which made me wonder how sweet this powder would taste.
Sure enough, unlike most of the best-tasting whey protein powder products on this list, it was pretty sweet, just like vanilla ice cream.
In addition, it was also hard to mix, so the little balls were reminiscent of ice cream.
- Calories : 200
- Protein : 22g
- Carbs : 14g
- Fat : 6g
- Sweet flavor
- Lots of whey protein sources
- Tastes great even if you only add water
- Hard to mix
Each whey protein scoop has 22 grams of protein, and the protein source includes whey isolate, whey concentrate, casein protein powder, and more. Other flavors include chocolate milkshake, strawberry milkshake, and chocolate peanut butter.
7 - MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder
The vanilla flavor tastes great and can easily be combined with chocolate milk (or any dairy or non-dairy milk), fruits, and vegetables to make a delicious protein drink.
Each serving has 25 grams of protein and comes from 5 different protein sources: whey protein isolate and concentrate, whey protein hydrolysate, egg albumin, and micellar casein.
MusclePharm claims that this blend helps with muscle protein synthesis, aids in recovery, and assists in overall muscle performance, which makes it ideal protein powder for runners and other athletes.
- Calories : 130
- Protein : 25g
- Carbs : 4g
- Fat : 1.5g
- 5 different types of protein sources
- Informed-Choice certified
- Affordable option
- Doesn’t mix well
From my experience, I had a problem getting the whey protein powder to blend with any liquid. I wasn’t a fan of the chunkiness.
8 - Cellucor COR-Performance Powder
This vanilla flavor is called “Whipped Vanilla”. A name like that made me expect the texture would be frothy.
It turned out really thick when mixed with water, and I wasn’t a total fan of that.
Otherwise, the taste is better than most unflavored protein powders. They also have different flavors like cinnamon swirl and peanut butter marshmallow.
- Calories : 120
- Protein : 24g
- Carbs : 4g
- Fat : 1.5g
- 24 grams of protein
- Good taste
- Uses whey protein isolate
- Thick texture
This brand uses whey isolate as their protein source, which means you are getting the most protein-packed whey source.
9 - Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
This brand has two vanilla flavors; gourmet vanilla and natural vanilla. I tried the gourmet vanilla flavor.
I mixed it with water, and I was surprised by how sweet it was. If you have a sweet tooth, then you’ll like this flavor.
Otherwise, you might get sick of it in a few days.
- Calories : 110
- Protein : 25g
- Carbs : 1g
- Fat : 0g
- Lots of flavors if you want more than vanilla
- Uses whey isolate
- Zero carbohydrates and zero fat
- Uses artificial flavors
Each protein vanilla serving has 25 grams of protein. However, it comes with artificial flavoring, which isn’t an ingredient that I want in the best-tasting powders. They have many other flavors available like smooth banana and dutch chocolate protein powder.
10 - Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition contains a protein blend of whey isolates, concentrate, and peptides.
I was impressed that this also contains over 5 grams of BCAAs, essential amino acids that can help your fitness routine. So I felt like this would help me gain muscle over time.
- Calories : 120
- Protein : 24g
- Carbs : 4g
- Fat : 1g
- Uses whey protein isolates
- Contains branched chain amino acids and other essential amino acids
- Protein vanilla blends easily
- Very sweet
I was happy that the whey protein powder mixed well with water and didn’t leave behind any small clumps. However, the vanilla flavor is pretty sweet. I balanced it out by adding ingredients like frozen fruit and lemon juice to make it less sweet and more to my preference.
Related post: BCAA vs. Whey Protein Supplement
11 - MuscleTech Phase8 Protein
This is another protein blend powder. It has seven different protein sources: whey, milk, and eggs.
It seems overkill, but the company says it allows essential amino acids (AAs) to be released for 8 hours after consumption. One scoop has 26 grams of protein.
The vanilla tasting was great. It was precisely the way it should taste. However, the texture is thick and chalky.
- Calories : 150
- Protein : 26g
- Carbs : 8g
- Fat : 1.5g
- Takes 8 hours to release essential amino acids
- Delicious protein vanilla flavor
- 7 different protein sources
- Contains artificial flavors
I can see this being a dealbreaker for some people, despite the essential amino acids. I wasn’t too impressed with the ingredient list as it contains artificial flavors and lots of ingredients with names that I couldn’t pronounce.
12 - Yuve Vegan Protein Powder
If you’re looking for a vegan vanilla flavor, then you might love this one.
It uses a plant-based proteins in the form of rice and pea protein. This ensures that you are getting the nine essential amino acids for optimum nutrition.
However, it only has 15 grams of pea protein per serving which is the lowest protein amount out of all of the products I’ve tried.
The protein vanilla flavor is pretty good, but it was a little too sweet for me. I thought it mixed well, and it tasted delicious when I combined it with other ingredients for a protein drink.
- Calories : 110
- Protein : 15g
- Carbs : 12g
- Fat : 2.5g
- Vegan-friendly
- Has a complete essential amino acid content from pea protein and brown rice protein
- Sweet protein vanilla taste
- Most expensive per serving
It’s the most expensive per serving on this products list while also having the lowest protein amount, so it may not be the most cost-effective choice for protein vanilla.
Why Should You Pick Vanilla Over Other Flavors?
You should pick protein vanilla over other flavors because it’s easier to mix with other ingredients. You can easily combine vanilla flavored products with healthy ingredients like yogurt, fruit, honey, and vegetables. It doesn’t mess with tasting as much as other flavors, like chocolate flavor might.
Is Whey or Plant-Based Protein Better for You?
To determine whether it's whey protein or plant-based protein that is better for you, you must first identify your goals.
- Plant-based protein doesn’t always have a complete amino acid profile. Sometimes a plant protein blend is needed for it to have the complete protein. Whey is always considered a complete protein.
- Vegetarians or vegans will prefer plant-based protein powder because there are no animal ingredients.
- Pea protein is just as effective as whey protein in building muscle [1]
In terms of effectiveness, both whey protein and plant-based protein products can get you the protein supplement that you need.
Your health and dietary goals might make plant-based protein more attractive if you are avoiding animal products.
However, if your nutrition goals include consuming a protein vanilla supplement with a complete amino acid profile, then you might want to look at whey-based proteins. [2]
If you want to decide which protein powder is better for you, you might want to dig deeper and evaluate the ingredients in your choices. I would recommend checking for calories, artificial flavors, filler ingredients, essential amino acids, and added sugar.
Here is an in-depth guide to Plant Protein vs. Whey: Here’s What You Need to Know
FAQs
When Is the Best Time to Take Protein Powder?
The best time to take whey protein powder is debated greatly with studies conflicting with each other. One study suggests taking it within two hours of working out. Another study says it doesn’t matter what time as long as you take enough protein vanilla.
Also, some protein powder products contain stimulants like caffeine. If you're sensitive to these ingredients, consider looking for its stimulant-free counterpart to help with weight loss without causing you to lose sleep later on.
What Can I Add to a Vanilla-Flavored Protein Shake?
You can add pretty much anything to a vanilla-flavored whey protein shake. The list of potential ingredients includes fruit, sugar, sweeteners, yogurt, cinnamon, chocolate peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and whatever else you think would taste good with vanilla.
How Much Protein Do I Need a Day?
How much whey protein blend you need a day will depend on many factors like age, gender, diet, and activity level.
For example, an average male who is at a healthy weight and doesn’t lift weights or exercise much should aim for 56-91 grams of protein a day. An average woman who meets the same criteria will need 46-75 grams per day.
You should consult with a doctor or nutritionist to find the amount of protein that you specifically need for your diet.
Is Protein Powder Good for Weight Loss?
Yes, protein powder can be good for weight loss. One study shows that protein helps with keeping you full longer. In theory, this means you will eat less and therefore consume fewer calories which helps your diet.
Protein shakes in between meals may boost your protein consumption and help you stop eating too many calories. Of course, you’ll need to work out too for the best results.
Is Protein Powder Good for Muscle Gain?
Yes, whey protein powder is good for muscle gain. It contains essential amino acids that your body needs to aid muscle development and increase muscle strength. If your protein intake from the food you eat is insufficient, you should consider taking one to help with muscle protein synthesis.
The Best Tasting Vanilla Protein Powder Is ...
Vanilla-flavored protein powders are a great base to make delicious protein shakes. Luckily, there are a lot of available options that taste great.
There is one that stood out to me though.
I enjoyed the Transparent Labs the most, I think it's one of the best tasting protein powders out of all those I tried.
Because it’s whey isolate, I get more out of its protein content.
I also appreciate that it’s from grass-fed sources. I gravitate towards grass-fed protein sources for my whey supplements, I think it makes the content cleaner and more natural.
And there’s no chalky and weird taste or texture, so I can take it with just water or flavor it with some berries.
Have you tried any of these best tasting protein powders? What did you like?
Our #1 Vanilla Protein Powder
Transparent Labs Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate
- 100% grass-fed cows are used for whey isolate
- Contains immune system boosters
- Lots of protein despite being whey protein concentrate
- Get 10% off using code: TOTALSHAPE
- Whey protein concentrate isn’t the best version of whey source
About The Author
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I don’t usually like protein powders, but this one is the best tasting I’ve ever had. It’s not too sweet and it has a vanilla flavor that doesn’t make you feel like you’re eating chalk. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for the best tasting vanilla protein powder.
Cellucor COR Performance is the best tasting vanilla protein powder on the market. It tastes so good that it actually makes me want to drink my protein shake every day. I have tried dozens of flavors in my life, but this one is really by far the best!
I don’t like protein powder. It’s generally gross and all the flavors taste the same to me. I decided to give Dymatize ISO100 a try because I heard they have the best tasting vanilla protein powder in the market. The reviews are true! This is by far my favorite vanilla flavor, better than any other brand that I’ve tried in the past.
Optimum Nutrition is the best tasting protein powder I’ve ever had. It’s worth every penny because I actually enjoy drinking it! The vanilla flavor is nice and light, without any overwhelming aftertaste. And it mixes well in water, milk, or anything else I want to put it in. Definitely recommend!
I’ve tried a lot of protein powders over the years but this is one of the best tasting. I tried it at a friend’s house after a workout and loved it. The vanilla flavor is spot on and tastes great mixed in with almond milk or water. I usually don’t like protein powders that come in tubs but this one has been my favorite so far
I’m a big fan of Yuve Vegan. I like how it is made with all natural ingredients and doesn’t contain any animal byproducts. Obviously, the taste is what got me hooked! It’s the best tasting vanilla protein powder I know of, and it’s also easily digestible, which can be hard to find in natural products.
Transparent Labs is the best tasting Vanilla protein powder that I have tried. It has a smooth and creamy texture while still being light and fluffy. I love the natural sweetener that is used in it- it’s not too sweet but just enough to add enough flavor without any added sugar. I also really like the simple ingredients list.
Transparent Labs is the best tasting vanilla protein powder, hands down. If you’re looking for a protein powder that will make you want to drink it, this is the one! It has a sweet taste and mixes well with any of my favorite workout drinks. I feel like I can focus better while training on this product and it has been a great addition to my routine.
As someone who used to drink protein powder all day, I can honestly say that Legion Whey+ is the best tasting protein powder I have come across. The taste of vanilla is smooth and reminds me of a cake batter dip. My favorite aspect of this protein powder is that it manages to not be too sweet or too salty. It’s just perfect!
Personally, I believe that BPN vanilla protein powder is the most delicious protein powder because it lacks the protein aftertaste. It only contains a small portion of it. My family is also not a big fan of the protein powder craze. They did, however, enjoy the vanilla BPN protein powder. Personally, I believe it is the best tasting.
I love BSN SYNTHA-6, but I’m not surprised to hear that it’s best tasting vanilla protein powder. It’s a great way to start my day and I really love the flavor! I also use it as a post-workout snack and it never fails to help me recover quickly.