What Is Clear Protein – And Why Is It So Popular?

Clear protein is different: not a heavy shake, but a refreshing, fruity drink with high protein content and a light consistency.

What Is Clear Protein – And Why Is It So Popular?
Author
Melanie Seyfarth

A fruity lemonade with a serving of protein? Absolutely! With clear protein powder. You’re probably wondering right away: What exactly is clear protein? And what is clear protein good for? Make yourself comfy and take a few minutes for this article. You’ll learn everything important about the best summer drink. 

 

Your quick takeaway: What is clear protein?

  • Clear protein is a type of protein powder you use to make a clear, refreshing shake

  • There’s clear whey protein made from whey, and there are also vegan alternatives made from, for example, pea protein.

  • Compared to classic protein powders, clear shakes often have a higher protein content, are lighter and more refreshing, and come in more fruity flavors.

  • Clear protein is a convenient way to get in your protein.

  • Boring shake, bye: with clear protein you can make a protein lemonade, slushy, a mocktail, or even a warm tea.

What is clear protein – definition

You probably know the classic, creamy protein shakes that often come in flavors like chocolate or iced coffee, right?
But there’s another kind of protein powder: clear protein. Unlike classic protein shakes, clear protein drinks aren’t creamy and milky but (as the name suggests) clear. Clear protein powders usually come in refreshing, fruity flavors like lemon, mango–passion fruit, and more.
So, clear protein is basically just another type of protein powder. While regular protein shakes are more like a milkshake, clear protein is more like a lemonade.

Another special feature: clear protein is a protein powder for water, meaning you mix it with water instead of milk (or plant milks). Let’s be honest—protein lemonade with milk would be… questionable.

What’s in clear protein powders and how are they made?

  1. The base is usually an isolate—already well-filtered protein powder. It can be from whey or from vegan plant proteins such as pea protein.

  2. Next, everything we don’t want in the final product is filtered out, such as fats and carbohydrates like lactose. 

  3. In some cases, the individual proteins are further broken down so they’re easier to digest and quickly absorbed. This also makes the drink particularly clear.

  4. Finally, it’s time to add flavor: depending on the product, different natural flavors, fruit powders, and sometimes other ingredients are added.

What exactly ends up in your clear protein depends on the product. But there’s always some form of protein powder. Often, you’ll also find flavors, sometimes colorings, or other additives.
So, is clear protein vegan? That depends on the protein source. If it’s made from whey or contains animal-based ingredients, it isn’t vegan. But there are vegan clear proteins, like ours at Vetain, which are 100% free from animal ingredients.

 

Properties

  • High protein content: often more than 70 g protein per 100 g powder.

  • Low in fat & carbs: thanks to strong filtration, clear protein contains mostly protein and very few fats or carbs. Many are also lactose-free or low in lactose!

  • Low calorie: usually under 100 kcal per serving.

  • Low sugar: sweetened either lightly with sugar, natural sweeteners, or sugar substitutes.

  • Clear, fresh, and light – a bit like lemonade.

  • Fruity and refreshing taste.

  • Usually easy to digest.

 

What is clear protein good for?

Proteins are one of the three macronutrients and are essential for many bodily functions like muscle activity. Especially in sports and for our muscles, protein is crucial – that’s why active people often focus on their protein intake.
Normally, we get protein through our diet: legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds, and more are excellent protein sources. 
Sometimes, however, it’s hard to get enough protein through food alone. That’s where protein powders come in. They make it easier to cover your daily protein needs. You can use them in a high-protein recipe or simply mix a shake. Clear protein is just as convenient as other protein powders!

 

The benefits of clear protein powder

  • Refreshing in summer: on hot days, nothing beats a cool, refreshing clear protein shake.

  • Texture: if you don’t enjoy the creamy texture of regular shakes, clear protein feels more like a flavored water or lemonade.

  • Protein content: often even higher than other shakes – perfect if you want to maximize protein intake.

  • Flavors: fruity options like Mango–Passionfruit, Lemon & Lime, or Elderflower.

Whether before, during, or after training, at lunch, or in the evening as a mocktail, clear protein is a tasty and practical option any time of the day.

By the way: if you’ve experienced side effects (like stomach discomfort) from regular protein powders, you may love clear protein. Thanks to its processing, it’s often gentler and contains little to no lactose.

 

Clear protein vs. classic protein powders

Clear Protein Classic Protein Powders
Appearance clear, transparent milky, creamy
Texture light, like lemonade heavier, like a milkshake
Taste fruity, refreshing creamy, rich
Production heavily filtered → higher protein, fewer fats & carbs often lower protein and higher fat/carb content
Protein content very high high
Preparation mix with water mix with water or (plant) milk
Digestion quickly digested, light feeling slower digestion, more filling

 

Clear Protein vs. Clear Whey Protein

What’s the difference between clear protein and clear whey protein? Whey protein is derived from milk – more on that in our article: What is whey protein? Clear whey is simply whey that has been filtered into a clear protein drink.
Clear whey is just one type of clear protein, much like oat milk is one type of plant milk.

Many prefer vegan alternatives like pea protein, which also provide a great amino acid profile.

 

What’s the best clear protein?

  • Ingredients: short, high-quality ingredient list

  • Protein content: high protein + good amino acid profile

  • Quality: ideally organic and cleanly produced

At Vetain, we’re proud of our own clear protein range:

  • Natural taste – no artificial aromas, just real fruit powder
  • Fantastic nutrition – 98 kcal, low fat, over 20 g protein per serving
  • No added sugar or sucralose – lightly sweetened with stevia
  • Free from allergens – no lactose
  • Vegan & clean – no fillers, lab tested

Check out more in our shop.

 

Conclusion

Clear protein is a type of protein powder that, when mixed with water, makes a clear, fruity, refreshing shake. Unlike classic shakes, it’s light and perfect for summer. My tip: definitely try Mango–Passionfruit!

Questions? Write me an email – I’d love to hear from you! :)

The information in this article does not replace medical or nutritional advice.

Inhalt

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Clear Protein, as the name suggests, is a protein powder that is clear. So instead of making milky or creamy protein shakes, you make clear, refreshing shakes – almost like lemonade.

    Whey protein is a protein powder made from whey. Clear Whey is essentially the same thing, except the powder is filtered even more, resulting in a clear, refreshing protein shake instead of a creamy one.

    Clear protein is a convenient way to get your protein in—and it tastes amazing, too. Doesn’t get much better than that, right?

    Definitely! Once you understand what clear protein is, it makes perfect sense. The protein powder is fruity and, when combined with water, becomes super refreshing—just like a lemonade! You get a really intense flavor in your clear shake, even though you wouldn’t expect it at first.