Flavors Tried: Double Chocolate & Vanilla Bean
Price: $9.99 for 4 ($2.49 per shake)
Nutrition: 140 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 15g Carbs (10g Fiber, 4g Sugar), 20g Protein
Plant-based protein shakes can be a bit of a wild card for me- I’ve had some that make me wish I’d just eaten a handful of dirt instead.
But then there are those like OWYN that just nail it and make me question everything I thought I knew about plant-based protein.
So, when I saw that Evolve had its protein shakes on sale, I had to give them a go.
What really caught my eye with Evolve’s shakes is their nutrition facts – each shake comes packed with 20 grams of protein, which is kind of a big deal in the plant-based world.
Most plant-based shakes are slightly lower in protein due to the strong flavor that plant-based protein tends to have, so 20 grams of protein always excites me.
OWYN protein shakes also have 20 grams of protein, but also 180 calories, so these being lower in calories is even more intriguing.
Also, this is a completely random tidbit, but they’ve teamed up with the National Parks Foundation and they’ve got a different national park on each label. As a graphic designer and nature buff, seeing those labels makes me really happy.
Anyway, on to the review.
I tried two flavors: Double Chocolate and Vanilla Bean. Let’s see how they stack up.
Vanilla Bean Evolve Protein Shake
I’m just going to come right out and say it – the Vanilla Bean shake was alright, but it didn’t wow me.
It had a decent vanilla taste, but it was more plain Jane vanilla than a rich vanilla bean like you’d get in a quality ice cream.
It’s thinner than your average protein shake, which may not be a horrible thing, but I found myself wishing it were a bit more substantial.
The shake itself leaves a slight bitter aftertaste, which I expected considering the high amount of plant-based protein and not much else to mask it.
Overall, it’s not terrible, but it’s not going to have me rushing back for more.
Double Chocolate Evolve Protein Shake
Chocolate protein shakes tend to fare a bit better than vanilla shakes, so I had higher expectations for the double chocolate Evolve protein shake.
When you have chocolate, it’s much easier to mask that “Earthy” taste of plant-based protein, and that was certainly the case here.
The Double Chocolate flavor is a winner.
Sure, it’s still on the thin side, but the flavor? It’s a smooth, creamy, rich dark chocolate flavor.
No bitter aftertaste, just smooth, rich chocolatey goodness.
If you tried this side by side with a dairy-based protein shake, you’d be able to taste a slight difference, but this holds its own against any protein shake.
This is a shake I’d happily reach for, plant-based or not. Plus, with those macros, it’s a no-brainer.
Evolve Protein Shakes: The Verdict
Overall, Evolve’s shakes are pretty solid, especially for a plant-based protein shake.
They’re not going to knock OWYN off my favorite plant-based shake pedestal, but they’re not trailing too far behind either. Out of the two flavors I treied, I’d pick Double Chocolate any day of the week over the vanilla bean.
And if you’re living a plant-based or vegan lifestyle, you will likely enjoy these shakes even more than I did, so they’re worth trying!
I’ve got to give a shout-out to Evolve’s mission, too. They’re all about sustainability, with a focus on reducing water usage and exploring how they can source their peas more sustainably. They’re also on a mission to improve their packaging to help reduce their carbon footprint. In their own words, they’re “leaving no stone unturned.”
Bonus points for a company with a solid mission behind it, right?
