Wired: The Best Protein Powders, Tested and Tasted
Jun 25, 2025
This powder is unusual in that it's not whey-, soy-, or pea-based, but consists entirely of powdered Peruvian lupin bean. A boon for those looking for a clean, single-source source of protein, Mikuna is vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free, and even the non-plain flavors (vanilla, cacao) only have five ingredients—along with calcium, fiber, iron, and all nine amino acids.
The flavored versions are actually quite tasty, sweetened with cacao powder or vanilla extract, coconut blossom nectar, and monk fruit. Be forewarned, though, that the powder alone can be texturally challenging—online reviews describe it as gritty and chalky, and after drinking it regularly for a few months, I think that’s being generous. (It will keep its suspension longer if mixed with a handheld electric whisk.) Mikuna is, however, an excellent way to bulk up a smoothie, and a potential game changer for those with digestive problems aggravated by dairy, soy, or peas. —Kat Merck
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