Is the best greens powder the one that packs the most certified organic ingredients and antioxidants into one daily dose? The one that promises glowing skin, a boost of energy, and a fortified immune system? We’d argue that the best greens powder is the one you’re actually going to drink. (The dusty bottles of multivitamins and dietary supplements in the back of your “wellness drawer” would agree.)
While they can’t replace a balanced diet, there’s something undeniably appealing about how easy greens powders make it feel to do something good for yourself. We’re team kale salad for life, but if you can blend a scoop into your morning smoothie and get a boost of nutrients, why not?
The best greens powders
It seems like you can’t swing a crystal without hitting a new green superfood supplement brand on the market, so whether you’re interested in supplementing your overall health or you just want something that tastes good, we’re here to help you find a high-quality option you’ll enjoy. The packaging and ingredient lists will tell you enough, but the real question—”Is this something I’m going to be willing to consume every day?”—can only be answered by a good old-fashioned taste test. See our top picks below.
In this story
What are greens powders, and what benefits might they have?
Put simply, greens powders are powders made from a variety of dried fruits and vegetables. “They all make some different specific claims, but the idea is that it’s a concentrated source of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and in some cases pre- and/or probiotics. It’s getting you this high dose of superfoods in a small package,” says Registered Dietitian and Culinary Nutritionist Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN.
Put a little less simply, greens powders contain a host of phytochemicals, which are nutrients that come from plants. Del Coro explains that phytochemicals (which act as antioxidants) “protect your body’s cells against damage from oxidation” that occurs because of toxins you put into your body or that are in the environment. “Some [phytochemicals] are particularly helpful, say, for brain health. Some are more helpful for heart health. Some are helpful for skin. Some act as prebiotics too, and can help feed that healthy gut bacteria. So they all kind of have different benefits,” says Del Coro.
Of course, we can get all of these phytochemicals from eating actual plants—and in fact, Del Coro notes that the effects of those phytochemicals have all been studied more when obtained from whole food sources.
The one for people who don’t want too much “green” flavor: Live it Up Super Greens
Super Greens Proprietary Blend (wheatgrass leaf, barley grass leaf, chlorella broken cell wall, moringa leaf, spirulina, oat grass juice powder, alfalfa leaf, barley grass juice powder, broccoli, nopal cactus cladode, parsley leaf, spinach leaf, kale leaf, nettle leaf, burdock root, dandelion lead, horsetail, peppermint leaf, kelp leaf, dulse, ginger root), digestive enzyme complex (papain, bromelain, vegetarian pepsin), dairy-free probiotics, natural flavors, monk fruit extract.
What we love: If you want to start incorporating a greens powder into your daily routine but you can’t escape the thought that doing so is going to involve forcing a cupful of grassy sludge down your throat, Live it Up’s Super Greens may be the powder for you—especially if you’re a fan of sweetened peppermint tea. We appreciated its extensive list of greens, and that it includes digestive enzymes and dairy-free probiotics that are supposed to aid with digestion. Despite its impressive lineup of over 20 “superfood ingredients,” it was one of the best tasting options we tried in a recent round of testing. It’s certainly on the sweeter side thanks to some added monk fruit, but not nearly as cloying as some of the other powders we’ve tasted—and commerce writer Alaina Chou noted that despite her usual aversion to monk fruit’s aftertaste, she didn’t find it to be an issue here.
The powder was very fine and mixed easily into a cup of water. Our testers found that these greens struck a nice balance when it came to sweetness. The flavor itself was pleasant, reminiscent of mint tea thanks to the inclusion of peppermint leaf. There were very few—if any—notes of grassiness. These greens also come in a mixed berry flavor, but we preferred the original in our testing.
What we’d leave: The minty flavor might not be for everyone. We also found that this powder is prone to foaming up when mixed with a handheld frother.
A fruit-forward greens powder: AG1
Active Superfood and Prebiotic Complex
Organic apple powder, pea protein isolate, organic spirulina, lecithin (>65% phospholipids), inulin (chicory root) powder, citrus bioflavonoids extract, organic chlorella powder, ginger root powder, cocoa bean powder, licorice root powder, bromelain, beta glucan, artichoke aerial parts (15:1) extract, slippery elm bark powder, rhodiola root (15:1) extract, astragalus root (4:1) extract, cocoa seed extract, organic matcha leaf powder, ashwagandha root (5:1) extract, dandelion whole herb (4:1) extract, eleuthero root (10:1) extract
Daily Phytonutrient Complex
Broccoli powder, papaya fruit powder, beetroot powder, organic wheatgrass leaf powder, organic alfalfa leaf powder, organic barley leaf powder, carrot root powder, acerola fruit (4:1) extract, rosehip fruit (4:1) extract, pineapple fruit powder, shiitake mushroom powder, reishi mushroom powder, rutin (from Sophora japonica bud extract), rosemary leaf (4:1) extract, bladderwrack whole plant powder, wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) fruit (4:1) extract, burdock root (4:1) extract, hawthorn berry fruit (10:1) extract, bilberry fruit (100:1) extract, milk thistle seed (70:1) extract, grape seed (120:1) extract
Dairy-Free Probiotic Blend
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, Lactobacillus casei LC-11, Lactobacillus plantarum LP-115
Other ingredients: Natural flavors, citric acid, stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaf extract, silica.
What we love: This product is powerful and nutritionally dense, with 75 vitamins, minerals, and food-derived nutrients per serving, all sourced from ingredients like alfalfa, artichoke, and spirulina. It also includes probiotics and a long list of adaptogens, like ashwagandha, licorice, and shiitake mushroom. It’s easy to prepare (just add water), which makes committing to a daily routine simpler.
AG1 has a fairly balanced flavor profile; it’s a little bit sweet (thanks to stevia) and a little bit earthy and grassy (thanks to the heavy dose of greens). When dissolved in water, it was plenty flavorful, but testers appreciated that it wasn’t too intense to stir into juice or a smoothie. And while the stevia is noticeable, it’s nowhere near as sweet as some of the other options we tested, like Primal Harvest.
What we’d leave: Athletic Greens did lose minor marks for the texture, which was a little bit grainy. It’s also important to note that the high number of ingredients in the AG1 blend means you might not be getting all of them at a level that’s super beneficial. And the product doesn’t come cheap at $99 for 30 servings.
The greens for gummy vitamin lovers: Grüns
Core nutrients blend: Organic Alfalfa, Organic Kale, Organic Parsley, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Cabbage, Organic Spirulina, Organic Astragalus, Organic Wheatgrass, Organic Chlorella, Organic Carrot, Organic Oat Grass, Organic Barley Grass (Gluten Free), Organic Beet, Organic Lemon, Organic Apple, Organic Blueberry, Organic Raspberry, Organic Strawberry, Organic Tomato, Organic Acai, Organic Acerola, Organic Amla, Organic Cranberry, Organic Goji, Organic Jabuticaba, Organic Maqui, Organic Mangosteen, Organic Pomegranate, Organic Shiitake, Organic Inulin, Tapioca Fiber (FiberSMART)
Other ingredients: Cane sugar, water, pectin, natural flavors, citric acid, vegetable juice.
What we love: Why drink your greens when you can eat them in gummy form? As a gummy vitamin lover, we were thrilled to learn about Grüns, which pack 60 different nutritious ingredients into each eight gummy bag. That ingredient list is made up of a host of fruits and vegetables, plus vitamins and minerals and prebiotic fiber to promote gut health.
Even the best greens powders aren’t exactly what we’d call enjoyable to drink every day, which is why Grüns are so great—they’re tasty, and we found ourselves actually looking forward to eating them as a midday treat. We also appreciate that they’re subjected to both in-house testing and third-party verification through Eurofins, and are produced in in GMP and NSF-certified facilities.
What we’d leave: The only real downside to Grüns is the price. At $80 for 28 servings of the low-sugar variety (and $87 for the sugar-free), they’re one of the pricier options on this list.
The subtle taste: The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder
Cleanse Blend (green banana resistant starch powder, sprouted pea fibre powder, Jerusalem artichoke inulin powder, barley grass powder, choline bitartrate, milk thistle extract powder, globe artichoke extract powder, apple cider vinegar powder, collard greens powder, kale powder, spinach powder, chlorella powder, spirulina powder, Digestive Enzyme Blend (amylase, protease, lipase, lactase and cellulase), broccoli sprout powder, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GUT5Y), Bio-Fermented Nutrient Blend with Flora Culture (chickpeas, mung beans, brown rice, sweet potato, lentils, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, turmeric powder, anthocyanins (from black carrot extract), sea minerals, linseed, pepitas, sunflower seeds, maqui berry powder, molasses, agave, queen garnet plum, ginger powder, lemon juice concentrate), natural apple flavor, thickener: acacia gum powder, natural sweetener: stevia extract powder.
What we love: “I like that this product contains lots of greens, probiotics, and prebiotics, which is the best environment for these components to thrive in,” says Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN. Mascha Davis, MPH, RDN also praises the mix of greens, but notes that “part of the reason that all of these greens are so highly touted for their health benefits is that when they are eaten as whole foods, they are super filling and essentially can take the place of other less healthy foods.” In other words, eating these greens raw is the most effective method.
Many of the powders we tasted had assertive flavors, but the Beauty Chef’s organic greens powder had a subtler taste that won a couple devoted fans. They noted hints of kale, apple, broccoli, and sesame, describing a mellow flavor profile that prompted one noted greens powder hater to write “I actually like this! I would drink this!”
What we’d leave: Shapiro dislikes the use of three different sweeteners (honey, molasses, and stevia) in a single product. This product also is not tested by a third party.
The one for sweet tea lovers: Amazing Grass Green Superfood
AMAZING GRASS® Green Food Blend (Organic Wheat Grass, Organic Barley Grass), AMAZING GRASS® Antioxidant Blend (Organic Rose Hips, Organic Pineapple), EFA Fiber Blend (Organic Flax Seed, Apple Pectin), Digestive Enzyme & Active Culture Pre/Probiotic Blend, Peppermint Leaf, Silica
What we love: “I am a fan of this product. There are many different greens here, and I love that the probiotics are paired with fiber. When probiotics have a prebiotic to feed off of, they have a higher likelihood of surviving transport through your gut,” Shapiro tells us. She was very impressed by the high dose of vitamin K (one serving has a whopping 85% of the recommended daily dose), and lack of added sugars. This greens powder supplement also contains vitamin A and vitamin C. There’s no shortage of micronutrients here.
In our taste test, this powder was among the sweetest, but it still featured “earthy and honest” grassy notes that we enjoyed. Tasters noted hints of matcha and “a raspberry iced tea vibe that would be stellar in a smoothie.” They’re not the only ones with that idea—this is the same green powder Elske chef Anna Posey blends into her morning smoothie.
What we’d leave: This powder is not third party tested, and the level of sweetness may be overpowering for some.
The most refreshing: Factor Form Daily Greens
Greens & Fruits Blend:
Kale (leaf) powder, spirulina (algae) powder, spinach (leaf) powder, broccoli (stem and floret) powder, acerola (fruit) extract, alfalfa (leaf) extract, chlorella (broken cell wall) powder, carrot (root) powder, beet (root) powder, pomegranate (fruit) extract, blueberry (fruit) extract, strawberry (fruit) powder, tart cherry (fruit) powder, acai (fruit) extract, cranberry (fruit) extract, goji (fruit) powder, raspberry (fruit) powder
Gut Health Blend:
Chicory (root) inulin, Jerusalem artichoke (root) inulin, flax (seed) powder, DE111 Bacillus subtilis (1 billion CFU), Bifidobacterium bifidum BB-06 (1 billion CFU)
Adaptogen Blend:
Lion’s mane (fruiting body) extract, Reishi mushroom (fruiting body) powder, Sensoril® Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)(root & leaf) extract , Rhodiola (root) extract, Turmeric (root) powder
Energy Blend:
Aslan Ginseng (herb, stem, & leaf) extract, Ginger (root) powder
Other ingredients: Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Stevia (leaf) Extract (Reb A & M)
What we love: Factor is known for their meal kits, but they recently launched a line of wellness products that includes a greens powder. Each serving includes 40 different vitamins, minerals, and superfoods, and Factor also adds in prebiotic fiber, live probiotics, and adaptogenic mushrooms.
In testing, we found Factor’s Daily Greens to be pleasantly refreshing thanks to the addition of citric acid, which adds a tart undertone that plays well with the grassier notes, balancing rather than completely disguising them. This is a powder we could see ourselves drinking daily—not a small feat in the world of greens supplements.
What we’d leave: Factor’s Daily Greens is sweetened with stevia, which some may have an aversion to. There is also no mention of third party testing on their packaging or website.
The best for smoothies: Sakara Organic Protein + Greens Super Powder
Plant Protein Blend: Organic pea protein, organic hemp protein, organic pumpkin protein.
Super Greens Blend: Organic spirulina, organic wheatgrass, organic barley grass, organic chlorella.
Other Ingredients: Organic coconut Milk Powder, Organic Vanilla Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract.
Why We Love It: “I like this product because it is organic and plant-based, providing 12 grams of protein per serving with only 1 gram of sugar,” says Shapiro. She’s also impressed by the greens blend, which she says includes diverse ingredients like algae and barley grass, which are both “nutrient dense” and not foods most people eat on a regular basis. “The whole point of supplementing in my mind,” she says, “is to fill the holes in your diet.” That being said, she doesn’t think this product should be promoted as a protein supplement. “Compared to other common vegan protein powders, it has half the amount of protein per serving,” says Shapiro. Still, many of the other options on this list contain almost no protein at all, so Sakara’s powder is a decent option if you’re looking for “something more satiating,” says Davis.
This powder held up great in a fruit-packed smoothie. The tasters felt fuller for longer compared with other brands, making this an ideal option for people who need a little more heft at breakfast.
What we’d leave: This is a powder best reserved for mixing into smoothies and the like—despite a small amount of coconut sugar and stevia in the mix, it was the most bitter powder of the bunch. When mixed with just water, it was overwhelmingly earthy and coconutty, and tasters didn’t love that barely any of the grassy greens flavors came through.
This product is also not tested for purity by a third party.
How we tested greens powders
BA staffers completed an exhaustive taste test of the most popular vegan-friendly greens powders on the market. While several products use sweeteners to mellow out the grassy taste, our favorites were the ones that didn’t shy away from earthy flavors or hide behind artificial flavoring. We preferred the ones that tasted as advertised—like powdered greens and proud of it. We found that our faves also avoided mysterious fillers in favor of veggies, adaptogens, and all those good phytonutrients.
We also consulted three registered dietitians/nutritionists to get a sense of what to look for when selecting a greens powder: New York–based Amy Shapiro (MS, RD, CDN), Los Angeles–based Mascha Davis (MPH, RDN), and Maine–based Kristy Del Coro (MS, RDN, LDN).
What to look for in a greens powder
There are a few things Del Coro recommends looking out for when selecting a greens powder. For one, she says it’s best to opt for powders made from dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables rather than juice—these will at least provide a bit of fiber (though we’re talking a modest 1–2 grams).
She also recommends looking for greens powders that are tested for purity by a third party. This will typically be denoted on the packaging as well as on the brand’s website.
Other greens powders we tested
While Shapiro notes that the greens blend in this one isn’t as “robust” as some of the other, she appreciates that Primal Greens includes a variety of ingredients, like “deep purple fruits and vegetables to promote circulatory health and cognitive function.” The product also contains pre- and probiotics to promote gut health, and adaptogenic mushrooms that might help boost overall immunity and reduce stress. According to the product label, this greens powder is also very high in vitamins C, E, B12, and zinc. But Davis says not to “expect miracles”; the powder doesn’t offer enough of most of these ingredients to have any sort of major impact. Flavor-wise, this stuff was so sweet it reminded some reviewers of diet soda. That’s because it’s made with stevia, which is at least 50 times as sweet as sugar. The greens tasted almost imperceptible in this one; a boon for drinkers with a sweet tooth and the vegetable-averse but not so much for those who like their spinach to taste like spinach. Primal Greens would also be great in a smoothie made with more acidic fruits, like plums, pineapples, or citrus.
“I’d never heard of broccoli sprouts or sulforphane until my colleague Carina Finn said I needed to try Broc Shot,” Kassin says. She opted for the Pineapple + Mint flavor, which despite the added natural flavors and sweetener, manages to taste clean and natural. She loved the reusable shaker (all the packaging is worthy of keeping out on your counter) that helps measure out the perfect serving size and liked how efficient it felt to take the Broc Shot as a quick one-gulp shot. “As someone with a lot of gut-related issues, I was shocked to see how quickly I saw an impact on my digestion and regularity within just a few days.” In general, Broccoli Sprouts definitely lean to the earthier side of taste (think wheatgrass shots), though the flavored varieties have natural flavors and sweetener that mask the taste. The powder, when dissolved, is on the thicker side, and requires a good stir or shake in the stainless-steel reusable shaker (basically the size of a shot glass) to combine.
This is the greens powder for the person who wants the benefits of having practically every food and vegetable under the sun in one glass. There’s also a raw probiotic and enzyme blend. That said, our testers just didn’t like the flavor of this powder. To put it simply, it tastes like a green juice from a juice bar—it’s grassy, has a gritty texture (as if the vegetables were juiced on-site and not in powdered form), and has a nutty aftertaste (most likely from the added sprouts like flax and amaranth). In the unflavored variety, there is still some sweetness from added fruits like apple and from the added pineapple flavor. The brand also offers Apple and Chocolate flavors.
These single-serving pouches are easy to take on-the-go and can be consumed in seconds, making this a good supplement to use for travel. “I immediately found an energy spike the first time I tried the super greens as if I just drank a cup of coffee,” says Kassin. But, while they were easy to drink, we didn’t find these greens all that pleasant to drink. They come in single-serving pouches that you can either squeeze right into your mouth or stir into your favorite beverage. The texture is viscose and is reminiscent of an energy gel or “goo” that cyclists or runners take. Because it comes in a citrus lime flavor, there’s a sweeter tang (created by organic cassava syrup and various citrus flavorings like organic lemon oil) that masks the overall grassy taste you’d expect from a greens supplement.
Be Amazing makes some of our favorite vegan and whey protein powders, and the brand makes greens products as well, which come in both powder form and recently-launched ready-to-drink cans. We tried both, and were ultimately put off by their cloying sweetness—though they might be good options for anyone with a serious sweet tooth looking for a greens powder that tastes absolutely nothing like greens. The powder comes in five flavors, two of those being collaborations with Dole (orange peach mango) and SunnyD. The cans come in pink lemonade, peach mango, and mixed berry. Note that the two formats have different greens and ingredient makeups: The powders has 35 different fruits and vegetables, while the cans have 10. The powders mixed up to a smooth, slightly viscous consistency that had a pleasant-enough, slightly nostalgic flavor, but were overwhelmingly sweet. Our testers enjoyed the thin, drinkable consistency of the canned beverages, which was a welcome reprieve from the opaque, often sludgy nature of most greens drinks. However, as with the powders the cans were very sweet.
This powder from Laird Superfood combines three wellness trends in one: Along with a greens blend, it also features a prebiotics blend and a medley of functional mushrooms. Unfortunately though, our testers didn’t love the flavor of this powder, which one taster described as “gummy bear with grassy notes.” We did appreciate that this powder comes in single-serving packs (as well as the typical multi-serving bag), which would make it convenient for travel or taking on the go.
Groove’s powder has a robust blend of greens and comes in three flavors that reminded Chou of the bottled Snapples of her youth—if those Snapples were sweetened with a heavy hand of monk fruit. While those flavors did a pretty good job at masking the grassy notes of the greens blend, we found each one to be too sweet for our liking, and disliked the aftertaste the monk fruit lended. That said, if you’re a fan of the OG Kiwi Strawberry or Peach Tea Snapple flavors you may like these.
Possible’s Supergreens powder has a solid assortment of fruits and vegetables in its ingredient list, but unfortunately we couldn’t get past the flavor. This tasted like kale sweetened with monk fruit—which is to some extent what it is, to be fair.
FAQs
Are greens powders something everyone should incorporate into their diet?
A lot of the marketing messaging around greens powders tends to position them as a sort of silver bullet. But Del Coro notes that no one needs to be taking a greens supplement—”they’re expensive, and you can get all of these nutrients from whole foods,” she says. In fact, Del Coro stresses that any greens supplement should be treated as exactly that—a supplement, meant to be taken in addition to but not in place of a balanced diet of whole fruits and vegetables. “The idea is that for people who have trouble eating all those dark leafy greens, they’re getting this as a form of insurance—kind of like people take a multivitamin,” says Del Coro.
Are there benefits of taking greens powders over multivitamins?
While you can get a lot of the same vitamins and minerals in a multivitamin, “what you’re not getting in the multivitamin would be some of those beneficial phytochemicals or other specific health-promoting ingredients such as herbal adaptogens,” says Del Coro. While a multivitamin might contain Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K, it would typically lack polyphenols, for example, that are found naturally in plant foods..
Greens powders also often have other added ingredients like pre- or probiotics, which can be helpful for those looking to condense multiple supplements into one product.
About The Author
