At the usual maintenance dose of 3 g a day, the tub lasts exactly 30 days. It is the size we suggest for a first try: you see how you tolerate creatine, whether you remember to take it every day, and you judge the result without tying money up in a large tub.

Regular users then usually move to 350 g or 600 g, much cheaper per gram. The small tub stays handy for travel or for starting again after a break.

Creatine monohydrate is by far the most studied form, and it is the one Nutrimuscle chose. What sets Opticreatine™ apart is particle size: the powder is micronised, meaning milled much finer than standard creatine.

Pricier exotic forms (hydrochloride, esters) have never shown a real advantage over monohydrate. The work here is on texture, not marketing. For comparison, we also stock Dynveo Creapure® creatine in capsules.

Ordinary creatine clumps, sinks to the bottom of the glass and leaves a gritty last sip. Fine particles disperse better in water, stay suspended longer and make a smoother drink.

For sensitive stomachs it also means less undissolved creatine and less heaviness. Not a spectacular argument, but it is what keeps people taking it daily instead of giving up after two weeks.

3 g a day in 200 ml of water, milk or a protein shake. Timing matters little; consistency is what counts, rest days included, because the aim is the gradual saturation of the muscle.

A 20 g-a-day loading phase is unnecessary: 3 g daily gets you to the same point within a few weeks, without digestive discomfort. Drink enough water through the day. It pairs well with a protein powder.

Nutrimuscle belongs to the French NLab group and has its powders made in Europe, with batch-by-batch testing. The unflavoured version contains nothing but micronised creatine monohydrate: no flavouring, colouring or sweetener, and the tub is labelled vegan.

We carry the whole Nutrimuscle range at our shop in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, near Ledru-Rollin metro. You can pick it up in store or have it delivered anywhere in France.