How to Find the Best Tasting Protein Powder With Water

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best tasting protein powder with water.

Discover why some protein powders taste better with just water.

Last Updated
Jan 14, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, Founder

Jack is the Founder of Drink Wholesome.

Medically reviewed by Brittany, MS, RD and Jenn, PA-C

Kayla is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Jennifer is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Why Would I Mix Protein Powder With Water?

I have yet to find a protein powder that tastes better when mixed with water than with milk.

In fact, many protein powders are only palatable when mixed with milk.

Nonetheless, some people still prefer to mix their protein powder with water.

Mixing with just water guarantees you are not adding any calories or nutrients.

Water may also be the only liquid available to you.

People who make protein shakes at the gym or on-the-go, for example, may have no choice but to use water.

If this is the case for you, finding a protein powder that tastes good with only water is key.

Remember, a diet is not a six-week affair, it is what you eat every day for the rest of your life.

So, if drinking a protein shake is a chore, it will not be sustainable in the long term, which defeats the point of using it in the first place.

Why Do Most Protein Powders Taste Bad?

Before you try to find a protein powder that tastes good, you first have to understand why most protein powders taste bad.

Protein powders tend to taste bad because they:

• Are made from protein concentrates and/or isolates
• Contain sugar substitutes
• Contain flavorings
• Are high in insoluble fiber

The top reason why protein powders taste bad is that they are made from protein concentrates and/or isolates.

Unlike whole foods, concentrates and isolates have been stripped of everything but the protein, which gives them a chalky aftertaste.

Many protein powders also have a bitter aftertaste because they are sweetened with sugar substitutes like sucralose and stevia.

Unlike sugar, most sugar substitutes activate bitter taste receptors in addition to sweet taste receptors (Genes Nutr, 2014).

Another reason why protein powders taste bad is they are flavored with artificial or natural flavorings.

Laboratory-formulated flavors like these tend to have an unpleasant, chemical aftertaste.

Finally, some protein powders, especially plant-based protein powders, are gritty because of their high insoluble fiber content.

Generally speaking, the more insoluble fiber a protein powder contains, the grittier it is.

The grittiest protein powders tend to be those made with seeds (chia, pumpkin, etc.) and hemp.

What Is the Best Tasting Protein Powder With Water?

A protein powders will only taste good when mixed with just water if it is:

1. Made from whole food protein sources
2. Sweetened with real sugar or pure monk fruit
3. Flavored with real foods (not flavorings)
4. Low in insoluble fiber

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. Genes & Nutrition (Genes Nutr). Genetic signature of differential sensitivity to stevioside in the Italian population. 2014.

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.