Koia Elite Plant Based Protein Shake, Vanilla, 32g Protein, 4g Sugar, 6g Prebiotic Fiber, Pre & Post Workout Nutritional Drink, No Seed Oils, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)

Oh, these I like. The vanilla is a solid hit, and I love the flavor. The fact it's all vegan and doesn't taste like sugar was added is just a bonus. My stomach is very angry in the morning, making eating difficult. This is what I have for breakfast, with my cup of breakfast tea, and it has me energetic for hours afterward thanks to all the protein. The fact it doesn't need to be refrigerated is a bonus because sometimes I need to pack one in my purse. That's extremely convenient. On top of this, the overall quality has it worth every dollar. Their other flavors, however, are terrible. Their idea of cocoa has a chaulky and copper taste to it, like blood. The shelf stable version of their drinks are thicker. Too thick to blend with fruit. I gave to shake the bottle to loose everything up. However, I have a small fridge and need to take one of these with me when I leave my home. Between being medically necessary vegan as well as having celiac disease and requiring everything be gluten-free, finding places I can get something to eat is...tricky. Taking one of these along is enough energy for me to get home and make a meal.

Drink is very creamy but not too sweet. It's also very filling. Great for meal replacement, but I like drinking half at breakfast and the other half just before lunch

These are hard for me to find in local stores. They can't keep stock up with me around and I've actually driven to multiple stores in one day to try to find them. I thought they had to be refrigerated (bc that's how they're sold at stores) but apparently that is just after opening. What I like about this product the most is that there is no iron in 32 gram vanilla option; most pea protein shakes have a lot of iron which adds up if I drink 2 to max 3 a day. Also it is delicious, smooth, creamy vanilla that isn't too sweet or too thick - they've perfected the flavor profile. The ingredients appeal to me too with my sensitive stomach, it allows me to get extra protein without artificial or Inflammatory ingredients, excess sugars, seed oils, milk products, etc. My only complaint is that it's expensive - but it's no more expensive than similar products on market.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: I had high hopes for the Koia Protein Shake, but unfortunately, it missed the mark in several key areas. The taste is overwhelmingly unpleasant—far from the rich, smooth chocolate flavor you’d expect. Instead, it has a bitter, artificial aftertaste that lingers far too long. The texture is another major issue. The shake is extremely thick—almost sludge-like—and the protein doesn’t seem to dissolve well at all. It leaves a chalky, gritty mouthfeel that makes it hard to finish even half the bottle. It’s more of a chore than a treat. If you’re looking for a smooth, tasty, and drinkable protein shake, I’d recommend steering clear of this one. There are far better options on the market that offer quality nutrition and a palatable experience.

I tried the vanilla flavor. Most protein drinks have artificial sweeteners and are cloyingly sweet. The reviews for sweetness for this one seemed to be all over the map, but this is pleasantly and mildly sweet. The vanilla flavor isn't overwhelming either. It doesn't taste like melted vanilla ice cream and for me these were both pros. There is a faint smell that is a little weird - not sure what it is but it's not at all a deal breaker. Also these aren't too thick, which is another plus. Along with the high protein content, the best aspect of these is that they don't have artificial sweeteners, and that is hard to find. I'd much rather have the few grams of natural sugar than artificial sweeteners. And they have fiber, another hard to find feature of many ready to drink protein shakes. They definitely taste best when very cold. The only drawback is the price. These are at least double the cost of your average protein shake out there. However, you get what you pay for, and for me, the higher quality ingredients are worth the extra cost. Hopefully there will be more flavors like what is offered in the Koia drinks in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.