I like to exercise in the morning. My alarm goes off around 6 a.m. and I get right into some movement. Unless I’m going for a long run, I don’t typically eat breakfast before my workout, so by the time I’m done, I am hungry. But of course by then it’s a race against the clock to get dressed and out the door to head to the office. I simply never have time to make breakfast before work, but I finally found something nourishing to tide me over: a Ka’Chava shake.

Ka’chava

Superblend Shake Variety Pack, 15 Servings

Billed as an “all-in-one nutrition shake,” Ka’Chava is a plant protein-based powder that also includes a blend of dehydrated non-dairy milk, fiber, greens, and probiotics, among other nutrient-dense ingredients. One simply combines a serving of Ka’Chava and cold water in a blender bottle and shakes until the mixture emulsifies—no other ingredients or Vitamix required. The mixture’s combination of flax, chia, and gums (acacia, xanthan, guar) gel when hydrated, contributing a thickness to the shake that’s pretty unique, and makes the drink a little more unctuous than you’d expect from a powder mixed with water. I like to add a handful of ice as I shake it up, to make a slightly colder and more diluted beverage than the brand recommends, but this is purely personal preference.

It’s been a journey getting here. I first tried grabbing a milk- or Greek-yogurt based bottled shake from the deli on my corner—pretty tasty, but that required making a stop before getting on the train to work, or remembering to pick them up on a grocery run. There was a brief experiment with unflavored pea protein powder. And then another attempt with a vanilla version, after discovering unflavored protein isolate and water is a genuinely foul concoction. Be it flavored, sweetened, or otherwise, my ultimate conclusion when it comes to pure protein powder is that you simply have to blend it into a smoothie with other ingredients like fruit to mask the strange flavor and chalky texture.

No such need when it comes to Ka’Chava. At this point, I’ve tried all of the brand’s eight different flavors, and can personally endorse the chocolate shake, followed by the vanilla and strawberry options. Each is made with a base of yellow pea and brown rice protein, coconut and oat milks, as well as “superfoods,” like antioxidant-rich berries, adaptogenic mushrooms, and more. They’re sweetened with coconut nectar and monk fruit extract (the fruit-based flavors like coconut acai like are slightly sweeter due to the juice extracts that go into the flavoring)—I do find these sweeteners a bit cloying, but it’s not unpleasant. The best part, though, is that I can subscribe to have the shakes sent straight to my door, saving me a trip to the grocery store and an extra 15 percent off my order—a win for both my grocery list and my wallet.