Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Double Rich Chocolate, 5 Pound (Packaging May Vary)

Excellent quality and texture. Mixes easy enough in a shaker cup. This is not plant based protein and contains milk and soy lecithin. This flavor is pretty basic so you can mix it into oatmeal, Feral Supps Creamy Rice (since it’s whey isolate), orange juice, milk, or cold water. When i started lifting at the ripe age of 17, my bro told me this was the one and only protein powder to use, no questions asked. Fifteen years later, and this is still the top supplement in my daily routine. Two level scoops per day minimum along with a steady workout regimen will yield you some great results.

The strawberry flavor is smooth and not too sweet, which makes it easy to drink every day. It mixes well with water or milk without clumps, and it helps a lot with recovery after workouts. Definitely one of the best whey proteins I’ve tried.

First off, I've purchased a bunch of different flavors of ON Gold Standard Whey. All of them have close to the same nutritional value, but they vary greatly in taste. Both my wife and I drink these protein shakes as part of our daily diet, and as a product, Optimum Nutrition is great. I've mixed with both milk and water, and all of the shakes mix well and don't seem to clump. I've tried other manufactures whey, and I keep finding myself going back to ON for the price, nutritional value, and above all the taste.So the flavor question. As I mentioned, each flavor has a different characteristic from the others. Some are bland, some taste sweet, some taste overly fake. We loved some, and we hated some. Below is a list based on what we like so far and why. Bear in mind that I hate diet drinks for their bad aftertaste. The drinks don't have to be sweet for me to like them, but I can't stand the garbage aftertaste of fake sweeteners.The best flavors:Rocky Road - By far the single best tasting flavor. The downside is that it does taste a little sweet. The nutritional value is right on with the other flavors, but it is a bit sweet. I could drink this all day. If you only buy one flavor, this is it. There is no real aftertaste, and the flavor is great.Extreme Milk Chocolate - Another good flavor with almost no aftertaste. This one tastes like chocolate, and doesn't have a fake taste to it. If you are looking at the chocolate flavors, this one is perfect.Natural Vanilla - This is a slightly different product, and it comes in a tub with yellow labeling instead of the red. It's on Amazon for the same price, and it has the same nutritional values. They claim it has less artificial sweeteners in it, hence the natural label. In any case, this is the best vanilla out there. There is no aftertaste, and it tastes like vanilla milk. It is not as sweet as the others, but it the single best vanilla flavor I've found.The middle of the road flavors:Cookies and Cream - This one is both good and bad. If you like the creamy vanilla taste, you will like the flavor. It doesn't have a bad aftertaste, but it is sort bland. It is sweet, but bland. Also, the cookie chunks in it don't dissolve. This is the only flavor so far that has bits of stuff that you are swallowing when you drink it. It's odd. That said, I have reordered it in the past.Chocolate Malt - It's just OK. The flavor is a little odd because of the malt. Given the choice, just order the Extreme Milk Chocolate.Caramel Toffee Fudge - Again, just OK. They tried too hit to many flavors with this one, and it just turned out odd. Not a bad flavor, but don't start out here. I got bored so I tried it. I doubt I'll order it again.And the bad:Double Rich Chocolate - This flavor sucks. It tastes like fake chocolate. Not good fake chocolate, but generic fake chocolate. It has that bad aftertaste of fake sweetener, and is all around not good.Vanilla Ice Cream - Another swing and a miss. This flavor tastes like bad fake powdered milk. It has that bad aftertaste, and is probably the single worst flavor they have. If you are looking for vanilla, avoid this at all costs and get the Natural Vanilla.Tropical Punch - Another fake tasting flavor. When I got this, I could barely get through the first few shakes. Eventually it grew on me a little bit, and I was able to drink it without hating it. It tastes like strawberry milk with a bunch of fake sweetener. It's just wrong, and is not something you want to drink after a workout.I know that taste varies from person to person, so take this with a grain of salt. I hate the taste of fake sweetener, so this list draws from that. I've taken to buying the 2lb tubs to try out a flavor, and then going with the 5lb tubs if I like it. It costs a bit more that way, but it means there is only 2lbs to choke down if you get a flavor that you hate.Enjoy!

I was a little concerned about buying this due to the "Double Rich Chocolate" flavor as although I like chocolate I thought it might be too rich. I was very pleased to discover it's not as strong as the name might infer.I also purchased this specific flavor because after research I found flavors like the Vanilla Ice Cream etc contain ingredients like :Cellulose GumXantham GumSaltSucraloseetc.This specific Double Rich Chocolate DOES NOT!!! May not seem a big deal for some but I wanted to steer away from those specific added ingredients, albeit they are in very low quantities. So if you are choosing this brand (which is rated #1 amongst athletes etc) be aware that different flavors contain different added ingredients.BTW, this brand DOES contain "Whey Protein Isolate" which is by far the most recommended protein type. Again, another big deal for me in choosing this specific brand.I use fat free milk for my base fluid although water works just as good. Rather than whisk or stir it up I use a high speed mixer which creams up the solution nicely. No powdery taste etc when mixed thoroughly (as the label instructs).I can't make any statements about how well it works, how great the protein is etc, at this time as I've only just started using it. I will update my review in a month or so with an update. Overall this is the best quality whey (especially this specific flavor) so from all my research I'd definitely recommend it. Also, you don't have to workout regularly to benefit from having an additional protein intake. Talk to your doctor, even if your retired...

I’ve been using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey for several months now. The Double Rich Chocolate flavor is rich and satisfying without being overly sweet. I mix it with both water and milk, and it dissolves smoothly with no clumps, making it convenient for quick shakes. Each scoop provides 24 grams of protein, which supports my muscle recovery after workouts. The 5-pound tub offers good value, and I appreciate the variety of flavors available. However, I’ve noticed some inconsistency in mixability with different batches; some tubs blend better than others. Additionally, the use of artificial sweeteners like sucralose is something to consider if you’re sensitive to them. Overall, it’s a dependable choice for a protein supplement.

This is a solid protein powder that mixes easily with water or milk without clumping, and it has a smooth texture compared to many others. The strawberry flavor is sweet but not overpowering, and it doesn’t leave a chalky aftertaste. Each serving has a good amount of protein with low fat and carbs, making it versatile whether you use it post-workout or just as a supplement during the day. The big container lasts a long time, and the powder stays fresh if sealed properly. It’s straightforward, effective, and consistent, which is why it’s such a widely used protein option.