Rootana Review | Is this The Best Tasting Shake I’ve Tried?

Rootana is my current favorite meal shake, and I didn’t expect to say that. I’ve cycled through a stack of powders over the years, but this one has become the pouch I reach for without thinking. The reason is simple - clean ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, and a flavor that tastes like food, not candy. It fits my day without fuss, keeps me steady, and doesn’t leave that syrupy aftertaste I’ve come to dread.

Taste and texture are spot on. It mixes fast in a shaker - about 10-15 seconds - and comes out smooth with no clumps. With water, it’s mellow and easy. With milk or a milk alternative, it turns creamy and more “meal-like.” I often chill it or add a couple of ice cubes and it hits the spot. No weird tang, no chemical notes, and nothing that lingers after you’re done.

The nutrition profile is balanced in a way that actually feels good an hour later. You get a sensible amount of protein, steady carbs, healthy fats, and real fiber, so you stay full for a while without a crash. I’ve used it as a quick breakfast before a busy morning, as a desk lunch on days packed with calls, and after training when I don’t want a heavy plate of food. In each case, it does the job: I feel satisfied, clear-headed, and not sleepy.

Another win: the label reads like a pantry, not a lab sheet. No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or fake colors. That choice matters. It’s why the flavor is natural rather than dessert-sweet, and why I can drink it every day without getting bored. It also sits well with my stomach. No bloat, no chalky feel, and no sugar rush that sends you hunting for snacks 30 minutes later.

Practical stuff counts too. The price per serving is fair, especially for a shake that uses real-food ingredients and keeps additives low. It stores well, travels easily, and fits in a routine without any special gear - just a shaker and water. If you want to dress it up, it plays nicely with a shot of espresso, a banana, or a handful of berries, but it doesn’t need extras to taste good.

Why is it my favorite? Because it’s simple, honest, and reliable. It tastes like something you can drink every day, it keeps me full, and it lines up with how I want to eat: straightforward food, no artificial sweeteners, and balanced nutrition. If you want a healthy meal you can use daily without getting sick of it, Rootana is a strong pick that makes sticking to good habits feel easy.

Our top meal shake recommendation

Rootana Real Food Shake

Rootana is our top everyday meal shake, with premium plant-based nutrition from oats, pea protein and golden flaxseed. Its carefully balanced nutritional profile combines protein, complex carbohydrates, fibre, essential fats, vitamins and minerals in a satisfying, convenient meal.

The clean ingredient list uses organic coconut sugar for subtle sweetness, with no stevia, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K or monk fruit. Our review found a mild, pleasantly oaty flavour and smooth texture, without the intense sweetness or lingering sweetener aftertaste of many meal shakes. It becomes creamier with milk or a milk alternative.

Visit Rootana ↗

Complete ingredients & label facts

Complete ingredients by flavour

Original: oat flour, pea protein isolate, organic coconut sugar, gold flaxseed powder, sunflower lecithin, sunflower oil powder, vitamin and mineral blend (potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, ascorbic acid, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, phylloquinone, retinyl palmitate, zinc oxide, manganese citrate, cholecalciferol, D-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, biotin, folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine HCl, thiamin HCl, riboflavin, chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate), guar gum, xanthan gum.

Dark Chocolate: oat flour, pea protein isolate, organic coconut sugar, gold flaxseed powder, sunflower lecithin, sunflower oil powder, cocoa, natural flavors, vitamin and mineral blend (potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, sodium chloride, ascorbic acid, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, phylloquinone, retinyl palmitate, zinc oxide, manganese citrate, cholecalciferol, D-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, biotin, folic acid, pyridoxine HCl, riboflavin, thiamin HCl, chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate), guar gum, xanthan gum.

Both current US labels show 14 servings per pouch. Contains oats.

Rootana: current US labels, per serving

Nutrient	Original · 102 g	Dark Chocolate · 105 g
Energy	400 kcal	400 kcal
Total fat	14 g	14 g
Saturated fat	2 g	2 g
Trans fat	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	440 mg	400 mg
Total carbohydrate	44 g	46 g
Dietary fiber	8 g	9 g
Total sugars	12 g	12 g
Added sugars	11 g	11 g
Protein	20 g	20 g

All vitamins and minerals, per serving

Rootana: complete vitamin and mineral amounts

Nutrient	Original · 102 g	Dark Chocolate · 105 g
Vitamin D	3.8 mcg	4 mcg
Calcium	270 mg	280 mg
Iron	8.1 mg	10.5 mg
Potassium	860 mg	1070 mg
Vitamin A	180 mcg	180 mcg
Vitamin C	18 mg	18 mg
Vitamin E	3 mg	3 mg
Vitamin K	24 mcg	24 mcg
Thiamin	0.24 mg	0.24 mg
Riboflavin	0.26 mg	0.26 mg
Niacin	3.2 mg	3.2 mg
Vitamin B6	0.3 mg	0.3 mg
Folate	80 mcg DFE	80 mcg DFE
Vitamin B12	0.5 mcg	0.5 mcg
Biotin	6 mcg	6 mcg
Pantothenic acid	1 mg	1 mg
Phosphorus	340 mg	370 mg
Iodine	30 mcg	30 mcg
Magnesium	75 mg	90 mg
Zinc	2 mg	2 mg
Selenium	11 mcg	11 mcg
Copper	0.2 mg	0.2 mg
Manganese	0.5 mg	0.5 mg
Chromium	7 mcg	7 mcg
Molybdenum	9 mcg	9 mcg
Chloride	730 mg	630 mg

US labels: Original 102 g; Dark Chocolate 105 g. Official ingredients and nutrition.

Rootana Review at a Glance

• Check current delivery options for your location.
• Check the current product price and subscription options on Rootana’s website.
• Subscription options are shown on Rootana’s website.
• Type: Powder
• Nutritional profile: Vegan
• Allergens: Oats
• Kcal/meal: 400kcal
• User Reviews

Current verified US labels: Original and Dark Chocolate.

Opinion

I’ve known about Rootana since it was launched. The founders asked me what people actually want from a shake - clean labels, real-food ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, and a fair price. After that chat, I stepped away. I didn’t help with the recipe, I didn’t test early batches, and I didn’t sit in on any trials. So the bag I opened at home was my first real go, with no expectations and no bias.

On paper, it ticks a lot of boxes: no artificial sweeteners, plenty of protein, solid carbs and fats, and a sensible price per meal. But shakes live or die on taste and texture, so I kept my mind open until the first sip. I mixed a scoop with cold water, shook for about 20 seconds, and poured it over a couple of ice cubes.

Good news: it tastes clean and natural, not candy-sweet, and there’s no odd aftertaste. The texture is smooth - no grit, no chalky mouthfeel - and it sits light. With milk or a milk alternative, it turns creamier and feels more like a full plate of food. I tried it as a quick breakfast, a desk lunch, and a post-workout meal. Each time it kept me full for a good stretch, which makes sense for a high-fiber, high-protein shake.

It’s not trying to be a dessert shake, and that’s part of the appeal. The flavor is steady and easy to drink every day. My stomach was happy - no bloat, no sugar crash. If you like to tweak your shake, it plays well with a banana, a shot of espresso, or a handful of berries. A blender isn’t required; a shaker works fine. Letting it sit for a minute after shaking makes it a touch thicker, which I liked.

Short take: I was pleasantly surprised. It’s very tasty, very filling, and simple to use. I’ll share more flavor notes and mix tips in the Rootana taste review section.

What I like

1. Well-priced. Rootana is very competitive offer for such a large pouch with a full 400 calorie serving size. Superb price for the quality.

2. High-quality ingredients. Rootana doesn’t just use oat flour, they use the best oats they can get their hands on. They don’t just use flaxseed; they use golden milled flaxseed. That extra attention to detail makes a huge difference.

3. High in fibre.

4. No artificial sweeteners and no stevia. Rootana’s biggest selling point is that unlike almost all meal replacement shakes it is completely free from artificial sweeteners. Using coconut sugars instead of sucralose, or stevia.

5. Completely plant-based.

6. Great taste. Dark Chocolate is one of the best-tasting chocolate meal replacement shakes you can buy.

7. Clean website. I love the info displayed on the site and the layout. The nutrition section is great to get more info about the product.

8. Metal scoop is great. You need to pay £5 for the metal scoop, but it will last you forever and it reduces waste.

What I dislike

2. Ordering more than 3 bags might be confusing at first.

Contains oats; check current market and batch allergen information.

Improvements

1. Could include probiotics.

Nutritional Breakdown

Rootana is best described as a well-balanced meal replacement shake. Unlike some of the most popular competitors like Huel Black, it doesn’t go for the extremely high protein approach. Instead, it offers something closer to what most health guidelines suggest. Plus, this is sufficient protein to help with weight maintenance, muscle growth, and recovery. 

Rootana’s current US Original label lists 44 g carbohydrate, 20 g protein and 14 g fat per 102 g serving (400 kcal). Dark Chocolate has 46 g carbohydrate per 105 g serving (400 kcal).

The complete current vitamin and mineral quantities are shown in the expandable label panel above. Daily values vary by nutrient.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Rootana is completely free from artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colourings. Thus, making it one of the most natural meal replacement shakes on the market. It is also a soy and lactose-free shake.

Rootana Nutrition Overview

Carbohydrates

Current US Original label, per 102 g serving (400 kcal):

• Total carbohydrate: 44 g (16% Daily Value).
• Total sugars: 12 g, including 11 g added sugars (22% Daily Value for added sugars).
• Dietary fibre: 8 g (29% Daily Value).

The main source of carbohydrates in Rootana is oat flour powder. Described as the world’s healthiest functional carbohydrate, oat flour powder is an excellent source of beta-glucan soluble fibre. Oats have been shown to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, lower your cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and help with weight loss. 

This is partly due to their low GI score, partly due to the beta-glucan they provide, and partly due to their ability to improve digestion and gut health. All of these can help with healthy weight management, and improved overall health. 

Rootana also gets some carbohydrates from its Golden milled flaxseed and the coconut sugars that it uses as a natural sweetener.

Added Sugars? Not a Problem

The current US labels list 12 g of total sugars, including 11 g of added sugars, per serving.

Rootana uses coconut sugar; it still contributes added sugars, as shown on the current labels.

For many, this choice will be a welcome one, as they struggle with the artificial flavour of synthetic sweeteners, and the problems they might cause in their digestion.

Protein

Per 400kcal serving:

• Protein: 20 g (35% Daily Value on the current US Original label).
• Source: Pea protein isolate, golden milled flaxseed, oat flour powder.

There are three main sources of protein in Rootana. Pea protein isolate is by far the biggest source, followed by oat flour powder, and then golden milled flaxseed. Pea protein is an excellent plant-based protein source as it has a complete amino acid profile.

It is also an excellent source of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) which play an essential role in muscle protein synthesis.

Fats

Per 400kcal serving:

• Total fat: 14 g (18% Daily Value).
• Saturated fat: 2 g (10% Daily Value).

The fats in Rootana come from a number of sources. The main sources are sunflower seed oil and sunflower lecithin, but you also get omega-3 fatty acids from the golden milled flaxseed, and the oats and pea protein also provide a small amount of fat.

Personally, I would love them to declare the omega-3 fatty acid content, as these are very important essential oils for your body. Plus, they are often lacking in our diets.

Micronutrients & Other Nutrients

The complete vitamin and mineral quantities are shown in the expandable current label panel above. They do not all have the same Daily Value.

Unlike some other brands, Rootana shakes do not contain any probiotics; which have been a popular addition as of late.

Allergens

Contains oats. Check the current packaging for your market and batch for complete allergen and cross-contact information.

Taste Test

Pro Tip: Adding ice-cold almond milk to your shake can provide a much thicker shake if that’s what you prefer.

More about Rootana

This is one of the newest brands that have entered the complete food market. It's been in the making for a couple of years, but Rootana just launched in 2022.

In this space competition is fierce, but Rootana aims to attract customers with a simple yet, fairly natural formula. They don't use any artificial sweeteners or colourings, and they want to be a healthy and simple alternative for breakfast and lunch.

As with many other meal replacements, Rootana is also an environmentally friendly meal with a very low carbon footprint (see below).

Pricing & Shipping

Check current flavours and delivery options for your location on Rootana’s website.

In both countries, they are fairly affordable, particularly for the quality they offer and what the market prices are.

Pricing

Currently, you can easily purchase:

• Check the current product price on Rootana’s website. The verified US labels show 14 servings per pouch.

Is Rootana Worth the Price?

Shipping

Delivery costs and times depend on your location and are shown at checkout.

Rootana vs.

Regarding the competition Rootana faces, it must be said it's quite tough.

However, most shakes include some sort of artificial sweeteners or stevia; in order to reduce sugar content. Thus, it's really hard to find naturally sweetened meal replacement shakes in the UK and in the US. Even most artificial sweetener-free shakes include stevia.

Head to Head

Rootana vs Huel Black

One of the main competitors for Rootana will be Huel Black. Huel has multiple meal replacements (bars, powders, RTDs), and Black is their artificial sweetener-free formula.

Nevertheless, as mentioned above, it contains stevia which has a distinctive taste and puts many people off. This is where Rootana can give you a true artificial sweetener-free shake.

Rootana’s current US labels provide 20 g of protein per serving. Which protein intake suits you depends on your overall diet and needs.

When it comes to taste, I think Rootana's shakes are simply tastier (particularly Vanilla and Chocolate). However, Huel Black has a sublime Salted Caramel, and also offers more flavours in general (8).

Complete 360 vs Rootana

On the contrary, Complete 360 Meal offers vegan and whey-based shakes that contain sucralose (artificial sweeteners). 

Rootana’s current US labels provide 20 g of protein per serving.

Rootana's Vanilla shake also tastes cleaner and does not have the aftertaste many shakes with artificial sweeteners do. It's also better for prolonged use since the flavours are not as aggressive.

Rootana FAQ

How does Rootana taste?

It tastes great, particularly the vanilla flavor. Cacao is also great, while the original is fairly neutral tasting. All shakes have a wonderful oaty taste, and don’t have that overly sweet aftertaste associated with artificial sweeteners.

Is Rootana Vegan?

Yes, all of the ingredients in Rootana are plant-based, and there are no animal products found in the ingredients list.

Is Rootana gluten-free or organic?

Rootana contains oats. Check the current packaging for allergen information and any gluten-free certification.

Can I use Rootana to lose weight?

Yes, you can use Rootana as part of a calorie deficit diet to lose weight, but it is also possible to use Rootana for weight management or even weight gain. It depends on what else you are eating during the day.

Verdict - Rootana Review

Rootana is a great meal replacement shake for anyone who prefers a more natural product. It is high in protein and fiber, and big in taste. This is a great shake for people who are looking to improve their health or possibly lose weight. It is also a great source of plant-based protein for vegans or vegetarians. 

Furthermore, it is also priced quite competitively, and subscriptions are now available for regular customers.

Rootana is our preferred meal shake, with 20 g protein per serving on the current US labels.

Gluten-free certification for these specific US labels has not been verified.

If you are sick and tired of products that contain sucralose or stevia, then Rootana is the meal replacement shake for you!