Optimum NutritionGold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Cookies & Cream, 5 Pound (Packaging May Vary)

Whether you’re new to the health craze or a seasoned veteran gym rat, navigating the supplements marketplace can be very challenging. Everywhere you look, you’ll be peppered with advertisements falsely claiming that their product is the magic bullet that transformed some random Joe Schmo to Ryan Gosling. However, in my unbiased opinion, the closest product to a sure fire magic bullet is Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Cookies & Cream Whey Protein. Whether you’re looking to get “jacked” for spring break, like me, or preparing for Mr. Olympia, this is hands down the product for you. I’ve concluded that this is the best protein powder based on three essential criteria for a college student: the taste and mixology and the quality and value.TASTE & MIXOLOGY - 9/10The first thing all consumers of supplements ask is “how does this product taste?” Well, unlike most other protein powders, the 5lbs of Cookies and Cream is really damn good. You might think that the low carb artificial sweetener would ruin the taste, and you’d be wrong. In milk, the flavors are genuine and robust. If you’ve ever had a Chick-fil-A Cookies & Cream milkshake, imagine that but toned down a notch. In water, the flavor was much more subtle and didn’t taste as good as it did with milk, hence the reduction of 1pt.Just as important to taste is how well the product mixes. For fair analysis, I used the spoon and cup method in two solvents: water and 2% milk. The instructions call for 1 scoop (~30g) of powder along with 4-6oz of fluid. The powder held its own in both liquids with an edge going to milk in the flavor department. Best of all, there was no mineral grit that you sometimes get with other cheaper products!QUALITY & VALUE – 10/10 (reduced from an 11/10)Where this product truly shines is in the value department. While protein powders should merely act as a supplement to your regular diet, achieving your desired level of macronutrients can be tough and expensive! Priced at $57.99 for 74 servings, one scoop containing 24g of protein comes to only $1.27 – about the same cost as a McDouble but tastier and filled with less chemicals. These 24g of proteins solely come from whey concentrates or isolates meaning better absorption for repairing your muscles after a tough workout.BOTTOM LINEIf you want a product with no frills or false advertising, this is the product for you. The cookies and cream flavor is a tasty protein packed with the highest quality of protein all at an affordable price. Whether you’re new to the gym or have been pumping iron since Arnold, this is the product for you.

It tastes great and is amazing for getting protein for healthy dessert treats. I use this to make homemade ice cream and cottage cheese brownies, so the taste review is based on using it in these desserts.French Vanilla vs Vanilla Ice Cream (5/5): Couldn't taste a big difference, but French vanilla is a little stronger, so I prefer it.Extreme Chocolate Milk: (5/5): Super good in desserts and more subtle than cocoa powder.Rocky Road (3/5): Not good as a brownie base, since the superficial marshmallow(?) taste was too prominent. Decent as ice cream since the milk/yogurt diluted it. Can't pinpoint the flavor, but it's the typical s'mores healthy protein bars.

The best whey protein powder. Reputable company that's been around forever, high quality ingredients, good flavor, dissolves easily.

Great product will continue purchasing

Gold Standard has been always a good protein. It’s easy to mix, tastes great, and the quality has been consistent. The price went up drastically for some reason like 3-4 years ago, but it’s still a good protein.

Great stuff. Taste great mixes easily.

I bought the strawberries and cream, cookies and cream, and rocky road flavors for my morning and post workout shake. All 3 are delicious! Quality protein with great taste. Can't go wrong with Gold Standard Whey.

I have tried 3 flavors of this stuff, Rocky Road, Mocha and Cookies and Cream. Best one is Rocky Road, followed by Cookies and Cream and then Mocha. The Mocha is not bad, but it just doesn't really taste like coffee, and I find fake coffee flavor to be a bit off-putting. Cookies and Cream does have the little bits of "cookie" in there, but I actually kind of like that. Especially for smoothies. Rocky Road is a delicious concoction that does actually taste like it could be dessert. I followed that one review that claimed it was the best flavor and I believe them.I think this powder is very reasonably priced. I take one scoop a day, and one of the tubs lasts me about a month. There are cheaper options, but they taste terrible or don't mix well. Speaking of which, this mixes wonderfully in my shaker bottle. I never get clumps or anything weird.I'm just going to trust the other reviewers who vouch for the quality of the protein. I have tried other brands that have that all organic, no preservative, vegetarian powder. But the problem is that it tastes terrible and doesn't mix well. I couldnt even finish some of the other brands. I make sacrifices for my health, but I draw the line at quickly swallowing a shaker bottle filled with clumpy powerdery protein that tastes like it should be inedible. This one however, makes the experience pleasant.Overall, I think this is a sold, quality product and I'm going to keep repurchasing it.