Which whey to choose in Paris: our guide by taste

There are about twenty wheys on the shelves at Herba Barona, in Paris 12th, and the question we are asked is almost never “which one has the most protein?” but “which one will I manage to drink every day?“. That is the right question. A whey you don’t like ends up at the back of the cupboard. Here is how we choose with you, starting from taste, then from use. The full shelf is on our page whey in Paris.

Why taste comes before everything else

All the wheys on our shelves are of good quality: we do not stock protein stuffed with additives. Between two serious isolates, the difference in results is small; the difference in taste decides whether you will keep going for a month or for three years. So we have sorted the shelf into four taste profiles, and we first ask which one you recognise yourself in.

Profile 1: you want flavour, but subtle and not too sweet

This is the profile of those who have already given up a whey because it tasted like candy. For them, we offer the three Greenwhey native isolates: chocolate, vanilla or blueberry. The taste is natural, not too sweet, and you can still taste the whey behind the flavour: an authentic taste rather than a dessert taste. It is the range we recommend to those who want flavour without feeling sickened; we describe it in Greenwhey, the whey that has taste.

Profile 2: you want no taste at all

You mix your whey into oats, a smoothie, yoghurt or a compote, and a flavour would bother you. Take a neutral whey: Nutripure Native Whey Isolate, made from milk of French origin, is our first recommendation; the 1 kg Dynveo native whey isolate and the AlpenPower neutral isolate are the two other neutral options on the shelf. To find your way around the rest of the brand, see which Nutripure product to choose according to your goal. The rest of the Nutripure range is a natural complement: creatine, BCAAs, electrolytes.

Profile 3: you like classic, distinct flavours

Vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate, strawberry, caramel: if you want a flavour that is clearly present, the shelf offers several. Nutripure offers its native isolate in vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate and strawberry. AlpenPower offers a caramel isolate and cocoa, coconut and vanilla versions made from Alpine milk. The Greenwhey strawberry milkshake is the creamiest of the lot.

Profile 4: you don’t consume milk

Plant proteins have improved a lot in texture. The Nutripure organic plant protein and the Dynveo organic plant proteins are the two benchmarks on the shelf. They are a little thicker than a whey; we recommend them in a smoothie rather than in a simple shaker of water.

Only then: concentrate, isolate or native isolate

• Concentrate: the most common and cheapest, around 70 to 80% protein, with a little lactose and fat.
• Isolate: filtered further, over 85-90% protein, very little lactose. The choice for people sensitive to lactose.
• Native isolate: extracted directly from fresh milk rather than from cheese-dairy whey, a less denatured protein. This is the category of Greenwhey, Nutripure and Dynveo, described in our whey isolate shelf.

At equal quality, taste decides. At equal taste, take the native isolate if your budget allows.

What to pair it with

For strength, whey is complemented by creatine (see creatine: powder or capsules, and what dose) — the two basic products, nothing else to begin with. Magnesium supports recovery. BCAAs and citrulline come next, for regular practitioners. You will find all of this on the sport and endurance shelf.

How to find Herba Barona

Herba Barona, 10 rue Théophile Roussel, 75012 Paris, near the Aligre market. Metro Ledru-Rollin (line 8) or Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8). Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. We show you the tubs, read the labels together, and you leave with the one you will really drink.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the least sweet whey on the shelf?

Among the flavoured ones, the Greenwhey isolates: natural taste, not too sweet. If you want zero sugar and zero flavour, a neutral whey such as Nutripure native.

How much whey a day?

One serving (about 25 to 30 g) after training is enough for most practitioners. Whey complements the diet, it does not replace it.

Can I taste before I buy?

We don’t do tastings, but we describe each flavour honestly, and the 750 g and 900 g sizes let you try without committing to a 2 kg tub.

Whey or plant protein, which is better?

Whey is better absorbed and richer in leucine; plant protein suits those who don’t consume milk. Both work if you take them regularly.