At Macro Mike, flavour is everything. We’re known for our epic taste, and we’re proud to say when it comes to our best-selling proteins, we never rely on added processed refined sugar, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners to get there. Instead, we use a blend of natural, plant-derived sweeteners that are low in calories, gentle on the gut, and carefully matched to each of our protein bases and flavour profiles. So, how do we keep things sweet without compromise?
We strategically use Stevia, Monk Fruit, and Thaumatin, not all at once, but in different combos depending on the product. Let’s break them down:
🍃 Stevia: The Sweet Leaf
Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It’s been used for centuries in South America and is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, without raising blood glucose levels.
Why it gets misunderstood:
Stevia has a long-standing reputation for having a “bitter” aftertaste and some early versions did. Many stevia products contain added ingredients which can impact blood sugar levels. At Macro Mike, we use the highest quality stevia without any added ingredients or bitter aftertaste.
Why we use it:
Stevia is sweet, punchy, and works beautifully in richer, more intense bases like Peanut + Faba + Pea Protein. It blends seamlessly into chocolatey, nutty, or deeper flavours without overpowering them.
A few more great things about Stevia:
- Zero calories and zero impact on blood sugar
- Safe for diabetics and keto-friendly
- Naturally derived, no weird chemical processes
- We use a purified, high-quality extract
🌿 Monk Fruit: The Subtle One
Native to China and used in traditional medicine for centuries, monk fruit contains mogrosides, compounds that give it intense sweetness (about 150-200x sweeter than sugar), but no calories.
Why it gets misunderstood:
People often confuse it with artificial sweeteners or think it’s heavily processed. Plus, some brands blend monk fruit with fillers or sugar alcohols, which can make it harder to know what you’re really getting.
Why we use it:
Monk fruit is more delicate than stevia and thaumatin. It’s perfect for lighter flavours and more neutral bases like Smooth Pea Protein or Vanilla blends. It has no bitterness, a clean finish, and helps balance the sweetness in more subtle profiles.
A few more great things about Monk Fruit:
- Natural antioxidant properties
- Doesn’t spike blood sugar or insulin
- No unpleasant aftertaste when blended properly
- Safe, well-studied, and ideal for long-term use
🌱 Thaumatin: The Caramel Game-Changer
Thaumatin is a naturally sweet protein extracted from the katemfe fruit. It’s technically a sweetener, but also acts as a natural flavour enhancer, boosting creaminess and bringing out indulgent flavour notes.
Why it gets misunderstood:
Most people have never heard of it, and it’s often mistaken for synthetic sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin. But thaumatin is 100% plant-based, natural and used globally as a clean-label ingredient.
Why we use it:
Thaumatin has a smooth, caramel-like sweetness with zero bitterness. It's incredibly concentrated, so we use just a tiny amount, ideal for dessert-style flavours like Golden Gaytime, Hot Chocolate, and anything toffee, caramel, or biscuit-inspired.
A few more great things about Thaumatin:
- Up to 3,000x sweeter than sugar, but we only use a tiny amount
- Helps mask any bitterness from other ingredients
- No known side effects and completely plant-based
- Used in Europe and Japan for decades as a clean-label sweetener
So, Which One Is Best?
Honestly? They’re all epic, it just depends on the protein base and the flavour we’re crafting.
At Macro Mike, we've spent years testing and refining our sweetener combinations to strike the perfect balance. Sometimes we use one, sometimes two, or even all three. It’s never random, it’s all about pairing the right sweetness with the right flavour and texture.
We don’t believe you should have to sacrifice flavour to eat clean, or compromise your health for sweetness. Our choice to use natural sweeteners isn’t just trendy. It’s a purposeful decision backed by science, nature, and our mission to do better.
Here’s the bottom line:
- All three sweeteners are low-calorie, plant-based, and safe
- They allow us to create high-protein, low-sugar snacks that taste genuinely delicious
- We match the sweetener to the protein base and flavour so every product hits just right, without the crash or gut issues
If you’ve ever tried our Almond Protein and said, “This tastes like dessert!”, now you know why. It’s the science of sweet, done right, Macro Mike style.