Which Vegan Protein Powder Has the Highest BCAA Content?

Branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, have become a hot topic in the supplement space, especially when it comes to vegan protein powder.

BCAAs, which are the three essential amino acids Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine, are some of the most critical building blocks for muscle repair. 

With vegan, plant-based protein, the challenge is ensuring you’re getting enough of these amino acids. Because only a few specific plant foods are ‘complete’ proteins with all essential amino acids, consuming the right combination of plants is key.

Fortunately, many brands have responded to the demand for amino-rich vegan protein powder with BCAAs. Not only can you find vegan BCAA powders, but many plant-based protein powders contain upwards of 5g to 6g of BCAAs per serving.

Best Vegan Protein Powders with BCAAs

Except for single-source protein powders, like only pea protein or rice protein, almost all plant-based protein powders contain BCAAs. This is because they’re made using a combination of plant sources.

However, most of these products offer only 3g to 4g of BCAAs in a single serving. For an active individual or high-performing athlete, this may not be enough.

So, which vegan protein powders have the highest concentration of BCAAs? Here are three of the best products that I recommend and consume regularly. Some of these recommendations contain affiliate links (see my affiliate disclaimer).

1. VIVO Life Perform

Probably the cleanest protein powder in this category, VIVO Life Perform is a high-performance product that provides 6g of BCAA per serving, along with 25g of protein from fermented yellow pea and cold processed hemp protein.

Although this pea and hemp protein blend is naturally dense with amino acids, VIVO Life Perform is infused with a plant-based BCAA blend to help bump up the level of aminos.

Low-carb, sugar-free, and sweetened with stevia leaf extract, this non-blood sugar-spiking protein powder is suitable for those on a keto or paleo diet.

This plant-based protein powder is clean because it’s third-party tested for heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, and contaminants, and it uses only natural ingredients that you can recognize.

It’s a premium option that’s priced higher than comparable products. But if you’re looking for the best clean protein powder that packs the highest amount of BCAAs, VIVO Life Perform is worth trying out.

Find it on Amazon

2. Garden of Life Sport

For a certified organic, non-GMO option, Garden of Life Sport is a powerful vegan protein powder that delivers 5.5g of natural BCAAs, meaning all of the amino acids come from the plant protein alone, no dedicated BCAA blend needed.

This all-organic protein blend contains pea, sprouted navy bean, sprouted lentil bean, and sprouted garbanzo bean, delivering 30g of protein per serving. There’s also a recovery blend that’s made with tart cherries, apples, turmeric, goji berries, and blueberries.

In addition to its robust BCAA content, one serving of Garden of Life Sport also delivers 5g of glutamine and glutamic acid. Studies show that this combination increases muscle glycogen synthesis, which is essential for energy storage and utilization during exercise.^[1]

Garden of Life Sport contains no added sugar (one full serving has <1 gram of sugar), but is sweetened with organic stevia leaf extract. However, the taste is on the mellow side, with both the vanilla and chocolate flavors being mildly sweet.

This is one protein powder that I purchase regularly for its performance-oriented nutrition and affordable price tag.

Find it on Amazon

3. Vega Sport Protein

A legacy product that’s been around for at least a decade, Vega Sport Protein is a partially organic blend of pea, organic pumpkin seed, organic sunflower seed, and alfalfa protein.

Not only does this pack 30g of protein per serving, making it suitable for elite athletes and those looking to build muscle, but one serving delivers 5g of BCAAs.

Vega Sport Protein also contains tart cherry, known for its potential benefits in aiding post-workout recovery, as well as probiotics to support immune health and athletic recovery.

It comes in a variety of flavors, with peanut butter being my favorite. All in all, Vega Sport is a well-rounded vegan protein powder that provides a high protein content and abundant amino acid profile. It’s also well-priced at just over $30 per tub. 

Find it on Amazon

Why BCAA Protein Powder is So Essential

Compared to other essential amino acids, BCAAs are a boon for optimizing muscle recovery while minimizing soreness. Their unique branched molecular structure sets them apart from other types of amino acids as vital building blocks that support muscle protein synthesis.

Scientifically speaking, BCAAs stimulate the activation of mTORC1 signaling pathways, which play a critical role in muscle protein synthesis.^[2]

Leucine in particular, which is perhaps the most important amino acid of them all, has an anabolic effect on protein metabolism by increasing the rate of protein synthesis and decreasing muscle protein breakdown.^[3]

It’s for these reasons that so many bodybuilders, strength athletes, and endurance athletes prioritize BCAAs as part of their recovery protocol.

The beauty in today’s world of branched-chain amino acids is that you can find ample amounts of BCAAs in a high-quality, sport-performance protein powder. 

Sure, BCAA supplements have their place. But for most people, the products mentioned above are perfect solutions for amino acid supplementation.

You Might Also Like

• What’s the Best Vegan Protein Powder for Muscle Gain?
• EAA vs BCAA: Which is Better for Your Athletic Endeavors?
• How Much Protein Powder Should I Consume Per Day?
• Whey vs Plant Protein: A Science-Based Comparison

About The Author

This review was conducted by Tyler Tafelsky, the lead editor here at VeganProteinPowder.reviews. Tyler is an experienced writer in the health, nutrition, and athletic space. Over his lifetime, he’s tried hundreds of plant-based nutritional products and writes about his favorites here on this blog. Learn more about Tyler by viewing his full author bio or by following him on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Also, visit his website to learn more about what he’s up to.

Scientific References

1. Coqueiro AY, Rogero MM, Tirapegui J. Glutamine as an Anti-Fatigue Amino Acid in Sports Nutrition. Nutrients. 2019 Apr 17;11(4):863. doi: 10.3390/nu11040863. PMID: 30999561; PMCID: PMC6520936.
2. Jackman SR, Witard OC, Philp A, Wallis GA, Baar K, Tipton KD. Branched-Chain Amino Acid Ingestion Stimulates Muscle Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis following Resistance Exercise in Humans. Front Physiol. 2017 Jun 7;8:390. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00390. PMID: 28638350; PMCID: PMC5461297.
3. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S. doi: 10.1093/jn/136.1.269S. PMID: 16365096.