I placed a dry sample in my mouth and received a pleasant surprise: no grittiness (none) and I enjoyed the flavor, to me it tasted like a combination of vanilla with a hint of licorice. Using a blender, I later added a scoop of powder to 2 cups of plain unsweetened soy milk, and added one banana.<br /><br />Again I found the flavor quite tasty. There is a slightly pronounced after taste which reminds me (again) of licorice, am wondering if this might the reason some have downgraded the flavor? Overall I like the product as well as the taste and will probably be ordering more.<br /><br />Addendum: No gritty texture or detectable sediment whatsoever. Container reads "Expiration 03-2013 Lot 1759"<br /><br />To assist those who wish to know what constitutes the ingredients, I have transcribed a sufficient amount of information from the product label, for purposes of brevity omitting the amino acid listing. As a health care provider and certified diabetes educator I liked the amino acid distribution and appreciated the omission of sweeteners.<br /><br />I would recommend this product for those seeking an unsweetened, vegan protein powder supplement.<br /><br />Serving Size: 1 Scoop<br />Servings per container: 15<br />Calories: 106<br />Calories from fat: 0<br />Cholesterol: 0<br />Sodium: 43 mg<br />Total Carbohydrate: 2 mg<br />Dietary Fiber 2 g<br />Sugar 0 mg<br />Protein 22 g<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br />Chia Max Omega-3 Low Fat Chia Whole Grain: 1000 mg<br />Omega-3 200 mg<br />Omega-9 150 mg<br />------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Other Ingredients: Life's Basics Proprietary Protein Blend (pea protein isolate, manitoba harvest hemp protein powder, rice protein concentrate), natural vanilla flavor, ChiaMax, and sea salt.

I uses to love this product and the fact that it had quality ingredients. I happened to look at the ingredients the other day and noticed the the non-gmo label is no longer there and it now contains artificial sweeteners!!! I will not buy this anymore! It really disgusts me when a company changes it's ingredients and sacrifices quality to save a buck at the expense of the customers!

I really love this product because fits all the following requirements for me:<br /><br />TASTE: excellent vanilla taste that is not sweetened (who needs that if you are mixing it with fruit juices and such); reading through reviews of other products I can see that other vegan protein powders don't live up to this. Also, I have used other products and can say the taste of this product is superior to most. Yes, like all powders it's a little chalky but that is what protein powder is by its very nature. The point is that the taste is excellent FOR a protein powder. Vanilla taste is really great.<br /><br />DIGESTIBILITY: I was not interested in soy products because, well, they make you toot. Also my body seems sensitive to certain foreign supplements, like multivitamins that make me feel nauseous. This product has no such ill effect on me.<br /><br />PRICE: I had read a positive review about the product's price-point in comparison to other products and was favorably impressed myself.<br /><br />As a side note, I was excited to find a product with chia as this plant was considered a kind of super-food by local Native American groups. It was said once that a handful of chia seeds would offer a person enough energy to last a day. That's pretty high praise. (Individuals from these same groups often lived to well over 100, by the way.)<br /><br />A+++ all the way.

SHELF LIFE AND OMEGAS<br />I think most people choose this powder over other vegan powders because it contains Chia seeds which are high in Omega Fatty Acids (Serving profile Omega 3 200mg, Omega 6 550mg, Omega 9 150mg). For that same reason, if you don't consume in less than 3 months and refrigerate, beware as it may go rancid. The container doesn't state it needs refrigeration, however it does state to keep in a cool dry place. I left mine in my 58F average temperature kitchen over the winter, it went rancid in less than two months after opening. I received my container perfectly sealed from a high turnover online shop.<br />Studies have been made that the bio-availability of Omega Fatty Acids coming from plant sources is very low, maybe only 5%, relying on plant based Omega's is not the best choice to begin with. (Any plant source will give you only precursors of DHA and EPA, the active and beneficial form of Omegas. The problem is that human enzymes that synthesize DHA and EPA from precursors are not adequate as a sole source. No matter how much precursors you throw in, the enzyme is the catalyst that limits how much active form is produced. However if you most follow a vegetarian/vegan diet that excludes fish oils, this is better than nothing)<br />THE TASTE<br />Now the main reason I didn't finish this in less than 3 months after opening is, that even when it was not rancid it tastes so horrible as if you were mixing a protein shake with one of those nasty tasting powder supplements such as MSM or other ill tasting aminos. It has an overly sweet taste due to the combination of fructose, xylitol and stevia. I must say I have used all these types of sweeteners before and was never put off by the taste of them but all together combined and the mixtures of proteins makes it taste disgusting. I tried hard finding a recipe that would help the taste. I tried unsweetened soy milk (to compensate for the extra sugar), almond milk, adding spinach, water, etc but it was impossible to make it even palatable. Then I thought about trying the unsweetened version of this same maker but upon checking the reviews I found some with bad taste complains also.<br />DIGESTIBILITY AND ALTERNATIVES<br />I think there are better plant protein powders out there. One containing sprouted grains is a way better choice as it will help your body not to become too acidic and sprouted grains are very digestible compared to non sprouted ones. This powder does not contain added digestive enzymes or sprouted grains.(All unsprouted or unsoaked grains contain phytic acid, a compound that can combine with several minerals in the intestinal tract and block their absorption. Grains in their dormant state also contain enzyme inhibitors that must be neutralized to help digestibility. The gelatinous part of the Chia seed that contains fiber might improve intestinal digestion in the short term. However overall content of phytic acid and antienzymes can lead to irritable bowel syndrome in the long term. This inherent problems to grains, seeds and legumes can all be overcome by sprouting or soaking.)<br /> Amazon's product info claims product to be easily digestible. I am a person with digestive issues and this powder does not digest easily compared to sprouted with added digestive enzymes.

I was already taking Life's Basics vanilla (and liking it very much) when I ordered chocolate by mistake. I was going to return it (why mess with the success of the vanilla?), when I thought I might as well try it. Boy, was I happily surprised. My favorite recipe is now:<br /><br />8 oz water<br />1 scoop powder<br />4 large frozen strawberries (Kirkland premium)<br />2 chunks frozen banana (about 1 - 1 1/2 inch size)<br />1 tablespoon flax seed oil<br />(blend on high)<br /><br />Pure heaven - tastes like a soupy banana split!<br /><br />As for the more serious issues, it has nothing I have reacted to in the past in other protein powders - no casein to make my face break out, no dairy (same), no gluten (I've experimented with going off gluten and feel better for it), etc. It tastes good and holds me for up to 4 hours (better than any other). I blend the vanilla with frozen mixed anti-oxidant berries (like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries). I should note that adding the flax seed oil is part of the lasting power and it gives the smoothies a taste that's more satisfying because of the fat. Two smoothies a day and a lean protein & salad dinner and I lost ten stubborn pounds over three months.

I deal with an ongoing auto-immune condition; its symptoms (for me) include extreme fatigue and loss of muscle strength. These had greatly worsened following tendon-repair surgery, and I just couldn't seem to make a good recovery from either the surgery itself or the auto-immune flare-up. I heard that some amino acids had been proven beneficial in the healing of wounds and muscle injuries, so I began researching the potential benefits of all of the amino acids online. I was convinced that I needed the AAs and was not getting adequate amounts from dietary sources. I felt that Lifetime's product would provide the best balance and inclusion of the essential and non-essential amino acids. I was still somewhat skeptical, but I figured it was worth a try. I started using this product three weeks ago. Within a week, the benefits were very noticeable to me (and to other family members and close friends, too.) I was more energized, gradually became more physically active/exercising, needed less sleep, lost a bit of weight and saw the very welcome recovery of some lean muscle. I am optimistic that there will continue to be further improvements over time. The gains I have experienced may not be the same for everyone else; however, I would encourage others to be willing to do some research and try this product. (I also believe it is advisable to consult with a physician first if under care/treatment for any specific health problems.) I am extremely pleased with Lifetime's Life's Basics Plant Protein Powder with Greens, and I intend to continue using it.