Plant protein, pea + rice — 1 kg
Pea and rice together cover the amino acid profile that either one alone misses.
The short version
What it does A pea-rice blend reaches a profile comparable to whey, with no animal product.
What it does not do A single plant source is incomplete: rice lacks lysine, pea lacks methionine. It is the blend that counts.
What the studies say
Morton’s meta-analysis covers protein sources in general. Pea-rice blends reach an amino acid profile comparable to whey, because the two sources complement each other: rice is low in lysine, pea in methionine.
At equal protein dose, isolated plant sources are slightly less effective, which is offset by taking a little more. Taste and texture remain harder.
There is no real handicap on a plant-based diet, provided you take a blend and not a single source.
How to take it
Relevant on a vegan or vegetarian diet, in lactose intolerance, or if you prefer to limit animal products.
25 to 40 g per serving — a little more than for whey. Spread across the day. It mixes better into a plant milk than into water.
Same logic as whey: work out your actual intake before buying.
What is inside
The key point is the blend: pea alone or rice alone have an incomplete profile, pea + rice complete each other. Some add hemp or pumpkin.
Check it really is a BLEND and not a single source. For rice protein, ask where the rice comes from: rice accumulates inorganic arsenic from the soil, and independent analyses have found notable levels in some powders. A manufacturer who publishes heavy metal analyses is worth the premium.
Rice alone, especially for daily, prolonged use. Products with no published heavy metal analysis at all.
The three options
The same blend, but organic
83.8 % protein, organic, 2 ingredients
Rice (70 %) and pea (30 %), no additives. An important reservation: no manufacturer in this aisle publishes an arsenic analysis on its Amazon page, even though that is the contaminant to watch in rice protein. You have to ask for it.
For whom — Daily, long-term use: that is where rice arsenic matters.
Unflavoured pea-rice
Rice 70 % + pea 30 %, no flavouring
83.8 % protein, two ingredients. The blend is not an accident: pea is rich in lysine, rice in methionine, and together they fill in what each one lacks.
For whom — Plant-based diet, regular use.
Pea alone, large format
“Pea protein isolate”, full stop
1 kg, 1,303 reviews. Isolate rather than concentrate, so more protein per gram. Without the rice, the methionine profile is less complete — fixable if you eat grains during the day.
For whom — Tight budget — top it up with other plant sources for the missing amino acids.
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* Budget bands are indicative and change often. Only the price shown on Amazon at the moment you buy counts: check it before you order.