At a glance…
- A lifelong coffee lover explores whether greens powders could offer a nutritious alternative to her morning caffeine ritual.
- Greens powders are growing in popularity, but what exactly are they, and how can they complement a balanced diet?
- We put Nuzest’s Good Green Vitality to the test, exploring everything from taste and texture to how easily it fits into a daily routine.
It will surprise many of my friends to know, but at one point in my life I hated coffee. I was a tea or hot chocolate kind of gal. That changed when I got my first job as a barista and fell in love with the coffee machine and the process of making coffee, from grinding the beans to latte art. When I emigrated to Australia, that love and appreciation were amplified by the incredible coffee culture and scene here.
However, as I age, it appears caffeine is affecting me more and more. And so, I have switched my evening Barry’s tea to (cue a shocked expression) decaf and (shudder) herbal tea. I don’t want to completely erase coffee from my life (I have plenty of excellent decaf coffee on hand as well); however, I do want to reduce my caffeine intake.
That being said, I love the ritual of a special drink in the morning. But I’m not a smoothie person (allergic to bananas and it’s a texture thing). Then our health editor introduced me to greens powders. She wrote about them in an issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, and we had an incredible response.
My interest was again piqued when I interviewed the co-founder of Nuzest, Monique Bolland, who told me that greens powders don’t “replace” a healthy diet; they just “make sure that it’s giving your body that little bit of extra support.” Then I was asked if I’d like to try it out. Here’s how I got on.
What are greens powders?
I asked the same thing when our Health Editor brought them up (not only because I wasn’t sure if we should edit it to green powder or greens powder). Essentially, greens powders are dietary supplements that are made from dried leafy greens (like kale), grasses (like wheatgrass), algae (such as spirulina) and herbs ground into powdered form. Even though they are made from veggies, they aren’t a vegetable replacement. As we all know, fibre is the new protein, and we aren’t getting enough of it, so don’t think that greens powders can replace your apple a day or veggies with dinner.
However, not all greens powders are simple blends of powdered vegetables. For instance, Nuzest Good Green Vitality fits into a new category of greens called ‘multi-nutrient blends’. With this category, the ‘greens’ are just a starting point. They build on that with added pre- and probiotics, adaptogens, enzymes, and essential vitamins and minerals to help fill any nutritional gaps in your diet.
The purpose of greens powders is to supplement or top up your micronutrient intake. This is especially important for people who struggle to get certain nutrients from their current diet.
“As a supplement, its purpose is not to replace a healthy diet, but to supplement one. Green vegetables in their natural form contain many nutrients that can’t be replicated in a powdered form,” explains Accredited Practising Dietitian Alice Bleathman.
“The other important thing to note here is that whole foods, such as green vegetables, take longer to eat and digest, helping control hunger and support a balanced appetite. Greens powders are quick and easy to consume but lack the same satiety benefits.”
Let’s get into my review.
The packaging
Nuzest comes in a sturdy white plastic container. It is sealed for freshness, but I will admit it was difficult to remove the seal; I had to employ a spoon. Which means for sure no one too young will get into it, but if you have joint issues (like me), it might be tricky.
Inside, the greens powder had settled, and there was an included scoop.
The greens powder
The consistency of the dry powder was much lighter than expected (both in colour and weight). I was also struck by the sweet aroma of vanilla and apple (both of which are ingredients).
The standard portion is a single scoop of powder with 250ml of water or juice. I figured for my first taste, I should go with water. It mixed fairly well, and the resulting drink was a lot darker in colour.
The taste
Now, I did not know what to expect when I tasted this drink. I had never had greens powder drinks before. The only thing I could liken it to in my mind was a green juice (with juiced green veggies and leaves). They can be quite vegetal and tart. So, I was expecting something similar, and maybe a bit gritty from the powder still dissolving.
However, I was immediately surprised that the sweet vanilla smell translated exactly into the resulting drink. My brain was a bit flummoxed by the flavour. After I got over the initial sweetness shock, I went back in for a proper taste. You definitely get apple (green and red varieties), a touch of carrot sweetness and kale – without the hassle of trying to chew kale.
As for the actual drink itself, it was still a little gritty, but the taste got a little milder the more I let it sit. The mouthfeel was somewhere in the realm of pressed fruit juice. There’s a bit of an aftertaste, kind of like protein powder milkshakes.
To complete the test, I also tried it with some fruit juice. The only one I had on hand was a carrot, ginger, and apple juice blend. It combined perfectly. That juice is still on the tart side, and the greens powder didn’t overwhelm it; it actually enhanced the carrot and apple flavour, which is an elite juice combo in my opinion.
The verdict
As a woman in my mid-thirties, I already take vitamins, supplements and am relatively active. That is to say, I am in pretty good health (with regular bowel movements and everything). So it’s hard to determine whether I was achieving the health benefits claimed on the box. But I didn’t feel any worse, even with less caffeine in my system. However, I would imagine if you are concerned that your diet isn’t up to snuff, as Alice says above, greens powders aren’t meant to replace it; they’re meant to enhance your diet.
Overall, I believe if you are the type of person who loves a matcha latte, especially one sweetened with a touch of honey, I imagine you would love this greens powder. Sadly, I am not that person. I love a black filter coffee or a strong flat white. It was not scratching my coffee itch. However, it did fulfil the morning ritual of making myself a special beverage. And although I didn’t really enjoy the flavour of the powder mixed with just water, I actually did enjoy it mixed with my morning juice. So while it hasn’t replaced my coffee (a valiant effort), it has instead enhanced my juice and given me another way to incorporate the supplement into my routine.
Good Green Vitality is designed to complement a balanced diet and support general health and wellbeing. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent menopause or any medical condition. Find out more about Good Green Vitality and get an exclusive 30% off your first order plus free shipping here
Disclaimer: Always read the label of any products mentioned and speak to your healthcare provider before use.
Founded in 2012 by father-and-daughter team Trevor and Monique Bolland, Nuzest was inspired by Monique’s diagnosis with multiple sclerosis and their global search for better health through nutrition. Still family-run today, the Australasian-born company creates science-led nutritional products with a focus on rigorous ingredient sourcing, formulation and testing, and now has customers in more than 20 countries.
