Pre-workout supplements are an essential component for maximising your fitness routine, providing that extra kick of energy and focus just when you need it!
But let’s be honest here: their taste is NOT something we would prefer! In fact, almost all pre-workout supplements, vitamins, and powders have a distinct taste that can leave your mouth bitter, sour, or even metallic - depending on its composition. The taste is often so unpleasant that many fitness enthusiasts resort to skipping the drink altogether.
Thankfully, there is no need to struggle anymore. There are many clever ways to make your pre-workout taste better without compromising on its effectiveness. Let’s find out how!
What Affects the Taste of Pre-Workouts?
Before trying to ‘fix’ the taste of your pre-workout, let’s first understand the reason for their lack of ‘good taste.’
Active Ingredients
Most pre-workout supplements include key ingredients like BCAAs, creatine, arginine, and caffeine. Each of these leaves an aftertaste that is definitely not pleasant.
And there is no way to avoid them in your pre-workout since each of them is beneficial for your workout and performance.
|
Ingredient |
Function |
Taste |
|
Creatine |
Promotes energy and muscle growth |
Salty and pungent |
|
Arginine |
Increases strength and endurance |
Sour |
|
BCAAs (amino acid) |
Boosts muscle growth and performance |
Strong and acidic with an intense odour |
|
Caffeine Anhydrous |
Improves focus and reduces fatigue |
Bitter |
Strong Flavourings
To mask the taste of these compounds, manufacturers often add additives or sweeteners to the pre-workout supplements. The measure is sometimes successful, but loading up on too much of flavourings can ultimately make the pre-workout taste artificial and metallic.
Insoluble Ingredient
Pre-workouts are generally available in powder form. However, some ingredients in these supplements do not dissolve well in water as well, leading to a grainy or chalky texture. As a result, consuming pre-workout supplements can be a bit of a taste challenge despite their beneficial effects on physical performance.
How to Improve the Taste of Pre-Workout.
There are several methods you can try to enhance the taste of your pre-workout supplement. This includes:
1. Mix It With Shake or Smoothie
My favourite way to spruce up the taste of pre-workout is to toss it with a blend of fruits, veggies, and some nuts. This not only covers the unwanted taste but also packs in an extra punch to the workout.
However, you have to be careful not to overdo the additional ingredients, as they can create digestive problems and even overpower the effectiveness of your pre-workout drink.
Also, the nutritional content of the ingredients should match your overall fitness goal. For example, if your aim is to gain weight, add high-calorie ingredients like bananas and dates.
On the other hand, a spoonful of peanut butter is ideal in a smoothie if you are planning to bulk up those muscles.
2. Use Coconut Water
Instead of water, you can blend your pre-workout with coconut water. Besides being a good source of nutrients, the water maintains your hydration levels during intense workout sessions.
Plus, coconut water is naturally sweet and can combat the overwhelming bitter taste of most pre-workout drinks.
3. Add Natural Sweetener
While you may be tempted to throw in sugar cubes with your pre-workout drink, you know very well that excessive sugar can transform into unwanted fat.
To avoid the undesirable effects, try adding natural sweeteners to your pre-workout drink. This includes:
- Teaspoon of honey
- Pure cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Mint leaves
- Stevia
Apart from making your drinks taste better, these ingredients will conceal the smell that is often part of pre-workout drinks.
4. Mix in Fresh Citrus Juice
If you have a flavourless or overwhelming sweet pre-workout drink, you can add a little zest to it by squeezing some lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit juice.
Besides enhancing the taste of your pre-workout drinks, the addition of citrus fruit juice speeds up the muscle recovery process.
5. Add a Pinch of Salt
Another ‘fast fix’ I prefer for an unpleasant pre-workout drink is to simply add a pinch of salt. Not only does this enhance the taste of the drink, but also replenishes the sodium loss during the exercise regime.
6. Drink with Milk
My favourite way to conceal the bitterness of caffeine is to mix the pre-workout powder with milk. The naturally occurring lactose in milk adds a hint of sweetness to the taste and makes it a tad more appealing.
However, make sure to choose between the types of milk (full-fat, skimmed, lactose-free, and plant-based) according to your specific fitness journey.
7. Try Adding Less Water
As they say, “less is more!” So, why not try this with your pre-workout drink as well? Instead of using a full glass of water to mix the pre-workout supplement, simply reduce the quantity of water. This way, you can quickly consume the drink - like a shot and get it over with without compromising on the effect.
But please note that if you are going to follow this method, avoid dry scooping the pre-workout. Taking pre-workout as a dry powder without mixing is dangerous.
8. Switch the Brand
If you don’t like the taste of your current pre-workout drink, why not go for another brand? Or fuse the taste up by mixing your current flavour with another brand?
However, make sure to choose a new flavour after careful consideration. Otherwise, you will be left with not one but two containers of ‘not so pleasant’ drinks.
9. Hold Your Nose and Drink It Up
Did you know that between 75% and 95% of what we taste is actually the smell?
This indicates that you may be able to tolerate the taste of a pre-workout if you just hold on to your nose and block the smell receptors.
Give it a try! You never know, it might work for you!
FAQs About Pre-Workout and Their Taste
What can I not mix with a pre-workout drink?
It is generally not safe to add alcohol, carbonated soft drinks, coffee, and sparkling water to a pre-workout drink.
Can I take pre-workout in a pill form?
Yes, pre-workout supplements can be taken in capsules and gummies as an alternative to the more common powder form. This is more convenient for many users who are unable to tolerate the taste of pre-workout drinks.
How do I determine the flavour to combine with my pre-workout drink?
Always avoid mixing sugar-flavoured drinks with more sweeteners or bitter ones with sour and tangy flavours. Instead, experiment with flavours that complement each other. For example, a citrus-flavoured pre-workout could pair well with a berry-flavoured drink, while a tropical-flavoured pre-workout might go nicely with a mild, coconut-flavoured beverage.
Can I take a chilled pre-workout drink?
Yes, consuming a chilled pre-workout drink can diminish the strong flavouring. Mix it ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator to make a refreshing drink.
Level Up Your Pre-Workout With Flavours
As you discovered, making your pre-workout supplement taste better involves a blend of creativity and practicality. Experiment with the above strategies and find the balance that masks the unpleasant taste without impacting the supplement’s effectiveness.
If you are still unsure about the flavours, choose from our range of pre-workouts. We focus on innovative combinations and ingredients, so you are guaranteed to find a flavour that pleases your taste buds - while keeping you attuned to your fitness goals.
