Truth: most greens powders taste horrible. Despite what every fitness and nutrition influencer tries to tell you otherwise, choking down a powder that’s full of finely ground greens is gag-inducing for many of us.
Another truth: No one really NEEDS to drink greens powders. In fact, they are quite controversial in the wellness space. However, they do, in fact, contain a ton of valuable nutrients that you’re more than likely not getting through your normal diet. I don’t know about you, but my “greens” consumption usually revolves around some green beans, broccoli, and maybe a salad throughout the week. I don’t get too crazy with my veggie consumption.
So for me, I love the idea of a greens powder to give me those micronutrients that I’m not getting in my diet, however, I can’t stand the taste of most of them. That’s why I went on a mission to find the best-tasting greens powders. I tried 7 popular greens powders to find which one tastes the best.
If you’re looking for the best-tasting greens powders, I bit the bullet for us and tried a bunch to determine which ones are actually pleasant to drink. Of course, I also broke down and analyzed each option's ingredients and their pros and cons to make sure that the powder you choose doesn’t just taste good, that it actually provides you with the nutritional benefits you’re seeking.
What Do Greens Powders Taste Like?
A traditional greens powder (not flavored) can be described as vegetal, earthy, and often bitter. The flavor of a greens powder on its own is strong and almost unpalatable for most people, which is why many folks mix their greens with juice, smoothies, and other liquids in an effort to blunt the taste.
The ingredients in a high-quality greens powder are of the earth and are minimally processed which means that the taste, and subsequently the nutrient density, will be preserved. While this is a great thing, it can also mean that you might have a hard time getting that greens powder in you. If the taste doesn’t make you squirm, the dark, leafy green color might.
But there’s good news! Not every greens powder is too pungent to endure. There are, in fact, some greens powders that have a more mild taste and still manage to preserve all of the vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that you’re seeking. Next, I’ll share my review and experience with 8 different greens powders, ranked by taste.
How I Chose The Greens Powders to Test
Before we dive into our top choices and their flavor rankings, I wanted to share with you how I came about choosing which greens powders to taste test. There are hundreds of options out there for greens powders, which makes it difficult to know where to start, but being in the industry, I’ve researched the most popular products and even polled our audience to hear their thoughts and feedback.
Some of the options on our list were chosen based on the personal experience of some of our team members, others based on recommendations from our community, and others based on their popularity around the internet and social media - let’s be honest, we all want to know if those pricey greens powders that influences keep marketing actually taste good, right?
The 8 Best Tasting Greens Powders (That Still Maintain Nutrient Density)
Below is a rundown of 7 popular, taste-tested greens powders that make the cut for our list of the best tasting. We ranked these in order of preference, but keep in mind that your taste buds might find one more appealing than another and it might look different from mine. Also, I would never recommend choosing a greens powder based on flavor alone - be sure to do your due diligence and ensure that the ingredients, brand integrity, and processing practices are all in alignment with your goals and personal values.
1. Peachy Greens by Clean Simple Eats
Taste Score: 9.4/10
Use Coupon Code: TAMI for 10% off
Clean Simple Eats is an incredible macro-friendly brand that just so happens to make one of the best protein powders out there (in my opinion). While I have enjoyed many Clean Simple Eats products over the years, I had yet to try their Peachy Greens powder, despite knowing that it was insanely popular and often sold out. However, I recently bit the bullet and tried it, and, whoa, this greens powder most definitely gets my nod as the best tasting.
Clean Simple Eats Super Greens Mix is made from ingredients that are ethically and organically sourced, then cold-processed to deliver the highest quality product in the greens nutrition space. The multitude of vitamins and minerals that can be found in Peachy Greens plan an important role in detoxification, digestive health, and toxin elimination. Plus, it fuels your body with the micronutrients needed to thrive.
When it comes to taste, Peachy Greens Mix tastes like Peach Rings candy, it’s sweet and delightful without even a hint of acidic greens - I’m truly not sure how they pulled that one off! Of course, the greens powder is still a green color, so if that turns you off, make sure you either put it in a non-transparent cup so you can’t see the hue, or you mix it in with a darker liquid to hide the color all-together. Personally, I love mixing Peachy Greens with CSE Vanilla Protein Powder for a protein-packed, superfood shake!
Pros
- Hands down the best-tasting greens powder overall
- Light peachy taste with zero vegetal aftertaste
- Super easy to mix and drink on its own or to include with any other beverage or smoothie
- Helps with weight management
- Helps to detoxify the body and rid it of toxins
- Boosts immune system
- Provides natural energy
- Supports healthy digestion
- Only 16 calories per serving
- Very affordable cost, especially when compared to competitors
- Comes in single-serve packets for convenience or a big bag for home
- My code TAMI saves you 10%!
Cons
- CSE claims that their products are tested for potency, however, it’s unclear if that’s through a 3rd party
Use Coupon Code: TAMI for 10% off
Taste Score: 9.4/10 (It tastes like Iced Tea)
Primal Greens by Primal Harvest is another great option for a decent-tasting greens powder that contains some premium ingredients that you’ll feel great about. My initial reaction when trying Primal Greens for the first time was “ok, this isn’t too bad.” There was certainly a grassy-type flavor, however, I also detected a subtle sweetness to it, which I later realized was due to the Stevia that Primal Harvest included in its formulas.
As far as the nutrient quality of Primal Greens, it’s pretty impressive, containing superfoods, antioxidants, adaptogenic mushrooms, and 3.5b CFUs of probiotics and digestive enzymes. Plus, all Primal Harvest products are third-party tested, which can provide you with some assurance that you’re not buying junk and that you’ll actually benefit from the greens and nutrients that are inside this formula.
Coming back to the flavor aspect of Primal Greens, they don’t advertise that it’s any specific flavor, which I can appreciate. Primal Greens is designed to be a straight-up, simple greens powder that’s packed with enough healthy nutrients that you’ll be inclined to make it part of your routine despite the fact that it definitely isn’t the best-tasting drink you’ll have all day. As with most greens powders, it’s an acquired taste or one that’s best consumed with another beverage to help make it more palatable.
Pros
- Slightly sweet flavor from Stevia
- Great nutrient profile
- 3.5B CFUs of probiotics & digestive enzymes
- 3rd party tested
- 50+ nutrients
- Helps to support digestion, weight management, and energy
- Very affordable price
Cons
- There is definitely a grassy taste that will come through prominently
- It doesn’t have a specific flavor to it, it’s a straight-up greens powder (albeit a great one)
3. KOS Show Me the Greens
Taste Score 9.2/10
KOS is well-known for its plant-based protein powders and premium health supplements, which is why I decided to take a look at their greens powder, Show Me the Greens. With a promise of a tasty Green Apple Sorbet flavor, I was hopeful that this greens powder would take good enough to actually drink and enjoy daily.
KOS Show Me the Greens contains an incredible blend of superfood greens, alkalizing vegetables, and other natural ingredients. It’s packed with nutrient-rich whole food ingredients that help you to fill in those micronutrient gaps and optimize your whole body functionality. This once-per-day serving of Show Me the Greens can help to boost your immune system, aid in the digestive process, and enhance nutrient absorption.
Flavor-wise, KOS has managed to create a greens powder that tastes more like apples than poignant greens, which is incredible. And the best part is that they accomplish this without adding a ton of extra sugar and sweeteners to their formula. With just 1g of sugar and only 30 calories per serving, Show Me the Greens tastes pretty good and it mixes into smoothies really easily, which is the best way to drink it, in my opinion.
Pros
- The apple flavor is actually pretty good and masks the strong veggie taste
- Mixes into smoothies really easily
- Contains a great blend of greens, veggies, and other natural ingredients
- 1g of sugar per serving
- 30 calories per serving
- Affordable monthly cost
- Boosts your immune system, improves nutrient absorption, and aids in digestion
- Vegan, non-GMO, organic
Cons
- While the apple flavor is good, Show Me the Greens still tastes like greens (so best to mix with a smoothie if you’re not up for it on its own)
- I was unable to find any 3rd party testing info
4. Opti-Greens 50
Taste Score: 8.5/10
Opti-Greens 50 is a superfood powder made by 1st Phorm, a trusted supplement brand. This greens powder made our list of the best tasting for two reasons; first, it doesn’t taste horrible (especially when you mix it with other supplements), and second, it’s a very high-quality and reputable product that’s worth enduring a bit of vegetal taste for.
1st Phorm’s Opti-Greens 50 is an immune-supporting super greens powder that contains 50 hand-chosen, gluten-free, alkalizing ingredients to bring you insane immune support and gut health optimization benefits. But what helps this specific greens powder stand apart from the pack is the fact that 1st Phorm utilizes low-temperature processing to ensure that you get the very most out of every single ingredient.
But since we’re here to talk about the taste of various greens powders, let’s touch on what you can expect from Opti-Greens 50 in the flavor department. 1st Phorm uses a natural berry flavor to enhance the experience of ingesting your greens. While the berry flavor is detectable, it’s not enough to overpower the strong taste of the greens - you’re still going to experience a “greens” taste with this powder but it’s not horrendous. Again, the quality of the ingredients and the processing of this product helped bring this option to our list as we must decide both on taste and on nutrient quality if we’re truly seeking the best.
Pros
- Contains 50 hand-selected greens, fruits, and grasses
- Maximal nutrient absorption
- Low-temperature processed
- Immune support
- Gut health support
- Natural berry taste
- Tastes like a greens powder, but not as poignant as many others on the market
- Mixing Opti-Greens 50 with smoothies or other supplements works great
- Very reputable brand
Cons
- You’ll still get quite a bit of that “greens” taste
- The monthly cost is on the higher end
5. AG1 (Athletic Greens)
Taste Score: 8.3/10
AG1 is probably the most popular greens powder on the market and one that we see promoted by influencers and celebrities far and wide. One of the key selling points for AG1 is the fact that it’s packed with nutrients, 75 of them to be exact. But with all of those greens and vitamins, how does it taste?
Well, AG1 is naturally essenced with vanilla and pineapple and is sweetened with stevia. The result is a very light sweetness mixed with the natural flavors of the fruits and vegetables that are found in this greens powder, but let’s be honest, the vegetable essence far overpowers the fruits, which means you can count on AG1 having a very earthy taste. That said, it’s not horrible, and is definitely a taste that you can get used to or mix in with something to mask a tad.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to try AG1 is how comprehensive it is. AG1 is marketed as “so much more than greens.” Each daily serving delivers a core blend of health products that work together to fill nutrient gaps and provide you with the foundation for better health. In addition to greens, AG1 contains vitamins and minerals, pre & probiotics, and a phytonutrient blend. Of course, this level of nutrient density will come at a higher price than a standard greens powder, but it might be worth it for you.
Pros
- One of the most comprehensive greens powders on the market
- The taste is subtle, earthy, and not overwhelmingly pungent
- Contains prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in addition to greens
- In total, there are 75 ingredients
- Helps to support digestion, immunity, metabolism, and energy
- 3rd party tested for purity and efficacy
Cons
- It’s the priciest greens powder on our list
- The 75 ingredients might be a tad much for some who want something basic
6. CIRA Nutrition Greens Superfood Powder
Taste Score: 7.9/10
CIRA Nutrition’s Greens Superfood Powder is flavored Appletini and it’s a great option for those who cannot stand even the slightest “greens” flavor. This product does a great job of masking the grassy flavor and replacing it with a sweet, palatable green apple taste that will make drinking your greens exponentially easier and more enjoyable.
Nutrition-wise, this isn’t the most comprehensive powder on the market, however, it’s got just enough nutrients and probiotics to make adding it to your routine worth it. Each scoop of CIRA greens contains a full serving of veggies from organic vegetables, plus, there’s a six-strain probiotic blend that helps keep your gut happy and healthy.
Scanning the nutrition label, it’s safe to say that CIRA really kept it simple with their formula, which I think many of us can appreciate. There are just enough nutrients and greens to make the formula effective for getting in your daily dose of micros without it being overwhelming. Perhaps the most compelling reason to try CIRA is the fact that it’s a really good tasting, so for those who don’t like traditional greens, this one might be right up your alley despite the fact that it doesn’t have the most prolific nutrient profile.
Pros
- The Appletini taste helps to cut some of the harshnesses of the greens
- The ingredients list is smaller and less intimidating than some other options
- Helps to support gut health, digestion, immune health, energy, and a healthy glow
- A brand that’s geared towards women’s health
- Very affordable monthly cost
Cons
- I’m not sure if it’s 3rd party tested
- It’s not as robust of a greens powder as some other alternatives
7. Skipwith Greens Ritual
Taste Score: 7.2/10
Skipworth is a boutique wellness brand that offers an all-in-one daily secret weapon for feeling your best, Greens Ritual. This lightly flavored greens powder supports immunity, metabolism, energy, and gut health with a hint of citrus flavor.
Greens Ritual contains 20+ certified organic wholefood-derived superfoods, alkalizing greens, fruits, vegetables, enzymes, and probiotics for complete health optimization. With just 30 calories per serving, Greens Ritual is easily added to your daily routine by mixing a scoop with water, your favorite milk, or adding it to your favorite smoothie.
Taste-wise, Greens Ritual tastes like a grassy green powder but is essenced with a bit of citrus and matcha to help make the flavor more palatable. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the strong taste of greens, however, that taste is 100% present. I like that Skipwith essenced its formula with natural flavors to help make consuming it easier, however, some may still find the taste to be a little too much.
Pros
- High-end greens powder with great ingredients
- Offers a light citrus + Matcha flavor
- Very fine, easy-to-mix powder
- Helps with energy, bloating, gut health, and metabolism
Cons
- Very pricey compared to other options
- Still has a “greens” flavor, although not overwhelming
8. Bloom Nutrition Greens & Superfoods
Taste Score: 6.9/10
Bloom Nutrition’s Greens & Superfoods promises to be a bloat-fighting, digestion-soothing super green powder that actually tastes good enough to enjoy. The first thing that stuck out for me from a taste perspective was the fact that Bloom offers its greens in multiple different flavors. I chose to try the Mango, but they also offer Berry, Coconut, Citrus, or original.
From a nutritional standpoint, the ingredients list is quite robust and full of various greens, pre and probiotics, fruits & veggies, antioxidants, and digestive enzymes, which makes for a well-rounded greens supplement. All of these ingredients combine to create a superfood drink that can help promote better digestion, decrease bloating, and increase your immune system’s health.
Circling back to the taste aspect, I had very high hopes for Bloom’s flavor based on the rave reviews I was seeing on TikTok and Instagram, however, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn’t as prolific as I had been led to believe. While I enjoy that the mango flavor was prominent, I felt as if it was almost a little too sweet and that there was a bit of an odd aftertaste. I can’t speak to the other flavors as I haven’t tried them. All in all, it’s not bad, but the added flavor is almost a little much, in my opinion.
Pros
- Multiple flavors to choose from
- Nice ingredient profile with a variety of components
- Helps decrease bloating and optimize your gut health
- Can support your immune system
- Middle-of-the-line monthly cost
Cons
- I didn’t love the mango flavor - it was a bit off in my opinion
- I don’t see where Bloom is 3rd party tested
Wrapping Up: The Best Tasting Greens Powder Is…
The best-tasting greens powder is the one that you enjoy and can endure drinking consistently in order to reap the full benefits. Unfortunately, this may mean that you have to experiment a bit with different greens powders options to find the one that’s right for you, but hopefully, my picks are in alignment with your taste buds too so you can save yourself a nice chunk of change of purchasing greens powders that taste horrible.
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from taste testing and reviewing 8 different greens powders, it’s this: anything can be palatable if you are committed to and believe in the benefits you’re receiving and if you find an enjoyable way to ingest it.
If greens powders have traditionally been a struggle for you to get down, I recommend mixing them with a smoothie, a glass of juice (just watch your sugar and caloric intake here), or even adding it to your food to mask the strong flavors. And if all else fails, plug your nose and get it down!