KOS Organic Plant Protein

In my search for the ideal plant-based protein powder, I’ve been lucky to come across a few true winners – and KOS Organic Plant Protein is one of them.

The KOS protein is one of the more “feature-packed” powders, in that in addition to the protein, it also carries with it a number of added “superfood” benefits.

It does so without creating an intensely gritty or poor-dissolving consistency like the Garden of Life Sport Plant-Based Protein Powder, which I really want to like, but just can’t get around the taste and texture of. It was that very protein powder that actually prompted the continued search that led me to happen onto two of my favorites, the Truvani powder, which is about as barebones yet high-quality as you can get, and this one, the KOS. Sometimes less is more, but KOS I think has found a good in between place.

What really sealed it for me was the fact that it is organic, and does not use erythritol. While it’s unclear sometimes what it actually means and how much work actually occurred where, it does claim to be manufactured in the USA, which is a nice plus.

Let’s roll through the list:

Taste

The taste is excellent. It is available in the typical vanilla and chocolate, along with a number of other different flavors, some of which you may have to order directly from them. Where I buy it, at Whole Foods, the typical selection are vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel coffee, and unflavored. In addition to those, there exists at the time of writing a cinnamon cereal crunch, chocolate peanut butter, and strawberries and cream.

Texture

As I mentioned above, the texture is great. It mixes extremely well, which may have something to do with the robust mix of protein sources – as straight pea protein can sometimes be the cause of the overly gritty and / or grassy taste and texture.

Nutrition

The KOS Organic Plant Protein powder uses a robust blend of several different types of protein:

• Pea
• Flax Seed
• Quinoa
• Pumpkin Seed
• Chia Seed

While this isn’t a problem for most people, if you have any food allergies or share it with anyone else, you will want to check the label carefully.

In addition to this comprehensive protein sourcing, it also includes a “superfoods blend” (coconut milk, inulin, acacia gum, apple, carrot, cranberry, orange, broccoli, shiitake mushroom extract, tomato), a vitamins and minerals blend, a digestive enzyme blend, and your typical flavors and sweeteners. All of this adds up to a pretty lengthy, but relatively innocent and clean-looking list of ingredients.

Quality

Nothing to knock it for in the quality area.

Packaging

Alright, this is a pet peeve of mine. I get it, plastic tubs are durable, and make a great impression on the shelf, but they are awful in terms of the space they take up during shipping, during storage, and after the product’s lifespan. Not to mention, some of these are very difficult to recycle, depending on your local facilities.

Come on KOS, do better. Get a decent bag like so many of the others out there and elevate this to a truly exceptional product!

Accessibility

While it can be ordered online quite easily from their own website, its availability on Amazon is very hit and miss. Which is strange, because where I buy it, at my local Whole Foods, it is prominently featured and always in stock. Outside of there, I see it occasionally at the local Vitamin Shoppe, but again, inconsistently. This is one you may be better off to buy directly from the manufacturer, if you don’t have a Whole Foods nearby.

Value

While prices are always bound to fluctuate, I find this to be an excellent value – which depends very highly on where you get it. With most plant-based protein powders hovering between $35-$50, the typical $35-$40 price point I can get it for at Whole Foods is excellent. Unfortunately I don’t know how long that is bound to stay for, as ordering it directly from their website, a standard 28-serving tub like I get is $59.99. Yikes!

If I had to order it online at that price, I’m not sure it would still be quite so high on my list, hence why I give this a lukewarm feeling on value. If you really value all the extra added benefits in the ingredient list, then you may be able to justify it. If, however, you already have all of that solved with your own vitamin stack and a balanced diet, you may see it fit to look elsewhere.

Summary

All in all, a well-rounded, clean, decent value. I would recommend!