Plant protein powder as a breakfast shake: Cleanit Black Bean

Making a proper rice meal every morning was getting tedious, so I was on the hunt for a simple meal replacement. Then I got a good chance to try Cleanit's Plant Protein Black Bean. Here's my honest review after actually drinking it.

What's in Cleanit Black Bean and what it costs

Cleanit Black Bean is a plant-based protein made from roasted Korean black soybean powder blended with pea protein and rice protein. It's ₩15,600 on the official store, with 520g per pouch.

There's no milk, sugar, or artificial sweeteners at all, so it sits easy on the stomach.

It also contains biotin and brewer's yeast, so they clearly put some thought into the nutrition side too. It sells for ₩15,600 on the official store, with 520g per pouch.

The recommended serving is 40g, so one pack gives you about 13 servings total. The packaging is a zip-lock pouch you press down to seal at the top.

What the powder itself looks like

Opening the Cleanit Black Bean pouch, you'll see very fine, pale grain-colored powder filling it up. Since it's based on black soybeans, there are also some slightly darker specks mixed in here and there.

It doesn't kick up much dust, and the texture looks like it would dissolve smoothly in water or other drinks.

How does Cleanit Black Bean taste? Nutty misugaru, no beany aftertaste

I was worried Cleanit Black Bean might have an artificial sweetness or a fishy protein taste, but it had neither. It tastes like the nutty misugaru (roasted grain powder) we're all familiar with, with a hint of black soybean flavor mixed in.

It's a plain, nutty flavor with almost no sweetness, so it should suit people who aren't into sweet drinks. There's nothing to chew, and it goes down very smoothly, which makes it easy to drink even when you're still half asleep in the morning.

Mixing Cleanit Black Bean into soy milk instead of water

It's also less chalky than typical soy powders, so my mouth felt pretty clean afterward. It's a familiar, nutty flavor that's easy to drink every day without getting sick of it. The official instructions say to mix 40g with 170ml of water, but I tried it with soy milk instead. Mixed with soy milk, it was definitely more filling and the fullness lasted much longer than with water.

On busy mornings, drinking one glass of this keeps me from getting hungry until lunch, so I mainly use it as a breakfast replacement. On days when I skimp on lunch, I also have a glass as an afternoon snack. Even outside of breakfast, drinking it whenever I feel peckish is really satisfying. Mixing it with soy milk instead of water adds extra heartiness, so I've been using it well as a snack replacement.

Two drawbacks: no measuring spoon, fiddly pouch

Overall I was satisfied, but I noticed two things that fell a bit short while actually using it.

• You need to scoop out exactly 40g, but there's no measuring spoon included, so it's a bit tricky to get the amount right, haha.
• Unlike typical protein shakes that come in a hard plastic tub, this comes in a zip-lock pouch, which is a little inconvenient for storage.

Final verdict on Cleanit Black Bean

Having actually tried it, Cleanit Black Bean isn't harsh on the stomach and feels easy to have daily. Since it has no artificial sweeteners or milk, it should also work well for people who usually have trouble digesting dairy. The familiar, nutty grain flavor should also suit anyone sensitive to that fishy protein taste.

Aside from the missing measuring spoon and the slightly inconvenient zip-bag storage, I think it's a pretty solid choice for both value and taste. I plan to keep having it as a hearty meal replacement or nutritious snack on busy mornings or hungry afternoons. If you're looking for a plain, nutty plant protein, Cleanit Black Bean is worth considering.