Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Powder is a universal choice for all walks of life. Made from sprouted protein sources, gut-friendly probiotics, and digestive enzymes, this flagship protein powder from Garden of Life is 100% raw, organic, and GMO-free.
But does this Garden of Life protein powder taste good? Is it sufficient for athletic recovery? And how does the price measure up to its value? Below, I answer all of these questions in my review of Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein.
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Ingredients & Nutrition | Taste | Price | Bottom Line
Why Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein is a Win
Whether for athletic recovery or a weight loss supplement, Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Protein Powder is equally as versatile as it is nutrient-dense.
Not only is it nutritionally stacked, but it also offers one of the better stevia-free protein powder options (the “Unflavored” flavor).
In my Garden of Life Raw Protein review, I had the distinct, first-world privilege to taste all four flavors: Vanilla, Vanilla Chai, Chocolate, and Coffee.
In addition to providing a comprehensive flavor review of this vegan protein powder, I also analyze the nutritional profile and overall value of the product. Let’s jump right into it.
See Other Garden of Life Protein Powder Reviews
- Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Review
- Garden of Life RAW Fit Protein Review
- Garden of Life RAW Protein & Greens Review
Nutrition Review: What’s in Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula?
The core ingredients of Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Protein Blend include: Organic pea protein, organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic amaranth sprout, organic buckwheat sprout, organic millet sprout, organic cracked wall chlorella, organic quinoa sprout, organic chia seed sprout, organic garbanzo bean sprout, organic lentil sprout, organic adzuki bean sprout, organic flax seed sprout, organic sunflower seed sprout, organic pumpkin seed sprout, organic sesame seed sprout.
Wow. Did you get all that? That’s organic raw vegan protein powder in its finest form. Of all the reviews I’ve conducted on this site, never have I seen a sprouted protein blend as potent as this.
A single-serving scoop contains 22 grams of protein (which is quite a step up from the “old version” of Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein powder which had just 17 grams of protein.)
Perhaps more important than the actual grams of protein is the concentration of amino acids. To my surprise, Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula has just shy of 4 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and slightly over 8 grams of essential amino acids (EAAs).
These numbers contend with some of the more advanced (and expensive) performance protein powders designed for athletes. So if you’re seeking vegan sport protein powder designed for optimal recovery and even muscle building, Garden of Life Raw Protein fits the bill.
In addition to the premium, amino-rich, raw vegan protein blend, Garden of Life Raw Protein also contains one of the highest concentrations of vitamins and minerals. This includes Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, and Molybdenum as well as vitamins A, E, D, and K.
The “old version” of this product used to be branded with the infusion of Garden of Life’s Vitamin Code® line, which is popularized by its Vitamin D supplement. Although the new and improved version does not mention Vitamin Code, you still get a massive dose of Vitamin D (130% suggested daily value per serving.)
The Organic Flavor Blend (vanilla flavor) contains organic erythritol, organic vanilla flavors, organic stevia extract (leaf), sea salt, organic guar gum, and organic carob bean gum. Unlike some plant-based protein powders that have an intense stevia taste (and lingering aftertaste) Garden of Life products seem to strike a nice balance and are never overly “steviated.” Keep in mind the “Unflavored’ version is stevia-free.
To cap off the nutritional review of Garden of Life Raw Protein Powder, the product also includes a few immunity-boosting badasses, such as glutathione and Beta-glucans. It also contains no sugar, so it’s one of the most ketogenic-friendly protein powders on the market.
Overall, this is an incredible product from a nutritional standpoint and earns my sincere 5 out of 5-star rating. Now for the fun part: the flavor review of Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula.
Nutritional Review Rating: 5 out of 5
Flavor Review: Does Garden of Life Raw Protein Taste Good?
While taste is always subject to opinion, I think most people who have tried the “old version” of this product would agree that the “New and Improved” Garden of Life Raw Protein is a big improvement.
About my previous review of the old version, I use words like “chalky” and “sooty.” But having taste-tested the new stuff, there’s nothing of the sort; only smooth deliciousness.
The four flavors in the roster of Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula include Unflavored, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Vanilla Chai. Similar to other products like Garden of Life Protein & Greens, the flavor is well-balanced in terms of sweetness and texture.
I also found the texture to be quite smooth, as each flavor mixed very easily into just almond milk (with no blender!)
Garden of Life Raw Protein Unflavored Review
Starting with flavor that has no flavor, Garden of Life Raw Protein Unflavored is a winning option in the category of transparent, natural-tasting, unflavored vegan protein powders. It’s not sweet, nor is there much taste to speak of. But it’s very smooth and virtually undetectable when added to a smoothie or incorporated into a recipe. It’s also one of the few vegan protein powders without stevia as a form of sweetner.
Also, if you’re looking for a quality vegan protein powder that’s low on the sweet scale, then this is a good option worth trying. Like Garden of Life Raw Fit protein powder that has metabolism-boosting ingredients, it’s nutritionally dense, low in calories, and isn’t sweet (so it won’t trigger your taste buds into wanting more.)
Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla Review
If you’re a fan of vanilla-flavored vegan protein powders, then you have to try Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla. This is one of the most delicious, natural-tasting vanilla protein powders I’ve ever had. In addition to having a distinct vanilla bean flavor, it also had nostalgic tastes of cashews and Nilla wafers.
The beauty of Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla is that it can be added to a number of applications beyond smoothies. I’ve tried it in oats and mixed it into the milk of my cereal. It’s mildly sweet and has no stevia aftertaste like other vanilla-flavored options out there. Very pleased in reviewing this product, I put this choice atop my list of recommendable products.
Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla Chai Review
As a nice twist to an already awesome flavor, Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla Chai is a superb choice if you want something layered with a little more complexity. Garden of Life did us chai-lovers a solid with this product, as the taste is phenomenal. It’s still moderately sweet with a great balance of chai spice and vanilla bean, making it a delicious combination for the right application.
Garden of Life Raw Protein Vanilla Chai is certainly not as transparent and universally applicable as some of the other options, so make sure you really like the chai before you buy. But if you do, you’re in for a treat. This product gives you the subtle notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger common in good chai spice.
Garden of Life Raw Protein Chocolate Review
Because I am picky about my chocolate-flavored vegan protein powders, I naturally embraced Garden of Life Raw Protein Chocolate with the mindset of a food critic. The experience and outcome were overall pleasing (and slightly nostalgic.) This flavor reminded me of chocolate Ovaltine, in that it had a rich, milk chocolate taste that was quite delightful.
Although great on its own with just almond milk, this flavor is also a nice addition to oats, unique recipes, and decadent smoothies (i.e. real coconut milk, peanut butter, bananas, etc.) Staying consistent with the other flavor’s top-of-class reputation, Garden of Life Raw Protein Chocolate is one of the best protein powders of its kind.
Flavor Review Rating 5 out of 5
Price Review: How Much Does Garden of Life Raw Protein Cost?
Because the price of Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein varies based on the seller and market demands (especially if you buy the product online where there are several sellers), I am unable to list a specific price tag.
But what I can do is give you a value rating of the cost of Garden of Life Raw Protein given the product’s quality, volume, and comparability to similar vegan protein powders on the market.
On the complete spectrum of plant-based protein powders, Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula is about average in price. You can typically find a 20-ounce tub of Garden of Life Raw Protein priced at just over $30.
And given the fact that it’s one of the highest quality raw vegan protein powders with a 5-star flavor spectrum that comes in four options, I find Garden of Life Raw Protein is a solid value that’s worth the price. Among all the different Garden of Life protein powder reviews I’ve done, this one is my favorite.
Price Review Rating: 5 out of 5
The Best Garden of Life Protein Powder?
As one of the flagship products of this brand, Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula is one of the latest products to be refurbished with a new flavor and nutritional composition.
In other words, Garden of Life has been polishing up its branding and labeling, while revamping the ingredients of some of its products (even referencing BCAAs on the label). In essence, Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein is one product that has seen a substantial overhaul and we’re excited to give it a thorough review.
If you’re searching for the Internet’s most comprehensive Garden of Life Raw Protein review, then you’ve come to the right place. We conduct in-depth reviews on various plant-based protein powders at the Vegan Protein Powder Review. We especially appreciate Garden of Life protein powders because they typically contain no added sugars, nor any artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Have you had Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Plant Formula? Let me know what you think of this product in the comments below. Also, check out some of the related plant-based protein powders listed below.
Related Vegan Protein Powder Reviews
- PlantFusion Complete Protein Powder Review
- Garden of Life RAW Protein & Greens Review
- MRM Veggie Elite Review
- Sunnwarrior Warrior Blend Review
- Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Review
- Garden of Life RAW Fit Protein Review
- Vega Sport Protein Powder Review
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, and he offers over a decade of experience blogging on various reputable platforms. Having experimented with a vegan diet throughout his life, Tyler has 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. You can also view his site TylerTafelsky.com to learn more about what he’s up to.