Try Before You Buy: Taste Supplements In Store

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    Try before you buy supplements is easy at Supps247: free taste tests run at stores that offer them, so you can try a flavour before you commit to a big tub. What is open to taste can vary, so the simplest move is to ask the team when you walk in. A taste test takes a minute, costs nothing and is the best way to avoid the most common supplement regret, which is a 2 kg bag of a flavour you do not enjoy.

    What to ask at a taste test

    Ask this Why it matters
    Which flavours are open to taste today? What is open to taste can vary
    How was this sample mixed? A shake made with milk tastes richer than one made with water
    How much protein is in one serve and in 100 g? Serve sizes differ, so per 100 g is the fair comparison
    What does it cost per serve? Bigger tubs usually cost less per shake
    How much caffeine is in one serve? Pre-workouts vary a lot, and it adds to your coffee
    Does it contain milk, soy or other allergens? Tell the team about any allergy before you taste
    Is it batch tested for banned substances? Matters if you compete in drug-tested sport

    How free taste tests work at Supps247

    Supps247 has 18 stores, 17 in Victoria and 1 in Queensland at Richlands. Free taste tests run at stores that offer them. You get a small sample, try it, and then decide. Not every product or flavour will be open, and stock varies by store. Use our store finder to see the store nearest you and its details.

    A few tips make a taste test more useful:

    • Taste two flavours side by side. It is much easier to pick a favourite when you compare.
    • Think about how you will drink it. If you will have it with water after training, ask to taste it that way.
    • Check the texture as well as the taste. Some people prefer a thin, light shake and others like it thick.
    • Look at the label while you taste. Flavour matters, but so do protein per serve and cost per serve.

    For a full walk-through of reading a protein label and working out cost per serve, see our guide to choosing protein and pre-workout in store.

    Popular products to ask about

    These are some of our best sellers over the last six months, with a big range of flavours, which makes them good candidates to taste first. Ask whether they are open at your store.

    • R1 Protein WPI 2 lb: whey protein isolate with 25 g of protein per 32 g scoop (Chocolate Fudge), $134.95 at the time of writing.
    • Next Generation Protein Delicious: an Australian-made whey blend with 24 g of protein per 28 g serve (Chocolate). The 2 kg bag is $149.95.
    • Rapid Vegan Plant Protein: a dairy-free pea and brown rice blend with 23.3 g of protein per 30 g scoop (Chocolate). The 1 kg tub is $69.95.
    • XTEND Original BCAA: a zero-sugar amino drink people mostly buy for the flavour, $29.95 for 30 serves.

    Not sure which protein suits you? Our best protein powder guide compares the main options in Australia.

    Tasting pre-workout: go easy on caffeine

    A small taste of a pre-workout is mostly about flavour, but stimulant pre-workouts contain caffeine, sometimes a lot of it, so check the amount per serve on the label. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) advises healthy adults to have no more than 200 mg of caffeine in a single serving and no more than 400 mg a day from all sources. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should stay under 200 mg a day, and people under 18 should have no more than 3 mg per kg of body weight in a single serving.

    So tell the team if you have already had coffee or an energy drink, and skip stimulant samples if you are under 18, pregnant, have a heart condition or take medication. Talk to your GP before using pre-workout if any of those apply. If you train at night or do not like stimulants, ask about stim-free options, or read our guide to stim-free pre-workouts.

    Allergies, lactose and dietary needs

    Most protein powders are made from milk, and many contain soy lecithin. If you have a food allergy, tell the team before you taste anything and read the allergen statement on the pack. Whey isolate is lower in lactose than whey concentrate, which suits many people with lactose intolerance, but it still comes from milk, so it is not for a milk allergy. Healthdirect notes that many people with lactose intolerance can handle small amounts of lactose. Plant proteins such as Rapid Vegan are the dairy-free choice.

    After the taste test: how to buy

    • In store: buy it on the spot, with stock varying by store.
    • Online: order with delivery Australia-wide, usually 2 to 8 business days, and free shipping on orders of $99.99 or more.
    • Click and collect: order online and pick up at stores that offer it. See how click and collect works.
    • Price match: members can use our price match guarantee. Conditions apply.

    Afterpay is available at checkout.

    Our tip: taste first, then size up

    The best way to use a taste test is to narrow it down to one or two flavours you would happily drink most days, then check protein per serve and cost per serve. If you are still unsure, buy the smaller size first and move to the bigger, better-value tub once you know you love it. Browse all protein powders before you visit, then let your taste buds make the final call.

    How our price compares

    Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.

    Product Supps247 Nutrition Warehouse ASN Elite Supps Supplement Mart
    R1 Protein WPI 2 lb $134.95 $114.71 (sale) $107.96 (sale) $134.90 $134.95
    Rapid Vegan Plant Protein 1 kg $69.95 $69.95 $69.95 Not listed Not listed
    XTEND Original BCAA 30 serves $29.95 $54.95 Not listed $60.90 $54.95

    Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Sale means it was on sale that day. Not listed means we could not find that exact product on their site. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).

    Shop the products in this guide

    Browse all protein powders and pre-workouts, or find your nearest store with our store finder.

    FAQs

    Can I taste supplements before I buy them?

    Yes, at Supps247 stores that offer free taste tests. You can try a small sample before deciding which flavour to buy. What is open to taste can vary, so ask the team when you arrive. Use our store finder to see your nearest store, and remember stock varies between stores.

    Do all Supps247 stores offer free taste tests?

    Free taste tests run at stores that offer them, and what is open to taste can vary, so it is worth asking when you visit. If you have your heart set on a particular product or flavour, check with your nearest store first through our store finder, as stock also varies between our stores in Victoria and Queensland.

    Is it safe to taste pre-workout in store?

    A small taste is mostly about flavour, but stimulant pre-workouts contain caffeine. FSANZ advises healthy adults to keep to 200 mg of caffeine in one serving and 400 mg a day from all sources. Tell the team if you have had coffee already, and skip stimulant samples if you are under 18, pregnant, have a heart condition or take medication. Stim-free options are a good alternative.

    What should I look for when tasting protein powder?

    Taste two flavours side by side, ask how the sample was mixed, and notice the texture as well as the flavour. Then check the label: protein per serve, protein per 100 g for a fair comparison, and cost per serve. If you have a milk or soy allergy, tell the team before tasting and read the allergen statement, or ask about plant proteins.

    Can I buy online after tasting in store?

    Yes. Once you know the flavour you like, you can order online with delivery Australia-wide, usually in 2 to 8 business days, and free shipping on orders of $99.99 or more. You can also use click and collect at stores that offer it, pay with Afterpay at checkout, and members can use our price match guarantee, with conditions.

    Sources: Food Standards Australia New Zealand: caffeine; Healthdirect: lactose intolerance; product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.

    Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.

    Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.