Ka'Chava Protein Powder Saves Me From Hangry Commutes

I like to exercise in the morning. My alarm goes off around 6 a.m. and I get right into some movement. Unless I’m going for a long run, I don’t typically eat breakfast before my workout, so by the time I’m done, I am hungry. But of course by then it’s a race against the clock to get dressed and out the door to head to the office. I simply never have time to make breakfast before work, but I finally found something nourishing to tide me over: a Ka'Chava shake.

Ka'chava

Superblend Shake Variety Pack, 15 Servings

Ka'Chava

Amazon

Billed as an “all-in-one nutrition shake,” Ka’Chava is a plant protein-based powder that also includes a blend of dehydrated non-dairy milk, fiber, greens, and probiotics, among other nutrient-dense ingredients. One simply combines a serving of Ka’Chava and cold water in a blender bottle and shakes until the mixture emulsifies—no other ingredients or Vitamix required. The mixture’s combination of flax, chia, and gums (acacia, xanthan, guar) gel when hydrated, contributing a thickness to the shake that’s pretty unique, and makes the drink a little more unctuous than you’d expect from a powder mixed with water. I like to add a handful of ice as I shake it up, to make a slightly colder and more diluted beverage than the brand recommends, but this is purely personal preference.

It’s been a journey getting here. I first tried grabbing a milk- or Greek-yogurt based bottled shake from the deli on my corner—pretty tasty, but that required making a stop before getting on the train to work, or remembering to pick them up on a grocery run. There was a brief experiment with unflavored pea protein powder. And then another attempt with a vanilla version, after discovering unflavored protein isolate and water is a genuinely foul concoction. Be it flavored, sweetened, or otherwise, my ultimate conclusion when it comes to pure protein powder is that you simply have to blend it into a smoothie with other ingredients like fruit to mask the strange flavor and chalky texture.

As with other protein powders, it is technically possible to incorporate Ka’Chava into a heartier meal or snack by mixing it into ingredients for cereal bars, muffins, and porridges; but honestly happy to simply let my shake mix be a shake. No powdered shake is ever going to beat eggs and toast on a slow Saturday morning. But for weekday mornings when I’m rushing out the door, Ka'Chava deliciously gets the job done.

Ka'chava

Chocolate Superblend Shake, 15 Servings

Ka'chava

Amazon

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