Plant-based protein shake for lactose intolerance: Cleanit Protein
In short
Cleanit Protein Cacao is a plant-based protein shake made from pea and rice protein, aimed at people who find whey protein hard on the stomach because of lactose intolerance. The blogger mixed it with milk after a run, then shook it with water in a tumbler while traveling the next day, and found a mild cacao flavor with no harsh sweetness and almost none of that fishy protein taste. Worth checking out if you want a plant-based protein that's not too sweet and tastes clean.
Good to know
- Size
- 520g
- Cocoa powder content
- 12.1%
- Serving size
- 40g
- Protein per serving
- 19.2g
- Calories
- 159kcal
- Ingredients
- Pea protein and rice protein (plant-based)
- Packaging
- Resealable zip-pack, expiry date printed on top
Prices as written by the tester on Sep 8, 2026 · not updated automatically
Plant-based protein shake: Cleanit Protein Cacao
Why whey protein was hard on my stomach
A lot of people keep protein shakes on hand, right? My husband and I started working out and figured we should get some protein into our diet too, so we looked into a bunch of options. But I had one problem..!
Because of lactose intolerance, regular whey protein just doesn't sit well with me haha. My stomach would gurgle after drinking it and it always made me a little anxious..ㅠㅠ So this time I looked for a plant-based protein shake instead..! And that's how I ended up trying.. Cleanit Protein Cacao!
The package arrived and the shake pack fit the box perfectly, packed right in! When I took it out, the pack was thicker than I expected.
Zip-pack packaging — how easy is storage?
The design is a clean yellow, and what I liked most is that it's set up like a zip bag, so opening and closing it is easy. Products where you have to fumble to reopen every time are kind of annoying, but with this one you just zip it shut after each use, which makes storage simple too.
And the expiry date is printed clearly right at the top of the pack, easy to check.
19.2g of protein per 40g serving
520g / 12.1% cocoa powder
One serving is 40g, and it packs a whopping 19.2g of protein. Check out the rest of the nutrition info too!
A mild cacao scent rises the moment you open the pack
When I opened the pack, it was full of cacao-flavored protein powder! I'm a total sweet tooth so I love chocolate flavors, and the mild cacao scent that came up was pretty nice. But then you get curious, right? It's called cacao flavor... is it really sweet? Is it more like chocolate flavor? What does protein cacao flavor actually taste like? I couldn't wait to find out, so I tried it right away. haha
The taste mixed with milk after a run
I happened to have milk at home, so right after coming back from a run I put in a spoonful or two.
The nutty, mild cacao scent was just right! I stirred it in the cup and there were a few little grains of powder visible, but it mixed better than I expected.
And the most important part — the taste! Oh... it's not sweet at all, way less than I expected.
If you're picturing a rich chocolate milk taste, it might be a bit different — it's more of a mild cacao scent with a clean, plain flavor. Most importantly, there's almost none of that fishy or greasy taste typical of protein, and I really loved that about it.
Personally, products that are aggressively sweet or have a really strong flavor always feel like a burden to drink, even while I'm drinking them. I also don't like that feeling of like a bunch of extra stuff got thrown in just to make it taste sweet ㅠㅠ
But Cleanit Protein Cacao has that clean, mild cacao style without any harsh sweetness, so I actually reached for it easily. Coming back from a run and having a glass mixed with milk was just right. :)
Shaken in a tumbler for travel, and mixed with water?
Then the very next day I shook it up in a tumbler and brought it along on a trip haha
I also tried it mixed with just water, and it had a really healthy taste! I think people who work out a lot would really like this haha
Final thoughts
- ✔ Said to be a plant-based protein that's easy on digestion
- ✔ Said to have the rich, deep flavor of Dutch cacao
- ✔ No sugar, no milk, no artificial sweeteners
- ✔ Manageable at 159kcal
- ✔ A high-protein shake made from pea and rice protein, said to be good as a light meal replacement or for a switch-on diet
- ✔ A plain flavor that's not too sweet!
- ⭐ Tip: also recommended mixed into espresso for a latte-style drink!
If you're like me and want an easy way to get protein after a workout, or if overly sweet protein shakes feel like too much for you, this one might be worth trying. I'd recommend mixing it with milk! The clean cacao flavor meant I never got tired of it haha. If you've been looking for a plant-based protein shake that isn't sweet, isn't fishy, and isn't greasy, Cleanit Protein Cacao might be worth checking out! :)
