How to Make a Vegan Protein Shake Less Gritty
More liquid, liquid first, a proper shake or blend and a minute's rest. Here's how to get a smoother plant protein shake with the powder you already have.
To make a vegan protein shake less gritty, use more liquid than you think (300 to 400 ml per scoop), pour the liquid in before the powder, blend it if you can, and let it sit for a minute before you drink it. A frozen banana or a handful of ice does the rest. Below: why plant protein feels thicker than whey, the ratios and mixing times we suggest, the best add-ins, and a routine to copy tomorrow.
More liquid, liquid first, a blender if you have one, and a minute to rest
Gritty shakes usually come down to too little liquid, powder added to a dry bottle, short mixing, or drinking it the second you stop shaking.
Why plant protein shakes can feel gritty or chalky
Our Vegan Protein is a blend of pea, brown rice and hemp protein. Pea protein is known for low solubility: a review of pea protein isolate lists it as one of the ingredient's main limitations, with commercial pea protein isolates dissolving only partly in water. Rice protein is similar: a review of rice protein research describes its overall water solubility as relatively low, especially in neutral liquids. What doesn't dissolve is what you notice as grit or chalk.
The flavoured versions also include xanthan gum, a common thickener. It gives the shake more body, and some reviewers describe it as thicker than whey. Some reviewers love that; others find it too thick. Of the 432 reviews that mention texture, 217 are positive and 172 negative, so it really does come down to how you make it and what you like.
The Unflavoured & Unsweetened version is just the three proteins, with no xanthan gum, sweetener or salt.
Get the ratio right: start at 300 to 400 ml per scoop
The label says one scoop in 250 to 500 ml of water or other liquid, and where you land in that range changes the shake a lot.
- 250 ml: the shake is thickest at this amount, so any grit is easiest to notice. Good if you like a pudding-style shake.
- 300 to 400 ml: our suggested starting point. Thinner, easier to drink, and the texture is less noticeable.
- 500 ml: the lightest option.
Start at 350 ml (about 1 1/2 cups), then adjust by 50 ml at a time until it feels right to you.
Choose a liquid with body
Water keeps the calories to what's in the scoop (124 kcal for Chocolate), but it's the thinnest option, so it shows texture the most.
Plant milks (oat, soy, almond, coconut beverage) add their own body and can make the shake taste creamier. A half-and-half mix of water and plant milk is a good middle ground. Check the carton for calories and protein, and remember that soy and tree nut milks bring their own allergens.
Make it cold: chilled liquid or a few ice cubes make the shake more pleasant to drink.
Shaker or blender: the order and timing that cut clumps
Liquid first, then powder. Powder poured into an empty bottle packs into the corners and turns into clumps.
Use one with a mixing ball, close it tight and shake hard for 20 to 30 seconds. Our Shaker Bottle ($14.99) has the mixing ball reviewers mention.
Blend for 30 to 45 seconds. This is the smoothest option and the only good way to use frozen fruit or oats.
Let it sit for a minute or two, then drink it within 30 minutes
After shaking, give it 60 to 90 seconds. The foam settles and any dry bits get a chance to soak through, so the shake drinks smoother. Give it one more quick shake before you drink.
Don't leave it too long, though. The directions say to drink it within 30 minutes of mixing, so a shake made the night before isn't the plan. Keep the dry powder in your shaker and add the liquid when you're ready.
Add-ins that make it creamier
One of the easiest fixes: it makes the shake thick and creamy and masks most grit. About 60 g (half a medium banana) is enough.
Four or five ice cubes, or 1/2 cup (about 75 g) of frozen berries or mango, turns a shake into a smoothie and spreads the protein through more volume.
2 tbsp (about 15 g) of quick oats or 1 tbsp (16 g) of peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter adds body. Vegan Protein contains none of the listed allergens, but peanuts and tree nuts are allergens, so your shake no longer is allergen-free once you add them. Choose oats labelled gluten-free if you avoid gluten.
All three work best in a blender.
Which Vegan Protein flavour or size suits smooth shakes
Every flavour has 24 g of protein a serving. The sweetened flavours use stevia (Reb A) and no artificial sweeteners, as part of our naturally sweetened range.
- Chocolate (33 g scoop, 124 kcal, 4 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat): the cocoa powder gives a rich base that suits milk and banana.
- Vanilla (32 g scoop, 119 kcal, 2 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat): the easiest flavour to pair with fruit.
- Unflavoured & Unsweetened (30 g scoop, 118 kcal, 1 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat): suits smoothies where the fruit sets the flavour. It has no xanthan gum, so the add-ins above do more of the work on body.
| Size | Vanilla | Chocolate | Unflavoured |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg ($59.99) | about 31 servings, $1.94 each | about 30 servings, $2.00 each | about 33 servings, $1.82 each |
| 2 kg ($109.99) | about 62 servings, $1.77 each | about 60 servings, $1.83 each | about 66 servings, $1.67 each |
| 10 kg bulk ($412.46) | about 312 servings, $1.32 each | about 303 servings, $1.36 each | about 333 servings, $1.24 each |
On subscription, the 1 kg is $41.99 and the 2 kg is $76.99. If you go through a scoop a day, Bulk Vegan Protein comes in 6 kg and 10 kg bags with the same per-serving nutrition.
A worked example: our smooth chocolate shake routine
- Pour 350 ml (about 1 1/2 cups) of cold unsweetened plant milk, or half milk and half water, into the blender.
- Add 1 scoop (33 g) of Chocolate Vegan Protein.
- Add half a frozen banana (about 60 g) and 4 ice cubes.
- Blend for 30 to 45 seconds, let it sit for a minute, and drink it within 30 minutes.
The powder gives you 24 g of protein and 124 kcal; add what your milk and banana bring.
If your shake is gritty, change one thing at a time: first add 100 ml more liquid, then switch to a blender, then add frozen banana.
Vegan protein shake texture: your questions
Why is my vegan protein shake gritty?
Pea protein has relatively low solubility, so some fine particles stay in the drink rather than dissolving. Too little liquid, powder added before the liquid and short mixing all make it more noticeable.
Is plant protein supposed to be thicker than whey?
Ours often is. The flavoured versions include xanthan gum, a thickener, and some reviewers describe it as thicker than whey. Adding more liquid, up to 500 ml a scoop, thins it out.
Does a blender really make a difference?
Yes. It's the smoothest way to mix plant protein and lets you add frozen fruit or oats. A shaker with a mixing ball is a decent second choice.
Can I make my vegan protein shake the night before?
The directions say to drink it within 30 minutes of mixing, so we don't suggest it. Put the dry powder in your shaker the night before and add cold liquid in the morning.
Does Vegan Protein have artificial sweeteners?
No. The sweetened flavours use stevia (Reb A), and Unflavoured & Unsweetened has no sweetener at all.
Find the shake that works for you
Start with 350 ml of cold liquid, add the powder second, blend or shake hard, and give it a minute. Vanilla and Chocolate suit everyday shakes; Unflavoured & Unsweetened suits smoothies.
Explore Vegan ProteinReferences & further reading
Vegan Protein: product page with directions, ingredients and nutrition by flavour
Naturally sweetened proteins: our stevia-sweetened range
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you have allergies or a health condition, or take medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before changing your diet or adding a supplement.
