Artificial Sweetener / Protein Taste Question

[EndoG]

I've read through the FAQ (an awesome set of archived material incidentally), but I've found a discrepancy between most people's tastes and mine: in particular I find Muscle Milk's taste to be acrid and horrible (totally subjective, but that's my experience.). More specifically MM RTD (I know the contents are different, but King Kabuki mentioned in an old thread that he sometimes gave RTD MM to customers to show them how good it tastes, so I assume the taste is similar).

I tried a Banana Creme and couldn't even finish it, later a chocolate milk and it was okay, but they both still reminded me of those diet flavored water drinks and the acrid aspartame taste they leave in my mouth. I'm not ragging on MM, this is totally subjective of course.

My conundrum: The ingredients only list aceK and sucralose as artificial sweeteners in MM, but those are the same sweeteners in the EAS whey powder I use and I love that.
Does MM just use more sweetener raising the bitter diet taste above threshold or is it something else? I know most people here seem to love MM, but is there anyone out there who has a similar experience?

In particular what might be good alternatives for a micellar casein protein? The lack of DEA regulation makes me reluctant to use more off brands for my "food supplement" needs (meh, protein is just outright food as far as I can tell =).

TrueProtein.com sounds potentially good and you can even forgo artificial sweetener with them or just use sucralose... anyone else with artificial sweetener aversions have recs?

(On a related point any good ways to verify that a company's product is what they say it is? I've seen some independent testing companies/publications, but wasn't sure how legit they were.)

Thanks in advance! :icon_chee

 

[EndoG]

nobody ? =)

 

[XTrainer]

I've read through the FAQ (an awesome set of archived material incidentally), but I've found a discrepancy between most people's tastes and mine: in particular I find Muscle Milk's taste to be acrid and horrible (totally subjective, but that's my experience.). More specifically MM RTD (I know the contents are different, but King Kabuki mentioned in an old thread that he sometimes gave RTD MM to customers to show them how good it tastes, so I assume the taste is similar).

I tried a Banana Creme and couldn't even finish it, later a chocolate milk and it was okay, but they both still reminded me of those diet flavored water drinks and the acrid aspartame taste they leave in my mouth. I'm not ragging on MM, this is totally subjective of course.

My conundrum: The ingredients only list aceK and sucralose as artificial sweeteners in MM, but those are the same sweeteners in the EAS whey powder I use and I love that.
Does MM just use more sweetener raising the bitter diet taste above threshold or is it something else? I know most people here seem to love MM, but is there anyone out there who has a similar experience?

In particular what might be good alternatives for a micellar casein protein? The lack of DEA regulation makes me reluctant to use more off brands for my "food supplement" needs (meh, protein is just outright food as far as I can tell =).

TrueProtein.com sounds potentially good and you can even forgo artificial sweetener with them or just use sucralose... anyone else with artificial sweetener aversions have recs?

(On a related point any good ways to verify that a company's product is what they say it is? I've seen some independent testing companies/publications, but wasn't sure how legit they were.)

Thanks in advance! :icon_chee

I think people are just refusing to reply to this thread since obviously you're insane. MM is delicious.

:icon_chee

 

[TX911]

go get a tongue transplant. mm is awesome. try the mocha joe

 

[finnegan]

I can't remember who said it, but I quote:
If you don't like the taste, you are doing it wrong. Use the other hand or something.

 

[EndoG]

=)
I'm not ragging on MM at all. I would recommend it based on the sheer number of recommendations I've gotten... Maybe it's a genetics thing like how some people can taste sodium benzoate and some can't (remember that genetics lab in HS with the paper strips they made you taste in bio class).

Here's a question: How many of you guys like Diet Coke? Maybe there's a correlation here...
I can't be the only person who works out and doesn't like artificial sweetener tastes... can I :icon_neut

 

[Nhancakes]

I like diet coke. I can barely taste the difference. The most noticeable discrepancy in taste with an artificial sweetener in a supplement is this "refreshing watermelon" flavor for a BCAA powder I'm taking. The guy at the store told me it tasted good; i thought it was super bitter at first. But my palate got used to it after a day.

 

[Clint07]

I would say trueprotein would be your best shot since you can choose your sweetener and they have good quality products.

The only sweetener that I don't like is stevia. It just tastes weird to me.

 

[devildog]

I think I know what you're talkin about. The ready to drink MM have a lot of extra shit in them and they suck. Try the powder and it's way better, especially mixed with milk. If you don't like it there's somethin wrong with you.

 

[Monger]

Don't assume MM powder tastes similar to the RTD's. I've had many of the RTD flavors and although I don't share your distaste for them, I can tell you that they aren't even in the same league as the powder. Try the powder before you make assumptions that its shit. I believe Cytosport used to send free samples of any flavor you wanted if you contact them. I'm not sure if they still do but shoot them an email.

As for other casein options...

Evopro - Exact same protein as in MM but doesn't taste nearly the same (not bad though). It's a blend of ~60% casein, 40% whey.

Xtreme Formulations Ultra Peptide - Also a casein/whey blend. I'm not sure of the ratio though. Taste decent but has the traditional casein chalky consistency.

Optimum Nutrition also has a pure casein but I'm not fond of the taste at all (you may like it though). I thought someone mentioned that they sell a blend as well but I'm not sure.

There are more options out there. True Protein is a possibility but they aren't exactly cheap and from my experience it's hard to get decent flavoring unless you go straight for the Black label... Black star ... or whatever they call their top of the line flavoring system.

 

[Clint07]

Optimum Nutrition also has a pure casein but I'm not fond of the taste at all (you may like it though). I thought someone mentioned that they sell a blend as well but I'm not sure.

A quick note on this stuff. Just because the ON 100% whey mixes like a charm, don't expect this shit to. I just use my jug of it for cooking becauase it makes some clumpy unmixable shakes.

 

[Sledge Hammer]

A quick note on this stuff. Just because the ON 100% whey mixes like a charm, don't expect this shit to. I just use my jug of it for cooking becauase it makes some clumpy unmixable shakes.

The same is true for Evopro. MM mixes great with a spoon, Evopro not so much. Either use a shaker bottle or stick blender.

 

[Monger]

A quick note on this stuff. Just because the ON 100% whey mixes like a charm, don't expect this shit to. I just use my jug of it for cooking becauase it makes some clumpy unmixable shakes.

I would always expect casein to be a lot more difficult to mix than whey regardless of the brand. But you are correct that it doesn't mix well. When I used it with a blender I didn't have any issues but if you use a shaker bottle... you might be chewing your shake.

 

[evilf22]

I would always expect casein to be a lot more difficult to mix than whey regardless of the brand. But you are correct that it doesn't mix well. When I used it with a blender I didn't have any issues but if you use a shaker bottle... you might be chewing your shake.

blender is the way to go with ON 100% casein. before i had a blender i used a big ass cup and an egg whisker. hold the whisker between your hand like your clapping, and spin the whisker for about 1 minute and its not too bad, but still had the occasinal chunk. anyone ever seen anyone other than ON make a 100% casein mix? its bearable, but over doesn't tasteso good.

 

[Monger]

I would just use a casein blend, evilf22. They'll be easier to mix, probably taste better, and in most cases are superior to casein alone.

 

[EndoG]

Thanks for all the comments!

I just got some EvoPro Cookies 'n Creme in the mail -- sort of palatable with milk.
I suppose I'm just wired differently.

Still I'm curious, will get a tub of MM next time I order and try some different TrueProtein combos and post my results to aid any one else with similar tastes.
=) thanks again