Huel Black Edition arrived as a protein-packed, low carbohydrate alternative to the original Huel powder.
In this review, I will discuss the various flavours, consistency, value for money, ease of use, and give a brief comparison between the Black Edition and the Original v3.0 powder.
I’ve been using Huel for the last 4 years so I’m excited to share my findings with you. So let’s dive in!
What is Huel?
Before we get into the Black Edition, let’s quickly discuss Huel in general.
Huel has provided nutritionally complete food in the UK since 2015. Their meals are designed to be healthy, vegan, and quick & easy to make. It comes in the form of instant meals, shakes and bars.
Huel’s intent is to provide quick and easy-to-make meals that fill your body with the good stuff that it needs: protein, carbs, fats, fibre and 26 essential vitamins.
Because each portion is easy to measure, you know exactly what you are getting in each meal. This means it’s easily used for many objectives including eating healthily, weight loss, macro and calorie counting, and bulking up.
Huel Black Edition is just one of the offerings from the Huel company which followed on from their original (white) edition. It comes in powder form that you simply add water to and shake-up.
Aside from shakes, Huel also provides a Hot & Savoury range which I have also reviewed.
Huel Black Edition review
So Huel Black Edition – what it is and what I make of it
Huel Black Edition vs Huel Powder v3.0 (White Edition)
The highlighted differences between the editions are that the Black Edition has 50% less carbohydrates, 33% more protein, and comes gluten-free as standard.
This edition does come at a premium price: £1.53 per meal, compared to £1.35 for Huel Powder v3.0 (the Huel Powder v3.0 gluten-free is much the same price as Black Edition).
The boost in protein is the most obvious benefit of going for Black Edition. If you are already consuming enough protein, then this may not be as important to you. However, many people struggle to get enough protein in their diets and may need extra help to meet their daily requirements.
Here is a table that compares Huel Black Edition to Huel Powder v3.0 vanilla. Note that the suggested serving sizes are slightly different but the calories are the same. (Figures taken from uk.huel.com).
| Black | v3.0 (per100g) | |
| Energy | 1680kj | 1680kj |
| 400kcal | 400kcal | |
| Fat | 17g | 13g |
| – of which saturates | 2.5g | 2.3g |
| – of which monounsaturates | 2.4g | 2.4g |
| – of which polyunsaturates | 12g | 7.7g |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 38g |
| – of which sugars | 4.5g | 0.9g |
| Fibre | 6.3g | 7g |
| Protein | 40g | 29g |
| Salt | 0.84g | 0.71g |
Flavours
At the time of writing, there are 9 flavours available: Cookies & Cream, Banana, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Cinnamon Swirl, Chocolate, Strawberries & Cream, Coffee Caramel, and Unflavoured & Unsweetened.
All Black Edition flavours are Gluten-free as standard, unlike the White Edition which has both gluten-free and non-gluten-free versions.
My personal favourite Black Edition flavour is Salted Caramel which is of little surprise as I’m a fiend for anything salted caramel flavour.
I also really enjoy Cookies & Cream, although I would say that it doesn’t taste exactly like the real thing. It’s unique, and not quite as sweet as Salted Caramel (which I find I prefer in the early mornings).
With the exception of Unflavoured & Unsweetened (which comes with a warning on the official website that it isn’t for everyone), the flavours are all tasty and I’m sure you will find one that is right for you.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the flavour isn’t going to exactly match what you have in mind, but after a couple of servings, the flavour settles with you and becomes enjoyable for what it is.
You may be thinking that you made a mistake by ordering something that doesn’t taste like the real thing, but honestly, there’s nothing wrong with this. It’s just a different experience. The flavours are still great and they’re still healthy!
Value for money
Prices start at £1.79 per meal if you order a minimum of 2 bags, and go as low as £1.53 if you buy in bulk and subscribe.
Considering the nutritional value that is packed into each shake, I believe this to be a great price. The shakes are great and you’re getting so many more nutrients for your money than you would for almost any other meal. Especially if you tend to nip into the local fast-food restaurant when time is short.
Time is money – so we can factor in the time saved from drinking Huel when considering Huel’s value for money. How much time do you spend making and drinking a shake versus making up a traditional lunch? If you’re like most people, it’s probably less than half the time. And if you’re eating on the go, then it’s even faster!
And to really drive home the value for money aspect – Huel has a shelf life of 13 months. So we can almost write off completely the chance of us throwing it away.
And you can get a further £10 off if you sign up with my discount code here. This link gives you £10 off your first order and gives me £10 off also. You also receive a free T-Shirt, pot, and scoop with your first order!
Ease of use
Add water to a shaker with two scoops of Huel then shake – easy peasy.
If you are anything like me, then time isn’t always on your side. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s why Huel is such a lifesaver – it’s so quick and easy to make.
With such a nutritionally dense and tasty offering that is achievable within a minute, we remove the excuse of not having the time to eat healthily.
Also, cleaning up is easier and quicker too. No pans, plates, utensils and chopping boards to wash. Just one shaker!
Texture and consistency
I’ve found the texture can be the thing that makes or breaks someone’s first experience with Huel. Too much water and it’s .. watery … and too little water and it’s thicker than cement.
Everyone is going to have a consistency that they prefer. I’d recommend starting with the measurements suggested on the packaging and then adjusting each time to make it exactly how you like it. Don’t be put off if your first attempt is runny or lumpy, you just have to dial in the right mix.
One suggestion I will make is that you should put the water in the shaker first. If you put the powder in first then you are often left with dry lumps around the edges.
Once you dial in the mix to how you like it, the texture is much the same as a regular milkshake so you can enjoy it straight from the shaker or add it to a glass with ice on top.
Conclusion
Huel Black Edition is a tasty, efficient, and nutritionally packed shake that helps you hit your daily intake requirements. It’s great for those who want to eat healthily and boost their protein intake while not spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
With 9 unique flavours to choose from, you will likely find one that you really enjoy and is a great addition to a healthy diet.
I hope you found this post informational and that it has inspired you to give Huel a go. If you decide to try Huel then please remember and take advantage of my £10 off discount code.
Thanks for reading
Iain McClafferty – The Five Year Mortgage
