New Superfood Formula Shakeology vs. the "Old" Shakeology

My review of the new Chocolate Shakeology is long overdue! I had the privilege of having both the old formula and the new formula bags in the house at once, so I was able to compare them in "real time".

The Shakeology Taste Test

Method

I prepared both samples in the same way - in the blender, using 1 cup of almond milk, and 1/2 cup of water, then ice to the desired texture, about 5 cubes.  I tasted one, drank some water, then tasted the other.

Results

Sample 1 - Original Shakeology Formula:  The smell of the powder upon opening the bag is pleasant and chocolately.  The prepared sample texture is smooth and creamy, and very thick.  The taste is like a dark chocolate, rich and sweet with a distinct cocoa flavor.  No aftertaste or bitterness at all.

Sample 2 - The New Superfood Shakeology:  I did not detect the bad odor of the powder that some people have reported.  To me, it smelled like a cake or brownie mix - sweet and chocolately.  I found the texture of the prepared sample to be very similar to the original - thick and creamy, very smooth and pleasant.  The taste was sweet, chocolately, but not as strong of a chocolate flavor as the original, and it did have a bitterness that was not present in the original.  It didn't have a super strong aftertaste - just a slight bitter taste.

Conclusion

Both samples tasted good, but the clear "winner" as far as taste in my opinion is the old Shakeology formula. It had a richer taste and no aftertaste.  The new formula was very sweet but the sweetness was what some people are calling an "artificial" taste.  Of course, we know that there is nothing artificial in Shakeology (see the ingredients and details here) but the stevia leaf that is used to sweeten both formulas can make it taste that way, perhaps more so in the new Shakeology because of the other changes that were made to the formula.  For me, I am willing to work with the new formula and see what recipes I can come up with.  I did find that if I added 1-2 Tbsp of peanut or almond butter to the new formula it tasted almost exactly like the old formula made the same way - delish!  I have also heard others on my team recommend adding a bit of cocoa powder.  It seems as though people who were used to the old formula had the most difficulty enjoying the new formula, which tells me that it's likely that after a couple weeks with the new stuff that taste buds will adjust and it won't be that big of a difference.  I am willing to give it a try.  I know that Shakeology is one of the healthiest things I can put in my body, so I am committed to it either way.

Beachbody responded to concerns about the taste in a recent FAQ:

We have heard all the feedback from you on the aftertaste and are taking it to heart. We are looking at ways to optimize the formula to minimize the aftertaste. The amount of stevia is the same but with a LOT less fructose in the formula, the stevia bitter/metallic aftertaste seems to have become more prominent. Coconut flower nectar and luo han guo are whole foods that are naturally sweet and are not as overpowering as fructose, which is another reason why the stevia aftertaste seems to be coming out more than before. Again, we are looking at ways to optimize the formula to minimize the aftertaste.
There are no artificial sweeteners or chemicals in Shakeology.
Here are some things you can mix in to help minimize the aftertaste:

• A dollop of vanilla yogurt or vanilla greek yogurt

• A banana

• ½ an avocado

• More PB2 peanut butter powder

• Switch from plain almond or rice milk to vanilla almond or rice milk

• Try coconut water or coconut milk or vanilla coconut milk

What should I do if I can't get used to the new formula?

Luckily, if you absolutely cannot handle the new superfoods formula and want to try something else, you have options!  Shakeology comes with a 30 day bottom of the bag guarantee.  You can send back an EMPTY bag at the end of the month and get a full refund.  At that point, I would suggest trying a new flavor.  The Chocolate Vegan flavor is new, and it is fantastic!  It's not as thick as the regular Chocolate Shakeology but is very tasty.  To me it has more of a chocolate malt flavor, not as rich.  There is also Vegan Tropical Strawberry, which is really delicious - and may be my favorite flavor.  Lastly, there is Greenberry, a sweet berry flavor, which many people like (myself included), but many people find to be more of an acquired taste that requires a bit more experimentation.  I'd be happy to help you choose!  I have tried all of the flavors in many different ways so I can recommend something that will work for you.  As a reminder, always opt for the Home Direct option!  You will get free shipping, and the Home Direct (auto-ship) may be cancelled any time, via email or phone/  Free shipping - it's a no-brainer!

For more details about the changes made to Chocolate Shakeology, go here!

UPDATE!  The Shakeology Taste Panel

In September, Beachbody launched a top-secret Shakeology Taste Panel after receiving a hefty amount of feedback from customers with concerns about the flavor of the new formula.  As a result, we should see some changes coming soon!  I will keep you posted with any new developments.