Ka’Chava Reviews

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Looking for a nutrient-dense, whole food replacement shake?

Ka’Chava might be your solution to your search. 

These meal replacement shakes taste like milkshakes and come in two popular flavors. They’re relatively low in calories, high in healthy fats, high in dietary fiber, and high in protein. Additionally, they contain 26 essential vitamins and minerals! 

Read on to learn about Ka’Chava whole meal replacement shakes and decide whether they may be a good fit for your lifestyle and goals!

Taste

Fans love Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes for their creamy and rich taste. Many relate these shakes to milkshakes that you’d get at an ice cream parlor. 

Additionally, their smooth consistency makes them easy to mix with water, dairy, or dairy-alternatives without forming large clumps. After all, who hasn’t tried a gross, powdery, and grainy meal replacement shake before? 

Some of the reviews that we’ve seen online for Ka’Chava shakes speak to their delicious taste:

• “It is creamy and smooth. Even my kids will drink it!” – @rodsgirl4ever
• “OMG! So good, you should try it!” – Debbie Nielsen
• “It’s amazing! Not chalky or weird-tasting” – Diana Stack
• “By far the best. Mild taste and not sweet like other shakes.” – Sonia
• “You won’t regret it. No chalky aftertaste. Tastes like a milkshake.” – Michael Munger

Flavor

Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes only come in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla. 

For those seeking unique or specialty flavors, this shake may not be the best fit. But, for those who are fairly minimalistic and prefer simple flavors, Ka’Chava has mastered the best-selling flavors that most people love!

According to Ka’Chava, 45% of their customers choose vanilla and 55% choose chocolate. Their vanilla meal replacement shakes are creamy and sweetened with a hint of natural vanilla, making it easy to add it to other recipes or have as a standalone shake. Meanwhile, their chocolate shakes have real cocoa and a hint of cinnamon, making it a sweet but healthy treat. If you can’t choose between the two, you can always combine them! 

Read on to learn more about this meal replacement shake’s overall nutrition profile, including calories, fat, protein, carbs, vitamins/minerals, and ingredients.

Calories

Each Ka’Chava meal replacement shake contains 240 calories. This means that Ka’Chava shakes are low in calories while supplying your body with other critical nutrients as a whole food meal replacement.

Calories are units of energy that consist of three macronutrients: protein, carbs, and fat. Everyone’s calorie needs will vary, but based on an average diet of 2,000 calories, you would normally consume at least 500 calories at any given meal. 

So, if you’re replacing one meal with a Ka’Chava shake, you’d be able to reduce overall calorie intake in your diet! It’s not specifically labeled as a weight-loss shake, but for those of you looking to lose a little bit of weight by reducing calories, this shake may be a great fit.

Fat

Each Ka’Chava meal replacement shake contains 7 grams of fat. Its fat content is a mix of both saturated and unsaturated fats.

First, it contains healthy fats known as omega-3 fatty acids from ingredients like chia and flax, which make up most of this shake’s unsaturated fat content. Unsaturated fats are heart-healthy fats that can help lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels! [1]

Second, it contains coconut milk, which consists of mostly saturated fats, which usually get a bad rap. However, the fats from coconut milk consist of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are used efficiently in your body and may boost your metabolism! [2] Plus, we can’t complain since coconut milk is the secret ingredient behind why these shakes are so decadent and creamy. 

Total Carbohydrates (Carbs), Sugar & Sweeteners

Total Carbohydrates

There are 24 grams of total carbs in one Ka’Chava meal replacement shake.

Although this shake is higher in carbs than some of our other top-rated shakes, it serves as a whole food replacement, so it makes sense that it contains some carbs. Our body needs carbs to provide us with energy and for essential functions, so don’t let the carb content scare you away!

Plus, if you’re worried about the carb content, you can always mix the instant powder with a no-carb base like water instead of almond milk, for instance.

Dietary Fiber

Out of the total carbs in each Ka’Chava shake, 9 grams come from dietary fiber. This makes it one of the higher-fiber meal replacement shakes on our list.

Sources of dietary fiber in Ka’Chava include whole grain oat, chia seeds, flax seeds, acacia gum, and soluble vegetable fiber. These ingredients are high in soluble fiber.

Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that dissolves in water. It forms a gel that helps food digest slowly in your body to help you stay full for longer periods. Your gut also ferments soluble fiber to help you better control cholesterol, blood sugars, and potentially weight — all great benefits of consuming soluble fiber! [3]

Although Ka’Chava contains “supergreens” and “super-fruits”, the quantities in this shake are so small, that these ingredients minimally contribute to the soluble and insoluble fiber content.

So, how much dietary fiber do our bodies need daily? The average woman needs 25 grams per day and the average man requires 37 grams per day. A Ka’Chava shake can certainly help you get closer to meeting your fiber goals!

Added Sugars 

Ka’Chava shakes contain 5 grams of added sugar. This quantity is higher than many of our other top-rated shakes.

Most of the sugar on the label comes from unrefined coconut flower nectar, which provides sweetness and serves as a “super-fruit”. Although coconut nectar is “natural”, it does provide added sugar and isn’t a naturally occurring sugar. 

The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting added sugars lower than 10 percent of your total daily calories, [4] so you may want to watch how many Ka’Chava shakes you drink in a day in addition to other foods if you’re watching your added sugar intake.

Natural & Traditional Sweeteners

There are no traditional/artificial sweeteners in Ka’Chava shakes.

As far as natural sweeteners, Ka’Chava uses Lo Han fruit extract, which is another name for monk fruit extract. Monk fruit extract is a popular, new-generation sweetener from Asia. It’s up to 250 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories!

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers this sweetener “Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)” to use as an ingredient in foods. [5] It has some preliminary research showing helpful anti-inflammatory effects [6], but more studies are needed.

However, if you don’t like your shakes particularly sweet, you might not like monk fruit extract. It has a strong sweetness when added in larger quantities. Although Ka’Chava does not share with us how much monk fruit extract it contains, it seems to be in quantities where most people find the sweetness to be “just right”. 

Additionally, Ka’Chava contains coconut flower nectar, which provides some natural sweetness.

Protein

Each Ka’Chava meal replacement shake contains 25 grams of protein. The protein comes from plant sources including yellow pea, organic whole grain brown rice, organic amaranth seed, organic sacha inchi seed, and organic quinoa seed. 

Normally, plant-based protein is incomplete in terms of its amino acid profile, compared to animal-based protein. However, since Ka’Chava has created a blend from various plant sources, these shakes contain all essential amino acids to support your body’s functions like building muscle mass and feeling fuller for longer! 

These shakes are free from cheaper protein fillers such as soy protein. You can rest assured that by drinking Ka’Chava shakes, you’ll meet your daily protein needs in a healthy, plant-powered way.

Vitamins and Minerals

The FDA does not require meal replacement shakes like Ka’Chava to list nutrition information (only supplement facts are required). 

However, Ka’Chava is transparent about its vitamin and mineral content — it contains a whopping 26 essential vitamins and minerals! See below for a comprehensive list. 

Some of the nutrients are added to the shake and some are naturally occurring in the ingredients. The antioxidant/”super-fruit” blend supplies many of the vitamins in this shake.

Ingredients

Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes contain more than 70 ingredients including protein, fiber, greens, fruits, herbs, prebiotics/probiotics, and a digestive/enzyme blend:

• Plant-Based Protein Blend – Yellow Pea Protein | Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein | Organic Sacha Inchi Seed | Organic Amaranth Seed | Organic Quinoa Seed
  • Protein helps you build and retain muscle mass and helps you stay full! Additionally, there is no soy protein in this shake.

• Omega EFA / Fiber Blend – Organic Pure Whole Grain Oat | Organic Acacia Gum | Chia Seed | Flax Seed
  • This shake contains heart-healthy fats and fiber to help you stay satisfied after meals.

• Antioxidant / Super-Fruit Blend – Organic Coconut Flower Nectar | Acai Berry | Organic Maqui Berry | Camu-Camu Berry | Organic Strawberry | Organic Tart Cherry | Organic Blackberry | Organic Blueberry | Organic Raspberry
  • If you typically don’t get enough servings of fruits in your diet, you’ll want to try a Ka’Chava shake. I mean, look at this exhaustive list!

• Adaptogen Herb Blend – Organic Maca Root | Organic Shiitake Mushroom Mycelia | Organic Maitake Mushroom Mycelia | Organic Reishi Mushroom Mycelia | Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Mycelia | Organic Ginger Root
  • Holistic medicine specialists claim that adaptogens may help your body maintain balance and ward off stressors. However, as of today, there is very limited information and studies to support these claims.

• Supergreens / Vegetable Blend – Chlorella | Organic Beet | Organic Carrot | Organic Spinach | Organic Broccoli | Organic Tomato | Organic Kale | Organic Cabbage | Organic Parsley Leaf | Organic Brussel Sprouts | Organic Green Pepper |Organic Cucumber | Organic Celery | Organic Garlic | Organic Green Onion | Organic Cauliflower | Organic Asparagus
  • There are lots of veggies in this shake to supply you with essential vitamins and minerals, but it’s still tasty. If you’re not a big fan of eating raw or cooked veggies, Ka’Chava shakes are great sources of veggies for sure.

• Probiotic / Prebiotic Blend – Inulin | Lactobacillus Rhamnosus | Lactobacillus Acidophilus
• Digestive / Enzyme Blend – Amylase | Protease | Cellulase | Lactase | Lipase
  • To support your digestion, Ka’Chava has added prebiotics, probiotics, and a digestive/enzyme blend to its formula. If you have a sensitive stomach that needs some support, this shake may be a great option for you.

• Other Ingredients – Coconut Milk, Natural Vanilla Flavors, Soluble Vegetable Fiber, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Lo Han Fruit Extract
  • Coconut milk gives this shake its smooth texture. The other ingredients here are not too exciting. Lo Han fruit extract is monk fruit extract, a common natural sweetener with a strong taste.

Allergens and Warnings

Ka’Chava contains tree nuts (coconut), so if you are allergic to tree nuts, you may want to look for a different meal replacement shake. It is also manufactured in a plant that processes milk, tree nuts, wheat, and soy.

Pregnant or nursing mothers or individuals with medical conditions are encouraged to check with their physician before consuming this meal replacement shake.

The only other warning on the label is to not rely on Ka’Chava as the exclusive source of nutrition. Although it is a whole food replacement shake, it’s important to incorporate it as part of a balanced, healthy diet.

Now, let’s review some of the key claims that Ka’Chava makes, its price and value, and how to enjoy it.

Key Health and Marketing Claims 

• 100% plant-based protein

This claim is true! Ka’Chava shakes consist of yellow pea protein, organic whole grain brown rice protein, organic sacha inchi seed, organic amaranth seed, and quinoa seed.

For those living a mostly plant-based lifestyle or following a vegan or vegetarian diet, this shake would be a seamless fit versus many nutrition shakes made with whey.

• All your essentials in one

“All your essentials” is a subjective claim, and there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to your nutrition. For example, what is considered essential for you may not necessarily apply to me.

However, Ka’Chava shakes contain all key macronutrients: fat, carbs, and protein. Additionally, they contain critical micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to support your health!

• Vegan

Vegan means that the product has no animal products. Although this product doesn’t have any vegan certifications on the label, Ka’Chava does claim that the product is vegan-friendly. Based on its ingredients list, this claim is true!

• Keeps you full for hours

This claim may be true. With a good amount of protein (24 grams) and dietary fiber (9 grams), which both support satiety, this shake can stave off hunger for a while until you can have your next meal.

• Clean & pure

Many individuals are looking for a “clean” or “pure” diet or lifestyle, but these are subjective marketing claims and not regulated nutrition claims. 

If by “clean and pure”, Ka’Chava means that these shakes contain mostly organic, plant-based, and nutrient-dense ingredients, we’d have to agree.

• Contains supergreens and super-fruits

“Superfoods” are all the rage, but they’re marketing claims, not nutrition claims that are regulated. [7] This shake indeed contains a lot of greens and fruits. However, there’s nothing that makes them “super” compared to other fruits and veggies that you’d get from a healthy, balanced diet.

If you’re looking to increase your fruit and veggie intake, you’re better off starting with eating more fresh and cooked fruits and veggies. Doing so will also likely provide you with more dietary fiber than a Ka’Chava shake would provide. But, you can certainly supplement your intake with this shake!

• Contains adaptogens

Mushrooms, roots, and mycelia, oh my! This shake contains “adaptogens”. 

According to herbalists and holistic medicine practitioners, adaptogens can help restore your body’s balance. However, there are limited peer-reviewed studies that speak to this health benefit.

Price

Each Ka’Chava pouch costs $77.95 and contains 15 servings. This equates to $5.20 per serving, making it one of the most expensive meal replacement shakes on our list of reviewed shakes. 

You can save some money by using Amazon’s Subscribe & Save feature if you’ve tried Ka’Chava before and know that you’d order it regularly.

Is it worth the high price tag? Maybe. If you love its taste, flavor, and nutrition profile, you can’t go wrong. Also, note that Ka’Chava is a true meal replacement shake (and not just a protein shake) that can replace breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This price is quite reasonable when you compare a serving to a meal you would eat at home or pick up from a restaurant.

Ways to Enjoy Ka’Chava

Enjoying Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes doesn’t have to be boring! There are many ways to incorporate Ka’Chava into your life:

• Mix Ka’Chava meal replacement shake powder with water, nut milk, or milk. Whatever the base is, Ka’Chava mixes easily and tastes great!
• Make a smoothie with some nut butter for more healthy fats and fruits for vitamins, minerals, and fiber! Check out this dreamy and decadent peanut butter banana smoothie from Ka’Chava. [8]
• Did you know that you can bake sweet treats with Ka’Chava? Check out these cinnamon swirl bars [9] and protein pumpkin bread for inspiration. [10]
• Energy bites are all the rage these days. I love being able to take them on-the-go with me for my active lifestyle for a steady source of energy. Here’s a fun recipe for salted caramel and vanilla protein balls  [11] to consider making with your Ka’Chava. 
• Sprinkle some powder into cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt for a little flavor and nutrient boost.

You can drink Ka’Chava any time during the day, whether as a whole meal replacement to breakfast, lunch, or dinner or as a snack to keep you full in between meals.

Company Information

Simon Malone founded Ka’Chava in 2014. He and Ka’Chava understand that it’s hard to find healthy, high-quality food. Simon wanted to make food that reconnects with nature and mimics how our ancestors treated nutrition. [12]

He asked himself, “What if we could combine all the best superfoods and nutrients into a single, ready-to-go meal?” And, voila! Ka’Chava was born after a labor of love. It’s focused solely on its meal replacement shake product and does not diversify into other areas of nutrition.

Ka’Chava calls their fans “Ka’Chava Tribers,” so if you drink these shakes, you’re a part of the trib.

From a corporate social responsibility standpoint, the company supports Rainforest Trust, which protects threatened rainforests and endangered species around the world. This non-profit organization partners with local experts to identify priority sites that need refuge, create sustainable conservation plans, and establish protected reserves. [13]

Since 2017, Ka’Chava claims to have 25,126 acres of rainforest saved. So, you can drink ancestral-inspired shakes and feel good about giving back to nature, too.

The Bottom Line

Out of comparable shakes, we’ve ranked Ka’Chava shakes at #14.

Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes are nutrient-dense. They are high in key macronutrients and micronutrients with 26 essential vitamins and minerals. Also, their ingredients are plant-based, vegan-friendly, and mostly organic. Beyond that, their biggest fans love the creamy, rich taste!

Each Ka’Chava meal replacement shake costs $5.20 per serving, so it’s a little more expensive than our top-rated shakes but may be worth trying given its unique benefits.

If you’d like to compare Ka’Chava with our top-rated shakes, learn more below!

References

[1] The Skinny on Fat | NIH News in Health

[2] Mumme K, Stonehouse W. Effects of medium-chain triglycerides on weight loss and body composition: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Acad Nutr Diet 2015 Feb;115(2):249-63.

[3] Ciudad-Mulero M, Fernández-Ruiz V, Matallana-González MC, Morales P. Dietary fiber sources and human benefits: The case study of cereal and pseudocereals. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2019;90:83-134. doi: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.02.002. Epub 2019 Mar 7. PMID: 31445601.

[4] 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf

[5]  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. High-Intensity Sweeteners. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/high-intensity-sweeteners

[6] Di R, Huang MT, Ho CT. Anti-inflammatory Activities of Mogrosides from Momordica grosvenori in Murine Macrophages and a Murine Ear Edema Model. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2011; 59(13): 7474-7481

[7] Superfoods or Superhype? | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

[8] Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie | Ka’Chava

[9] Cinnamon Swirl Bars | Ka’Chava 

[10] Protein Pumpkin Bread | Ka’Chava

[11] Salted Caramel & Vanilla Protein Ball | Ka’Chava

[12] Our story | Ka’Chava

[13] Our Cause | Ka’Chava