Review samples were provided by Herbyvore. All observations and opinions in this review are our own.
I am not new to plant-based protein powder. I used to take pea protein regularly because I preferred how it made me feel compared with whey. Whey protein tends to leave me more bloated, and if I take it for too long, I also start feeling itchy. Pea protein did not give me those problems.
The problem was flavour. At the time, the pea protein I could readily find was matcha-flavoured. I like matcha, but not when it has to coexist with frozen fruit, grains and whatever other powders I happen to add to a breakfast smoothie. Eventually, the flavour became the reason I stopped enjoying it.
That context mattered when I tried Herbyvore, a Singapore consumer nutrition brand under Agrocorp International. Its new protein powder range uses a pea-and-rice protein blend and currently comes in Coffee, Matcha, Chocolate, Berries and an unsweetened Naked Protein. The brand says the complementary blend is intended to provide a fuller amino acid profile, while a clinically studied digestive enzyme is included to support protein digestion and reduce the gastrointestinal discomfort some people associate with plant proteins.
After trying the range in different ways, my main takeaway was not that Herbyvore had somehow “solved” plant protein. I still experienced some bloating. What stood out instead was how much easier some of the products were to fit into the way I already eat.
The texture is still recognisably plant protein
If you are expecting the completely smooth texture of some whey-based shakes, this is not quite that. I found Herbyvore a little grainy, although the texture became much less noticeable when I blended it into a smoothie with frozen fruit and avocado.
That is worth keeping in mind because how you plan to drink protein powder changes the experience considerably. Taken in a more elaborate smoothie, the texture did not bother me. If you usually drink your protein with just water, however, you may notice it more.
If smoothies are already part of your routine, our guide to breakfast smoothies that can keep you going until lunch has some ideas for building a more substantial breakfast, while Getting the Best From Your Smoothie looks at how to balance what goes into the blender.
Chocolate was easy to like
The Chocolate flavour was one of the easiest to drink. It tasted pleasant without making me feel as though I was forcing down something purely because it was “healthy”.
It also made me wonder whether a chocolate-flavoured protein drink might appeal to children who are fussy about protein-rich foods. However, I would not assume an adult protein powder is automatically suitable for young children. The information supplied with the product did not state a minimum recommended age, so this is something I would want clarified by the brand before considering it for a child.
Coffee is a good idea, but temperature matters
I liked the idea of the Coffee flavour because it could potentially replace my usual morning coffee while adding protein at the same time.
In practice, it worked better for me cold. I do not always want a cold drink first thing in the morning, so I tried preparing it warm. That was noticeably less pleasant. For someone who already enjoys iced coffee or cold morning shakes, this may not matter at all. For me, it means Coffee is more of an occasional option than an everyday replacement for my usual cup.
Naked Protein was the standout
The unsweetened Naked Protein was easily my favourite of the range.
This is where my previous experience with pea protein really shaped my opinion. I already knew that plant protein could suit me better than whey. What I disliked was having a fixed flavour dictate the taste of everything else in my smoothie.
Naked Protein solves that particular problem. I could add fruit, grains and other powders without the protein powder taking over the drink. It behaved more like an ingredient than a finished flavour, which is exactly what I want from something I am likely to use repeatedly.
That versatility also makes it easier to imagine using it beyond shakes. Herbyvore positions Naked Protein as suitable for smoothies, cooking and baking, and that makes sense: a neutral protein base is inherently more flexible than one that already tastes strongly of coffee, matcha or chocolate.
Did the digestive enzyme stop the bloating?
No — at least not completely for me.
I still felt a little bloated after taking Herbyvore. That is important to say because the brand highlights digestion as one of the formulation’s main selling points.
At the same time, my experience was still better than it usually is with whey protein. Whey tends to make me considerably more bloated, and repeated use has also caused itching for me in the past. With Herbyvore, the bloating was milder and I preferred how I felt overall.
Interestingly, my previous plain pea-protein experience was even more comfortable from a digestive perspective. So I would not say that Herbyvore is automatically easier to digest than every other plant protein. Individual responses to protein powders vary, and a digestive enzyme being clinically studied does not mean that this finished product has been clinically proven to eliminate bloating in everyone.
What Herbyvore gets right
For me, the strongest point is not one dramatic nutritional claim. It is usability.
Protein powder only helps if you actually want to keep using it. A product can have an impressive nutrition panel, but if the taste clashes with everything you normally eat, or you consistently feel uncomfortable after drinking it, it is unlikely to become part of your routine.
That is why Naked Protein stood out most. It gives me the plant-protein base I already know I prefer while leaving me free to decide what the rest of my breakfast should taste like. If you are looking for more ways to add protein in the morning without relying solely on shakes, these high-protein breakfast ideas may also be useful.
Who might like Herbyvore?
Herbyvore makes the most sense for people who already want a plant-based protein option but have struggled either with flavour, texture or how some protein powders make them feel.
If you mostly drink protein powder mixed with water, texture and flavour will probably matter more to you, so it is worth trying a sachet before committing to a full tub. If you normally blend protein into smoothies, oats or other foods, Naked Protein is the version I would look at first because of its flexibility.
My verdict after trying it
Herbyvore did not convert me to plant protein because I was already there. What it did was remind me why I preferred plant protein in the first place, while fixing one of the things that had made my previous pea protein inconvenient to use.
Chocolate was pleasant, Coffee was more appealing cold than warm, and the slight graininess became easy to overlook in a proper smoothie. But Naked Protein is the one I can see myself finishing — and possibly buying again — because it fits around what I already eat rather than asking me to build my breakfast around the flavour of the protein powder.
For me, that is probably the more useful test of any protein supplement: not whether it sounds good on paper, but whether it can realistically earn a place in your routine.
Where to buy Herbyvore
Herbyvore protein powders are available directly from the Herbyvore website, as well as through Shopee. The brand also lists Lazada and TikTok Shop among its current sales channels in Singapore. An Amazon listing is expected to follow.
Images: Herbyvore
Melissa Fann
