Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

Nuzest's website is full of the usual marketing, but don't be fooled. Tried many and this is the best tasting vegan protein. Have had this before, but ended up ordering from Vivo again because their multi-buys are a lot cheaper. Recently ran out so switched back and am glad I did.

The main reasons I like this are A) the blend doesn't contain rice protein; B) the lack of snake-oil 'superfoods' and added salt (if you're into that sort of thing and enjoy putting the word 'functional' before everything, then nuzest do some superfood varieties on their website); C) Katamfe tastes much better than stevia - Wild Strawberry mixed with unsweetened almond milk tastes like a dairy-free strawberry milk-shake. Same goes for the vanilla and chocolate, but strawberry is my favourite so far. Lush. Vivo Perform all taste like medicine in comparison.

However, the blend only contains pea protein. So if you're not not lazy or time constrained then you could just make your own similar blend from a plain pea protein and save yourself some money. Katamfe fruit extract is only available at fishing shops though and I don't know if this is fit for human consumption.

Nuzest's is the same as Neat Nutrition's vegan blend as far as I can tell and they are both too expensive for what they contain. Although the advice to mix certain plant proteins to form a more balanced or 'complete amino acid profile' is over-blown and hemp is overwhelmingly earthy-tasting, I'd still prefer a mixture of hemp and pea for this price. Also, katamfe extract is so sweet they only need to add a small amount to the blend and it's a very cheap bulk sweetener compared to stevia (fish like it; apparently fit for human consumption; tastes great - what's not to love?).

In summary: a canny protein blend. A bit too expensive, but by far the best tasting and smoothest alternative to dairy based powders. Wish it had a bit of hemp though.

I've tried dozens of plant-based proteins, some that spring to mind...

Garden of Life Sports Protein, tasted good but has stevia in and possible issues with heavy metals;

Naked Pea protein tasted like medieval gruel and they are cagey about giving info about their product;

Warrior Protein made my gut ache and didn't taste great;

Various hemp proteins which tasted like eating grass;

Plantfusion which turned me into a gas producing machine.

Nuzest comes out on top, it checks all the boxes...

1. Taste 4/5 - If you're expecting these powders to taste like a McDonald's milkshake you'll feel a little letdown. But if you've tried other plant proteins then chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised. The chocolate version is very pleasant, it mixes quite thick (but you can thin with more water) and it has a pleasant texture. I'm curious how the non-flavoured one tastes.

2. Purity 5/5 - I emailed Nuzest and they emailed me back lab reports which showed virtually nil pesticides and lead, mercury, cadium, nickel. It would be good if they included other metals such as tungsten and whatnot for peace of mind but most companies I emailed didn't reply or share reports. Also, the product is produced using water extraction rather than chemical solvents. It's produced in a GMP factory which have high standards and is made in Europe rather than in China. Finally, it's GMO-free.

3. Ingredients 5/5 - No stevia, which apparently can negative affect gut microbiome. Instead of stevia leaf extract, this protein uses a fruit extract.

4. Aminos 5/5 - Has all the key aminos including a good dollop of leucine which is vital for protein synthesis for muscle building.

5. Digestion 5/5 - Easy to digest. Zero gas or, er, toilet issues. I find using other proteins often means having to use quite a lot of loo roll. This stuff actually seems to help digestion, for me at least.

6. Price 3.5/5 - You can get this for about £43/kg. That's quite pricey compared to some of the bulk-style powders like Pulsin which you can get for around £15/kg. The problem is those bulk-style powders taste rough. I'm happy to pay more for taste and quality assurance. The price is however comparable to similar proteins like Garden of Life and Vega.

7. Support 5/5 - Support was responsive and friendly. Most of the companies I email never reply.

This is now my go-to protein, looking forward to trying the other flavours. Well done Nuzest

I've tried dozens of plant-based proteins, some that spring to mind...

Garden of Life Sports Protein, tasted good but has stevia in and possible issues with heavy metals;

Naked Pea protein tasted like medieval gruel and they are cagey about giving info about their product;

Warrior Protein made my gut ache and didn't taste great;

Various hemp proteins which tasted like eating grass;

Plantfusion which turned me into a gas producing machine.

Nuzest comes out on top, it checks all the boxes...

1. Taste 4/5 - If you're expecting these powders to taste like a McDonald's milkshake you'll feel a little letdown. But if you've tried other plant proteins then chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised. The chocolate version is very pleasant, it mixes quite thick (but you can thin with more water) and it has a pleasant texture. I'm curious how the non-flavoured one tastes.

2. Purity 5/5 - I emailed Nuzest and they emailed me back lab reports which showed virtually nil pesticides and lead, mercury, cadium, nickel. It would be good if they included other metals such as tungsten and whatnot for peace of mind but most companies I emailed didn't reply or share reports. Also, the product is produced using water extraction rather than chemical solvents. It's produced in a GMP factory which have high standards and is made in Europe rather than in China. Finally, it's GMO-free.

3. Ingredients 5/5 - No stevia, which apparently can negative affect gut microbiome. Instead of stevia leaf extract, this protein uses a fruit extract.

4. Aminos 5/5 - Has all the key aminos including a good dollop of leucine which is vital for protein synthesis for muscle building.

5. Digestion 5/5 - Easy to digest. Zero gas or, er, toilet issues. I find using other proteins often means having to use quite a lot of loo roll. This stuff actually seems to help digestion, for me at least.

6. Price 3.5/5 - You can get this for about £43/kg. That's quite pricey compared to some of the bulk-style powders like Pulsin which you can get for around £15/kg. The problem is those bulk-style powders taste rough. I'm happy to pay more for taste and quality assurance. The price is however comparable to similar proteins like Garden of Life and Vega.

7. Support 5/5 - Support was responsive and friendly. Most of the companies I email never reply.

This is now my go-to protein, looking forward to trying the other flavours. Well done Nuzest

Everything about this brand is quality! As a health practitioner I've used MANY different plant based protein brands - this hits 10/10 on flavour (I buy the chocolate and vanilla) Great nutrient density, clean ingredients (no hidden sugars or gums). I like that it's super light to digest (no bloating which for a woman age 47 is a big plus!). 2 scoops blends well in my smoothies and smoothie (porridge/quinoa) bowls, pancakes, and tastes great in a few bread/cookie bakes and energy balls. Love it!

Love this powder. Tastes delicious and covers all my requirements, vegan, gluten free, and a high protein content. Will be buying this again!