Ritual Protein Powder Review

• Intended use: Protein supplement to support building lean muscle tissues and an active lifestyle
• Cost: $44 (one-time purchase) or $40 per month as a subscription

What I liked:

• Sustainably sourced
• Sugar-free and non-GMO ingredients
• Third-party tested
• Free shipping

What I didn’t like:

• More expensive compared to other protein powders
• No customer reviews on Ritual’s website
• Only 15 servings per container

Ritual was founded by Katerina Schneider—now the brand’s CEO—in 2016. The company—born from Schneider’s own personal frustration during a search for clean prenatal vitamins—offers customers a range of science-backed vitamins and supplements, all made without unnecessary ingredients.

Building on the success of its original multivitamin line, Ritual’s products now include protein powders, as well as synbiotics and prenatal multivitamins. In addition to clean ingredients, the company offers transparency by allowing consumers the chance to trace ingredients used in each product through sourcing information on the company website.

Ritual currently offers three protein powder options in its essential proteins product line. These include the Daily Shake 18+, the Daily Shake 50+ and the Daily Shake Pregnancy and Postpartum.

Of the three varieties, the Daily Shake 50+ protein powder includes more calcium (370 milligrams), and the Pregnancy and Postpartum shake has double the amount of choline (250 milligrams—which has been shown to protect fetal neurodevelopment and support increased dietary demands for mothers during lactation).

All three Ritual protein powders are priced at $44 for a one-pound bag, or $40 per month if you participate in the company’s subscription plan (a 10% savings). No matter which you select, shipping is always free.

Ritual’s protein powders are plant-based and sugar-free, for people concerned with sugar intake. They also contain no artificial colorants or flavors and are made with non-genetically modified (GMO) ingredients.

The main protein source for Ritual’s protein powders is organic pea protein. Specifically, the yellow peas used are manufactured in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin on a farm that employs regenerative farming practices. This reflects Ritual’s “Made Traceable” trademark, which offers transparency surrounding all product ingredients via Ritual’s website. This traceability includes information on an ingredient’s source, supplier, manufacturing and studies to support its use in Ritual products.

Alongside organic pea protein, the ingredient list for Ritual protein powders includes natural vanilla, sugarcane and monk fruit (for flavoring), salt, sunflower lecithin, organic coconut oil and xanthan gum. L-Methionine (an essential amino acid required for growth and tissue repair) is also used, as is choline (which provides nervous system support, boosts liver function and improves brain health).

Ritual protein powders include 20 grams of protein per serving along with a complete amino acid profile— eight grams of essential amino acids (EAAs) and four grams of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs).

If you’re looking for a product that adheres to strict testing protocols and third-party certifications, Ritual may fit the bill. Not only do they subject their protein powders to rigorous in-house tests for purity, strength, composition and identity, but they also have them tested again by a third party. Each product in Ritual’s Essential Protein line is tested for over 250 substances that are banned in competitive sports, such as stimulants, hormones and metabolic modulators.

In fact, for even more transparency, the third-party testing company Ritual uses—Informed Sport—posts every approved lot number of Ritual’s products on their website.

Ritual’s Essential Protein products are tested for heavy metals, microbes and major allergens, and must meet strict quality control standards to ensure products are safe for use.

While you can find Ritual Protein Powder on Amazon, it’s probably best to buy it directly from Ritual. Customers who purchase directly from Ritual have the option to “bundle” any protein powders with other Ritual products (like multivitamins), for a $15 discount, when ordering through the company’s website.

While Michael Fenster, M.D., an adjunct professor of medicine at the Kansas Health Science Center and editor-in-chief of The Journal Of Culinary Medicine, has never used Ritual protein powder personally, he notes protein powders can be helpful in some lifestyles. “If you have to follow a more restrictive diet—under the guidance of a healthcare professional—or choose something like a vegan approach, then in terms of ingredients, I would advise searching out options that have no added sugars and are derived from organic components, like this one,” he says.

However, Dr. Fenster still prefers people try to get their protein from food sources rather than dietary supplements. “The average person can get more than enough of the required protein by simply following a balanced approach to a diet consisting of real, whole and minimally processed foods,” he says. “For example, if you’re looking for a protein source that is high in both choline and methionine like this protein powder, grab an egg—it’s nature’s most complete source of protein. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper!”

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Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+

Learn More

On Ritual's Website

Cost

$2.67

per serving

Protein Per Serving

20 grams of plant-based protein

Features

Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Major Allergen Free, Vegan Friendly

Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 50+

Learn More

On Ritual's Website

Cost

$2.67

per serving

Protein Per Serving

20 grams of plant-based protein

Features

Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Major Allergen Free, Vegan Friendly

Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum

Learn More

On Ritual's Website

Cost

$2.63

per serving

Protein Per Serving

20 grams of plant-based protein

Features

Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Major Allergen Free, Vegan Friendly

(Note: Product details and prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change.)

While getting your protein from food sources may be preferable for experts, I will admit that I don’t like a lot of the typical protein sources, such as eggs. I also don’t eat red meat and can’t digest nuts or legumes well, which makes a good protein supplement a regular part of my diet.

I was excited to receive my shipment of Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+. I’m always looking for high-quality protein supplements, as I’m very active.

It took about a week for my first order to arrive. When I opened the box, I enjoyed the bright yellow packaging and inscription “Build a habit—Turn it into a Ritual.” The protein itself comes in a BPA-free resealable pouch, though once opened , I could never get the resealable zipper to work again, so I clipped it shut.

I’ve used a lot of protein powders and found Ritual’s to have a lightweight consistency and no odor. The directions suggested that, for best results, users shake or blend the powder rather than stir. For my first try, I decided to pop it in my blender with only water to taste the flavor on its own. I didn’t find the powder to have any particular taste, which I found to be a bit boring. However, for some, a lack of flavor might be a positive and welcomed benefit.

Next, I mixed the powder with frozen strawberries and bananas. Adding the fruit helped add more flavor, but the taste was still not sweet. Then again, Ritual’s protein powders are sugar-free, meaning you’ll need to add sweetener yourself. In my case, I chose to add honey, which helped.

I liked that the protein powder had a smooth texture when mixed, and left no residue in the bottom of my glass. Since the powder didn’t settle at the bottom, I didn’t have to worry about drinking my shake quickly to make sure I got all the protein. Instead, it stayed blended to the last drop.

I checked the Informed Sport web page against my product, and my batch number was recorded. It actually felt reaffirming to see my number listed along with the 11 other batches of the product that showed up. It feels like that level of transparency is rare with anything these days.

There are only 15 servings in a 1-lb. bag of Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+. For a product that’s marketed as a “daily shake,” I found this serving size to be inadequate. For example, this means a person with a monthly subscription can only have one shake every other day before they run out, if they’re looking to make their product last one month.

It would therefore seem that a “monthly subscription” should be a 2-lb. bag with enough servings for one scoop of powder for every day in a typical month of 30 days. However, that would obviously drive the price up ($80-$88 a month is a hefty amount and would probably not be competitive). The $40-$44 a bag already felt like a good chunk of change when looking at other similar protein supplements on the market (that comes to about $2.70 a serving, which seems comparatively expensive).

Basically, you’re paying extra for quality and transparency.

Ritual’s protein powders are made of high-quality ingredients and the powder I tried mixed and digested well. While it’s not the most flavorful protein shake I’ve ever had, it felt good knowing what I was putting in my body had been tested and retested.