Black Edition

Huel Black Edition is the higher-protein, lower-carb version of Huel's plant-based meal powder. A 90 g serving of the Chocolate flavor provides 400 calories, 40 g of protein from pea and brown rice protein, 17 g of fat (including 5 g of omega-3 ALA from ground flaxseed), 28 g of carbohydrate, 11 g of fiber and only 3 g of added sugar. Huel says it has 50% less carbohydrate and 33% more protein than its original powder, and it is sweetened with stevia leaf extract.

Unlike most products in this category, Huel publishes the complete nutrition panel and ingredient list for every flavor, with no proprietary blends. Each serving supplies roughly 17% to 114% of the Daily Value for the essential vitamins and minerals, plus lutein, a Bacillus coagulans probiotic and 130 mg of green tea extract, which adds a small amount of caffeine on top of what cocoa naturally contains. It is vegan, gluten-free and made without soy or lactose.

As a meal replacement, the numbers are strong: the protein and fiber content support satiety better than most shakes, and the macronutrient split suits people cutting back on carbohydrates. Huel says finished products are routinely tested for microbes, allergens, heavy metals and pesticides at accredited labs, although it does not carry a product-level certification such as NSF for Sport.

The trade-offs are practical. A 1.53 kg bag holds 17 meals for $60 at the one-time price (about $3.53 a meal), with subscriptions discounted. Reviewers consistently describe the texture as thick and the taste as divisive: some love the chocolate and salted caramel flavors, while others struggle to finish it, especially when drinking it several times a day.