Forager Project Dairy-Free Protein Shakes: Big on Impact, Lacking on Taste
Forager Project makes a lot of tasty products while trying to make a better impact on the world. But these shakes miss the mark.
As a vegan in a protein-obsessed world, I'd love to point to a simple, tasty product that answers the Plant-Based 101 question, "Where do you get your protein?"
While I have plenty of personal favorites and am not too worried about my macros, I was hoping to add these Forager Project dairy-free shakes to my repertoire.
They seem like milkshakes, giving me what I hoped would be a more indulgent alternative to the fruit-and-veggie protein smoothies I usually consume. And ideally, they'd be tasty enough where people of all diets would also crave them.
Unfortunately, these did not live up to my expectations.
Of the three I tried, only strawberry was decent/borderline good. The cinnamon vanilla was meh, and the chocolate one was chalky and unappealing. Maybe I had inflated hopes, but considering none of them tasted like the delectable milkshake I was after, I'm assuming the remaining flavors — coffee and unsweetened coconut — are also ho-hum.
That's disappointing because Forager Project has some great products, like their cashew/coconut dairy-free yogurt. My toddler likes their pouches too. It's also a brand that seems to genuinely care about creating a better food system for people and the planet, starting with their mission to move the world toward primarily plant-based dairy.
But altruism will not triumph over taste in the mass market. Otherwise vegan would already be the norm.
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes: Pros and Cons
On the plus side, these shakes deliver a good protein boost at 14g per bottle (16g for the unsweetened coconut flavor). They also have simple, organic ingredients like coconut cream, cashews, cane sugar, and rice protein. And the brand's social and environmental work makes me want to support them, like how they help farmers in Côte d’Ivoire adopt more climate-friendly practices while growing their businesses.
✅ Pros
- 💪 High protein
- 🧘 Simple, organic ingredients
- 🌍 Strong social and environmental practices
❌ Cons
- 🫤 Lackluster taste
- 🍬 Relatively high sugar
- 💸 Pricey
But I don't think those are enough to outweigh the downsides.
I don't want to paint with too broad a brush, since everyone's tastes differ, and some flavors are better than others. But on the whole, these were not something I'd be eager to drink again. The added sugar content is also a little high at 11-12g, depending on the flavor (although the unsweetened coconut one has no added sugar). Since the taste isn't there, I'm not willing to overlook that extra sugar.
The price is also pretty high. At a Whole Foods in LA, I paid $6.39 per bottle. You might be able to find them elsewhere for around $5, but even still, that's on the high end for protein drinks, and I don't think it's better than the competition to justify a premium.
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes: Category Ratings
Below, I'll rate the Forager Project dairy-free shakes across the following categories, with a final rating at the end weighted based on what tends to drive purchasing decisions (not a strictly scientific method, but I think a directionally relevant system):
- Taste (2x weight)
- Value (1.5x weight)
- Health (1x weight)
- Impact (0.5x weight)
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes Taste: 4.5/10
The strawberry flavor pulls up the overall rating here, as that one is roughly a 6, tasting closest to a milkshake. Still, all three err on the watery side. The cinnamon vanilla flavor should be warm and sweet, but I mostly got tangy notes, making its rating more like a 4 or 5. The chocolate flavor was the worst, around a 3, with a chalky taste reminding me of the bodybuilding whey shakes I tried to gulp down 20 years ago in high school. That shouldn't be the case with this product, but it is.
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes Value: 4/10
I know shopping at Whole Foods in LA doesn't scream bargain. But at $6.39 per shake, I'd expect more value, like getting the protein to 20g+ so it's more of a meal replacement. The simple ingredients also work against the value here, as I'm not getting anything special in the shake that seems to justify the price. I'd rather just blend some strawberries, coconut milk, and protein powder at home for far less.
Granted, quality ingredients come at a cost. I respect what Forager Project is doing, such as empowering farmers in typically disadvantaged areas of the world. But from the consumer standpoint, this pricing is too high to jump off the grocery shelves, relative to what you're getting.
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes Health: 5.5/10
Forager Project's focus on organic, high-quality ingredients is great, but there's still several health/nutritional shortcomings here.
One is that protein-focused consumers are often looking for at least 20g per meal, so in that sense these don't work as a full meal replacement — not that the shakes are necessarily trying to be, but worth noting that you'd probably pair these with other food if you're trying to hit protein goals. Yet these aren't low-calorie drinks, so if you have to add food, I think that leaves out a large segment of calorie-conscious consumers.
A lot of the calories come from fat, but I'm not against that since cashews and coconut cream can be good sources of healthy fats. However, the relatively high carbs, particularly from added sugar, means these aren't keto-friendly. Even if you're not following any specific diet, I personally think anything with over 10g of sugar needs to taste like a special treat, and these just don't.
Forager Project Dairy-Free Shakes Impact: 9/10
This is where Forager Project shines. They have so many great environmental and social impact practices, ranging from packaging (e.g., bottles contain 98% post-consumer recycled plastic) to community impact (e.g., supporting farmers in Côte d’Ivoire to develop climate adaptations and helping to fund cashew infrastructure),
I particularly like their "One Small Step" ethos, which the company explains as: "a philosophy woven into everything we do. We started by making organic, plant-based food because we believed these were the most powerful first steps we could take toward a sustainable future. But we won’t stop there! Foraging is an ongoing journey, one where we’re always asking, ‘What else can we do to make an even bigger impact?’"
Perfection is impossible when it comes to sustainability. The reality is that a for-profit business has to be commercially successful, meaning it can't prioritize impact at all costs. But this One Small Step ethos acknowledges that sustainability is a journey, one that Forager Project seems to be making great progress on.
Overall Rating: 5/10
Overall, these Forager Project protein shakes weigh in at an even 5 out of 10. If they ever reformulate, I'd be curious to try them again. But the current taste is disappointing, and I'd want to see higher protein levels and/or lower sugar.
I feel for brands like Forager Project, because they have a higher bar to clear. Winning on some combination of taste and nutrition while making a better impact than traditional brands isn't easy, but that's partially why this review may seem harsh.
It's not enough to be decent. A dairy-free shake like this should wow consumers. Unfortunately, these Forager Project shakes are underwhelming.
Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional, nor is this article in any way intended to be health/medical advice, it's just for general informational purposes.