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If seeing the name Sunwarrior conjures up images of vibrant green plants and powerful yoga poses, then the branding is doing its job. Sunwarrior makes 100% vegan dietary supplements, including a line of plant-based (aka no whey) protein powders. But do they taste as enlightening as the name suggests? The best vegan protein powders will provide just as much protein as dairy-based options, all while tasting good and mixing up well.
Our expert tester, Kate Meier, who is a certified personal trainer and head of content at GGR, swapped her usual protein for the chocolate-flavored Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein. If you’re considering giving this vegan protein powder a try, here’s everything to know about the taste, blendability, ingredients, nutrition, and price in our Sunwarrior protein review.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
We Know A Thing or Two About Protein
At Garage Gym Reviews, we take protein seriously. Our testers are exercise and health enthusiasts and include certified personal trainers, pro weightlifters, CrossFit Level 1 Trainers, nutrition coaches, and other fitness professionals. Who better to research, try, and taste protein powders than those who are most knowledgeable and certified in exercise and nutrition?
Most of us rely on protein powder IRL to meet our own nutrition, performance, and body composition goals. Protein powder is a saturated market and we don’t want you to waste your time with supplements that don’t live up to the hype. To date, GGR testers have tasted and reviewed over 50 protein powders to help you find the best options for your needs.
Sunwarrior Protein Warrior Blend
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein Powder
Product Highlights
- 7 great flavors, including unflavored option
- Plant-based, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan
- 16 grams of protein per serving
- For muscle building, repair, and meal replacement
- Certified organic and non-GMO
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 0 grams of net carbs and only 90 calories
- Container made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials
- Includes a detailed amino acid profile
- A plant-based protein made from peas and hemp
Cons
- Only 17 g of protein per serving
- Stevia can cause GI distress for some people
- Some reviewers do not enjoy the taste
Bottom Line
With 4.5 stars and over 12,000 reviews, this product speaks for itself. Sunwarrior has created an affordable, delicious, inclusive, and adequate protein powder you’ll love.
A Quick Look at Sunwarrior Protein Powder
Plant-based protein powder benefits are numerous, especially for those who follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, and Sunwarrior offers quite a few options. While Sunwarrior got its start with plant-based protein powder, they’ve grown to offer a full dietary supplement line that includes collagen support, greens powders, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, superfoods, adaptogens, and more.
All Sunwarrior products are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, and made without artificial ingredients. Many ingredients are also organic.
Sunwarrior makes several plant-based protein powders, including Warrior Blend Protein, Classic Protein, Classic Plus, Active, Hemp, Collagen-Building Protein Peptides, and Clean Greens + Protein. The main difference between the Sunwarrior protein powders is the protein source.
Classic contains fermented brown rice protein, while Classic Plus contains a blend of fermented brown rice, pea, quinoa, chia seed, and amaranth proteins. Warrior Blend contains a protein blend of pea, hemp, and goji berry, and Active contains pea, brown rice, and pumpkin seed protein.
The Warrior Blend and Sunwarrior Classic formulas contain similar amounts of protein, but the Classic contains more carbs and isn’t designed to work with keto diets. The Active formula contains the most protein per serving, as well as botanical ingredients, sea minerals, and probiotics.
We’re going to focus on the Warrior Blend for this review.
Before You Buy
- Sunwarrior protein is certified organic plant protein.
- It’s free from soy, dairy, gluten, and GMOs.
- It contains zero fillers, artificial flavorings, or synthetic ingredients.
- A serving of Warrior Blend is 1 scoop. The amount of protein varies from 15 g to 19 g per scoop depending on flavor.
Is Sunwarrior Protein Powder Worth It?
With a plant-based protein source, minimal ingredient list, and zero artificial ingredients, Sunwarrior protein powder is a solid choice for anyone following a vegetarian or vegan diet or who wants a “clean” protein. Because it’s dairy-free, it’s also a good choice for individuals who are sensitive to dairy and looking for an alternative to whey protein powders. At $1.50 per serving, it’s reasonably priced compared to the best organic protein powder.
You’ll most likely want to pass on this protein if you’ve tried vegan protein powders in the past and can’t get down with the unmistakable plant flavor. Likewise, if you already have a whey protein powder you like and tolerate, there’s no reason to consider switching to a plant-based protein.
Great for:
- Individuals following a plant-based diet
- Those looking for an organic protein powder with clean ingredients
- Individuals who are sensitive to dairy
- People who want to increase protein intake for general health and well-being
Not recommended for:
- Individuals who already enjoy whey protein powder without digestive upset
- Anyone looking for a high-protein supplement with at least 20 grams of protein per serving
- Those who don’t like the taste of plant protein powders and/or stevia
Sunwarrior Protein Warrior Blend Specs
| Price per serving | $1.50 (may differ depending on where you purchase from) |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (25 grams) |
| Flavors | Vanilla, Chocolate, Mocha, Berry, Unflavored, Maple French Toast |
| Calories | 90 |
| Protein | 15 to 19 g, depending on flavor |
| Carbs | 2 g |
| Fats | 2 g |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, but only for heavy metals |
Experience Using Sunwarrior Protein Powder
Here’s the thing with plant protein: most taste like, well, plants. We’re not going to lie to you: Sunwarrior isn’t breaking any new ground making plant protein taste less green.
Our whey-loving tester, Kate, who also happens to be head of content for GGR, didn’t have high expectations for Sunwarrior’s Warrior Blend, but she was game to give the chocolate version a try. While the flavor didn’t knock her socks off, plenty of people who do require a dairy-free protein powder appreciate the taste, texture, and organic ingredients.
Here’s everything we learned about Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein.
Price Per Serving
Warrior Blend protein is available in a 13.2-ounce tub, a 14.9-ounce tub, or a 1.65-pound tub, which contain 15, 17 and 30 one-scoop servings, respectively. The larger tub is the better deal at $1.50 per serving, which is pretty standard for most protein powders.
It’s priced more affordably than similar organic protein powders, which is a definite pro. However, you may get more protein per serving with other brands since Sunwarrior falls under 20 grams of protein per serving.
The Sunwarrior website offers a subscribe-and-save option, which allows you to sign up for auto delivery every 30, 60, or 90 days. Starting a subscription will score you 20% off the retail price, bringing the cost per serving down to $1.20 for the 30-serving tub.
Formulation
One scoop counts as one serving of Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein. One serving of the chocolate flavor protein provides 90 calories, 16 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, and 2 grams of carbs.
Although the protein source is the same in all of the flavors, the amount of protein differs depending on the flavor you choose. The unflavored protein has the most protein with 19 grams per serving, while the Maple French Toast flavor has the least with 15 grams per serving.
Protein
The protein comes from a proprietary blend of organic fermented pea protein, organic hemp seed protein, and organic goji berry. Combining several plant proteins helps create a more complete amino acid profile.
Pea protein is the first ingredient in the Sunwarrior blend, which is a popular vegan protein source because it contains all nine essential amino acids. A 2019 study1 found pea protein helps build muscle and supports exercise performance similarly to whey protein.
Although technically a complete protein, pea protein doesn’t contain huge amounts of methionine, one of the nine essential amino acids. However, hemp protein is a better source of methionine and helps fill in that gap.
Each package includes a “typical amino acid profile”, which gives you an idea of the amount of each amino acid you’ll get from this protein. Sunwarrior protein contains all 20 naturally occurring essential and nonessential amino acids, including all three branch chain amino acids (BCAAs).
Each serving of Sunwarrior provides 6 grams of BCAAs. Research has shown similar amounts of BCAA supplementation may reduce muscle soreness2 after resistance training and may delay muscle fatigue3 during high-intensity activity. Not all vegan proteins contain BCAAs, so this is a definite perk, especially if you lift weights.
Carbs and Fat
Sunwarrior’s Warrior Blend is sweetened with organic stevia, so it contains 0 grams of sugar or added sugar. It’s also a low-carb protein powder and keto-friendly, with 0 to 3 grams of net carbs per serving depending on flavor.
The Chocolate protein contains 2 grams of carbs from the addition of dutch cocoa powder, which also provides extra chocolatey flavor, and 0 grams net carbs. The unflavored protein contains 0 grams of carbs and Maple French Toast has the most with 4 grams of carbs per serving.
Sunwarrior keeps the fat content of their protein pretty consistent around 2 grams per serving in each flavor. The fat comes from MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil made from coconut oil and acacia gum, a type of plant fiber. MCTs are digested and absorbed faster than other fats, which makes them a quick source of energy. There’s also evidence that MCTs4 can support fat loss.
Other Ingredients
Sunwarrior protein also contains organic flavorings, sea salt, and guar gum, which is an additive that helps thicken food products.
Taste and Solubility
Our tester, Kate, mixed the Chocolate Warrior Protein with water in a Blender Bottle. You can add this protein to almond milk or smoothies, but we wanted to see how it mixed with water and evaluate the taste without the presence of other ingredients.
The protein mixed easily enough without any clumping, but the texture was a bit grainy. You might get a smoother texture if you use a blender. As for flavor, the chocolate stood out, but Kate could still detect the earthy flavor of hemp seed. She also picked up an aftertaste reminiscent of corn syrup, which could be from the MCT oil and/or stevia.
It’s not the best-tasting protein powder ever, but if you’re used to plant protein or don’t mind the taste of hemp, you likely won’t think twice about it.
Side Effects
Most people will have no trouble taking this protein powder. It’s free from common allergens, including dairy, but there is a warning on the label that it’s produced in a facility that may also handle peanuts or tree nuts.
Third-Party Testing
Sunwarrior protein powder is USDA certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Prop 65-compliant. They source organically grown ingredients from trusted suppliers who practice sustainable farming and conduct purity testing.
Sunwarrior products lack an official third-party testing verification seal, but their website claims all products undergo independent third-party testing at ARL Bio Pharma Testing Lab for heavy metals. Third-party testing is an extra step not required by law that ensures that’s what’s on the label is what’s in the container, and is especially important for competitive athletes.
Comparison to Orgain Organic Protein Powder
Orgain Organic Protein Powder
Orgain Organic Protein Powder
Product Highlights
- Multi-source vegan protein powder
- USDA organic, non-GMO, dairy-free, kosher, and no artificial ingredients
- 21 grams of protein per serving
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide variety of flavors, including seasonal options
- Under $2 per serving
- Coffee flavor with caffeine
Cons
- Only 21 grams of protein per serving
- Some reviewers found flavors too sweet
- Reviewers reported upset stomach
Bottom Line
Orgain protein doesn’t have as much protein per serving as its competitors, but it has the widest variety of flavors. Some users did experience upset stomachs after using the protein.
If you’re looking for an organic vegan protein powder with a bit more protein per serving, you might want to consider Orgain organic protein. It costs a bit more than Sunwarrior at $1.70 per serving, but there are more flavors to choose from and you’ll get 21 grams of protein per serving regardless of which flavor you choose.
Orgain contains more carbs and fat per serving than Sunwarrior. You’ll get 4 to 5 grams of fat and 7 to 16 grams of carbs with Orgain. More macronutrients means more calories and that’s important to consider if your goal is weight loss. Another key difference: the carbs in Orgain may not work for keto and other low-carb diets.
Like Sunwarrior, Orgain uses a blend of plant-based proteins and contains organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, and organic chia seed. Orgain is sweetened with a combination of stevia and erythritol, which is a zero-calorie sugar alcohol that can cause digestive upset in some people. If you know sugar alcohols bother you, Sunwarrior may be the better option between the two.
As for flavor, GGR testers give Sunwarrior the advantage. Our tester thought the flavor of Orgain vanilla protein “tasted like grass with a hint of vanilla.”
Read our Orgain Protein Powder review for our full thoughts.
Customer Experience
Sunwarrior doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, but they do accept returns if you purchased from their website. If you buy your protein from another retailer, you’ll be subject to that retailer’s return policy.
To return a product to Sunwarrior, you’ll have to contact their support department within 30 delays of receipt for next steps. If you were charged shipping fees, they won’t be refunded with your return.
Ordering Sunwarrior Protein Powder
You can purchase Sunwarrior protein directly from the Sunwarrior website or from large online retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. It’s also carried by some retail stores, including CVS and Vitamin Shoppe.
Shipping speed will depend on where you order from. If you’re a member of Amazon Prime, that’s probably your best bet for free and fast shipping. Orders $70 and over ship free on the Sunwarrior website, and orders under $70 will be hit with a $7.95 shipping charge.
One bonus to ordering directly from Sunwarrior is their subscribe-and-save program, which scores you 20% off the retail price. You can subscribe and save with Amazon Prime as well, for an additional 5 to 15% savings. Subscription orders of $50 and more from Sunwarrior ship for free, while subscriptions under $50 have a $5.95 shipping charge.
The Sunwarrior website also offers a rewards program that earns you points that can be redeemed on future orders.
Customer Reviews
If you’re looking for more real-world experience with Sunwarrior protein powder, there’s no shortage of customer reviews. There are over 4,000 reviews for this protein on the Sunwarrior website and over 12,000 reviews on Amazon. This protein has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on both websites.
Customers have mostly positive things to say about this supplement’s taste, texture, thickness, and blendability. Many also rave about the high-quality ingredients, BCAA content, and the fact that this protein is both vegan and keto-friendly.
On the Sunwarrior website, some reviewers have noted they detect a stevia aftertaste, but one reviewer gave the protein high marks for being “low in sugar without having an overpowering stevia flavor.” An Amazon shopper describes the vanilla flavor as “a pop of sweetness but not cloying.”
Reviewers on the Sunwarrior website describe the texture as thick and creamy without chalkiness or grittiness. “This is by far the creamiest and velvety smooth protein shake I’ve had,” one reviewer wrote. The reviews on Amazon are in agreement, pointing out this protein “still has great flavor and texture with just water.”
Final Verdict of Our Sunwarrior Protein Review
We’re fans of Sunwarrior’s natural ingredient list and commitment to sustainable farming. We wish their Warrior Blend Protein had a consistent amount of protein per serving across all the flavors. It still tastes like a plant-based protein, but it blends well enough and it’s affordable considering the high-quality of ingredients. Warrior Blend is worth a try if you’re plant-based, looking for an organic protein powder that’s also low carb, or sensitive to dairy.
Sunwarrior Protein Rating
Sunwarrior Protein
We breakdown taste, solubility, formulation, and price in our Sunwarrior protein review to help you decide if Warrior Blend protein powder is worth trying.
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 40.47
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.9
Sunwarrior Protein FAQs
Is Sunwarrior good protein?
It depends on how you define good. The protein is sourced from plants, so this is a dairy-free and vegan protein powder. The ingredients are certified organic and free from GMOs, soy, gluten, added sugar, and synthetic ingredients. Is it the most great-tasting protein in the world? We don’t think so, but if you’re looking for an organic protein powder with minimal ingredients and zero fillers or fake ingredients, Sunwarrior is a good choice.
Is Sunwarrior protein FDA-approved?
Protein powders are classified as dietary supplements, which the FDA does not regulate. That means protein powders do not need to be proven safe and effective before being sold to consumers. This is why third-party testing is so desirable in protein powders. Sunwarrior is not third-party tested by a major organization like Informed Choice, NSF, or Banned Substances Control Group.
What does Sunwarrior protein do?
Sunwarrior contains all essential and non-essential amino acids, including BCAAs, to support muscle repair and maintenance. However, it only contains 15 to 19 grams of protein per serving, which may not be enough to support lean muscle growth. The best protein powders for muscle gain average 20 to 24 grams of protein per serving.
What is Sunwarrior protein made of?
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein contains a proprietary blend of plant-based proteins that contains organic pea protein, organic hemp protein, and organic goji berry. This protein also contains MCT oil, stevia, a thickening agent, and natural flavoring.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Banaszek A, Townsend JR, Bender D, Vantrease WC, Marshall AC, Johnson KD. The Effects of Whey vs. Pea Protein on Physical Adaptations Following 8-Weeks of High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT): A Pilot Study. Sports (Basel). 2019;7(1):12. Published 2019 Jan 4. doi:10.3390/sports7010012
- Martinho DV, Nobari H, Faria A, Field A, Duarte D, Sarmento H. Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation in Athletes: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022;14(19):4002. Published 2022 Sep 27. doi:10.3390/nu14194002
- Arroyo-Cerezo A, Cerrillo I, Ortega Á, Fernández-Pachón MS. Intake of branched chain amino acids favors post-exercise muscle recovery and may improve muscle function: optimal dosage regimens and consumption conditions. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2021;61(11):1478-1489. doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.21.11843-2
- Mumme K, Stonehouse W. Effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2015;115(2):249-263. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2014.10.022
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