Core Nutritionals VEGAN protein powder, front of container

Core Nutritionals VEGAN protein powder, Maple Pancake Batter flavor

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Core Nutritionals VEGAN — 21g Pea + Rice Protein with Added BCAAs and Enzymes

2 reviews

Core Nutritionals VEGANCore VEGAN is a pea and brown rice protein with two additions most plant proteins skip: fermented vegan BCAAs and a digestive enzyme blend. 21 grams of protein per scoop.Your note is exactly the right hook — this one is sweetened with sucralose rather than stevia, and that is a deliberate choice with a real consequence for taste.Sucralose versus stevia, which is the honest tradeAlmost every plant protein on the market is sweetened with stevia, because "naturally sweetened" is what the plant-based buyer is assumed to want.The problem is that stevia has a distinctive lingering bitterness that a lot of people detect, and plant proteins already carry an earthy base flavour to mask. Stacking stevia's aftertaste on top of pea protein's is why so many vegan proteins taste the way they do.Core made the opposite call: sucralose and acesulfame potassium, plus natural and artificial flavours. That means this is vegan but not "all natural", and Core does not pretend otherwise.It is a genuine trade and worth stating plainly: Choose Core VEGAN if taste is the priority and artificial sweeteners are not a concern Choose PEScience Select Vegan if you want stevia and no artificial sweetenersBoth are pea and rice blends. The sweetener is the deciding factor, and there is no wrong answer — just a preference you should get to make knowingly.Why pea and rice togetherSame complementary principle as any good plant blend, and it holds up: Pea protein isolate is high in lysine and lower in methionine. It carries a PDCAAS around 92.8%, which is high for a plant source Brown rice protein is the reverse — reasonable methionine, lower lysineTogether each covers the other's shortfall, producing a complete amino acid profile neither achieves alone. Rice protein also mixes poorly by itself, and pea carries the texture.The added BCAAs, which is the real differentiatorThis is where Core VEGAN separates from a standard pea-rice blend.Plant proteins are naturally lower in BCAAs — particularly leucine — than dairy proteins are. Leucine is the amino acid that triggers muscle protein synthesis, and research points to roughly 3 grams per serving for a maximal response. A plant protein often falls short of that where a whey would clear it.Core adds fermented vegan BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio on top of the protein blend to close that gap. Fermented means produced by microbial fermentation rather than extracted from animal sources — the older method used duck feathers and human hair, which is precisely why "fermented vegan BCAAs" is worth stating.Core also delivers 21g of protein rather than the more common 20g, which is a small thing that suggests attention to the formulation.DigeSEB enzymes and the bloating problemPlant proteins have a reputation for causing gas and bloating, and it is largely deserved. Pea protein in particular contains oligosaccharides and fibre that ferment in the gut.DigeSEB is a digestive enzyme blend containing amylases, lactase, proteases, lipase and cellulase. Cellulase is the relevant one here — it breaks down cellulose, the plant fibre humans cannot digest unaided, and it is the specific answer to plant-protein bloating.Including cellulase in a plant protein is thoughtful rather than decorative.Specs Protein21g per scoop Calories~120 Fat~3g Carbohydrate~2g SourcesPea protein isolate, brown rice protein Added BCAAsFermented vegan, 2:1:1 EnzymesDigeSEB — amylases, lactase, proteases, lipase, cellulase SweetenersSucralose, acesulfame potassium Lactose / soy / glutenFree⚠ Allergen: it contains coconutCore VEGAN uses a vegan coconut oil creamer for texture, which means it contains tree nuts (coconut).Coconut is classified as a tree nut for allergen labelling purposes in the US, and people with tree nut allergies do not always expect to find it in a protein powder. It is also manufactured in a facility that processes milk, wheat and shellfish.The coconut oil creamer is also why this is creamier than most plant proteins — and it is where the 3g of fat comes from.How to mix it One scoop into 6 to 8 ounces of cold water. Shake or stir. The coconut creamer does a lot of work here. This mixes creamier than most plant proteins and needs less liquid than a plain pea-rice blend. Cold water genuinely matters with any plant protein. Good in oats and smoothies, where plant proteins generally perform better than in plain water.Who this is for Vegans and vegetarians who have written off plant protein because of the taste Anyone dairy-free who is not avoiding artificial sweeteners People who dislike stevia specifically — that is a real and common preference Anyone who has been bloated by a plant protein before, given the cellulase People avoiding soyWho this is not forIf you have a tree nut allergy, this contains coconut.If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium. PEScience Select Vegan is the stevia-sweetened option on our shelf.If you can tolerate dairy, whey remains a better protein gram for gram — higher leucine, better absorption, more research behind it. Choose plant for a reason.If you want zero fat, the coconut creamer puts around 3g in. That is the cost of the texture.Stack it with: creatine, which matters more for plant-based eaters since the main dietary sources are meat and fish and you start from a lower baseline. See our creatine range.Frequently asked questionsIs it sweetened with stevia?No, deliberately. It uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Stevia has a lingering bitterness that many people detect, and plant proteins already carry an earthy base flavour — stacking the two is why most vegan proteins taste the way they do.Does it contain allergens?Yes — tree nuts, specifically coconut, from the coconut oil creamer. It is also made in a facility processing milk, wheat and shellfish.Why does it have added BCAAs?Plant proteins are naturally lower in BCAAs, particularly leucine, than dairy proteins. Core adds fermented vegan BCAAs at 2:1:1 to close that gap.What are fermented BCAAs?BCAAs produced by microbial fermentation rather than extracted from animal sources. Older extraction methods used duck feathers and human hair, which is why the distinction is worth stating on a vegan product.Will it make me bloated?Less likely than most. DigeSEB includes cellulase, which breaks down the plant fibre humans cannot digest unaided — the specific cause of plant protein bloating.Is pea and rice a complete protein?Together, yes. Pea is high in lysine and low in methionine; rice is the reverse. Each covers the other's gap.How does it compare to PEScience Select Vegan?Both are pea and rice blends. Core uses sucralose and tastes richer; PEScience uses stevia and no artificial sweeteners. Pick on sweetener preference.Is it soy free?Yes, and lactose and gluten free. Read more

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PRODUCT LABEL

Core Nutritionals VEGAN

Core VEGAN is a pea and brown rice protein with two additions most plant proteins skip: fermented vegan BCAAs and a digestive enzyme blend. 21 grams of protein per scoop.

Your note is exactly the right hook — this one is sweetened with sucralose rather than stevia, and that is a deliberate choice with a real consequence for taste.

Sucralose versus stevia, which is the honest trade

Almost every plant protein on the market is sweetened with stevia, because "naturally sweetened" is what the plant-based buyer is assumed to want.

The problem is that stevia has a distinctive lingering bitterness that a lot of people detect, and plant proteins already carry an earthy base flavour to mask. Stacking stevia's aftertaste on top of pea protein's is why so many vegan proteins taste the way they do.

Core made the opposite call: sucralose and acesulfame potassium, plus natural and artificial flavours. That means this is vegan but not "all natural", and Core does not pretend otherwise.

It is a genuine trade and worth stating plainly:

Choose Core VEGAN if taste is the priority and artificial sweeteners are not a concern
Choose PEScience Select Vegan if you want stevia and no artificial sweeteners

Both are pea and rice blends. The sweetener is the deciding factor, and there is no wrong answer — just a preference you should get to make knowingly.

Why pea and rice together

Same complementary principle as any good plant blend, and it holds up:

Pea protein isolate is high in lysine and lower in methionine. It carries a PDCAAS around 92.8%, which is high for a plant source
Brown rice protein is the reverse — reasonable methionine, lower lysine

Together each covers the other's shortfall, producing a complete amino acid profile neither achieves alone. Rice protein also mixes poorly by itself, and pea carries the texture.

The added BCAAs, which is the real differentiator

This is where Core VEGAN separates from a standard pea-rice blend.

Plant proteins are naturally lower in BCAAs — particularly leucine — than dairy proteins are. Leucine is the amino acid that triggers muscle protein synthesis, and research points to roughly 3 grams per serving for a maximal response. A plant protein often falls short of that where a whey would clear it.

Core adds fermented vegan BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio on top of the protein blend to close that gap. Fermented means produced by microbial fermentation rather than extracted from animal sources — the older method used duck feathers and human hair, which is precisely why "fermented vegan BCAAs" is worth stating.

Core also delivers 21g of protein rather than the more common 20g, which is a small thing that suggests attention to the formulation.

DigeSEB enzymes and the bloating problem

Plant proteins have a reputation for causing gas and bloating, and it is largely deserved. Pea protein in particular contains oligosaccharides and fibre that ferment in the gut.

DigeSEB is a digestive enzyme blend containing amylases, lactase, proteases, lipase and cellulase. Cellulase is the relevant one here — it breaks down cellulose, the plant fibre humans cannot digest unaided, and it is the specific answer to plant-protein bloating.

Including cellulase in a plant protein is thoughtful rather than decorative.

Specs

Protein	21g per scoop
Calories	~120
Fat	~3g
Carbohydrate	~2g
Sources	Pea protein isolate, brown rice protein
Added BCAAs	Fermented vegan, 2:1:1
Enzymes	DigeSEB — amylases, lactase, proteases, lipase, cellulase
Sweeteners	Sucralose, acesulfame potassium
Lactose / soy / gluten	Free

⚠ Allergen: it contains coconut

Core VEGAN uses a vegan coconut oil creamer for texture, which means it contains tree nuts (coconut).

Coconut is classified as a tree nut for allergen labelling purposes in the US, and people with tree nut allergies do not always expect to find it in a protein powder. It is also manufactured in a facility that processes milk, wheat and shellfish.

The coconut oil creamer is also why this is creamier than most plant proteins — and it is where the 3g of fat comes from.

How to mix it

One scoop into 6 to 8 ounces of cold water. Shake or stir.
The coconut creamer does a lot of work here. This mixes creamier than most plant proteins and needs less liquid than a plain pea-rice blend.
Cold water genuinely matters with any plant protein.
Good in oats and smoothies, where plant proteins generally perform better than in plain water.

Who this is for

Vegans and vegetarians who have written off plant protein because of the taste
Anyone dairy-free who is not avoiding artificial sweeteners
People who dislike stevia specifically — that is a real and common preference
Anyone who has been bloated by a plant protein before, given the cellulase
People avoiding soy

Who this is not for

If you have a tree nut allergy, this contains coconut.

If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium. PEScience Select Vegan is the stevia-sweetened option on our shelf.

If you can tolerate dairy, whey remains a better protein gram for gram — higher leucine, better absorption, more research behind it. Choose plant for a reason.

If you want zero fat, the coconut creamer puts around 3g in. That is the cost of the texture.

Stack it with: creatine, which matters more for plant-based eaters since the main dietary sources are meat and fish and you start from a lower baseline. See our creatine range.

Frequently asked questions

Is it sweetened with stevia?
No, deliberately. It uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Stevia has a lingering bitterness that many people detect, and plant proteins already carry an earthy base flavour — stacking the two is why most vegan proteins taste the way they do.

Does it contain allergens?
Yes — tree nuts, specifically coconut, from the coconut oil creamer. It is also made in a facility processing milk, wheat and shellfish.

Why does it have added BCAAs?
Plant proteins are naturally lower in BCAAs, particularly leucine, than dairy proteins. Core adds fermented vegan BCAAs at 2:1:1 to close that gap.

What are fermented BCAAs?
BCAAs produced by microbial fermentation rather than extracted from animal sources. Older extraction methods used duck feathers and human hair, which is why the distinction is worth stating on a vegan product.

Will it make me bloated?
Less likely than most. DigeSEB includes cellulase, which breaks down the plant fibre humans cannot digest unaided — the specific cause of plant protein bloating.

Is pea and rice a complete protein?
Together, yes. Pea is high in lysine and low in methionine; rice is the reverse. Each covers the other's gap.

How does it compare to PEScience Select Vegan?
Both are pea and rice blends. Core uses sucralose and tastes richer; PEScience uses stevia and no artificial sweeteners. Pick on sweetener preference.

Is it soy free?
Yes, and lactose and gluten free.