Today’s review will cover off on the tasty Apollo Protein Powder by Unico Nutrition.
This has been a long-time favorite of our staff, and today we’ll share why.
We’ll talk about the flavors, formula, and go into some detail on the changes that have been made to the product since it’s release nearly a decade ago.
What to Expect in This Apollo Review
Like all of our protein powder reviews, we’re going to divide the article up into a few key parts.
The first thing we’ll do is talk about UNICO the company, because we like to give a little background on the brand behind each product.
After that, we’ll dive into flavor, taste, and texture.
This is really where the Apollo protein stands out, so we’ll definitely unpack the flavor in-depth.
Next up will be the formula.
Most of these protein powders are very similar, but there are a few subtleties to the Apollo product that you should know about.
We’ll move into a packaging analysis after that, and UNICO has made some changes on that front over the years…
The review will end with a discussion on cost, and whether or not Apollo is worth the money (it is on the more expensive side).
It will be a lot of info, but by the end of the review you’ll see just why we are so high on this protein powder.
About UNICO Nutrition
So, UNICO is a brand that we’ve been aware of for quite some time.
They came out with their initial pre-workout product way back in 2012, and it scored very highly on our rankings.
Soon after, they released their second product, which is the Apollo protein that we’re discussing today.
Apollo seems to have become the feature product for UNICO, based on the reviews that we’ve seen on Amazon.
There also seems to be more ‘buzz’ on social media about their protein than their pre-workout.
The UNICO brands seems to still be rather small, but is still committed to producing really high quality products.
I appreciate the brands that stay true to who they are – and if nothing else, it seems like UNICO is consistently producing high-quality products.
That being said, the best brands are able to evolve over time…
And later in the review we’ll go over a few ways that UNICO seems to have changed their Apollo, for the better.
But first, let’s talk about the taste.
How I First Found Out About UNICO
So every now and then I get a facebook message from a fan asking me about this product or that.
And alot of times the product in question ends up being something I’ve never even heard of.
Which always astounds me considering just how many products we’ve reviewed here at BPW. But todays product is a perfect example of this.
One of my fans sent a Facebook message asking me if I had tried the new Apollo Protein Powder and what I thought about it…
‘Errr. What is Apollo Protein Powder?’
Was my sheepish reply. (Yes I actually typed that out).
After not too much research I had finally found out what I needed to know about the Apollo Protein.
I immediately placed my order and waited patiently by the door for my package to arrive.
After just three days my package finally did.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this excited to do a protein review.
I mean, usually I get so much more excited for pre workouts because you can really feel them working so much better that they make for better review material.
But hey. Proteins can be fun too….
I ripped open my box and was immediately blown away by what I found.
Apollo Protein Tastes Incredible
Goodness gracious this stuff tastes insane.
Like, literally incredible.
Usually the hype products in the nutrition space fall short, but let me tell you, Apollo is built different.
The first flavor that I tried was the vanilla, and I honestly felt like I was drinking a vanilla milkshake the way I made it.
Here is the recipe that I used…
Simple ‘Milkshake’ Protein Recipe
- Take 1 Cup of Milk (I use whole for best thickness)
- Put in Blender with 7-8 ice cubes
- Add One and a Quarter Scoops of Apollo
- A drop of vanilla extract
- A Baby Scoop of Malt (if you have it)
- Blend all ingredients together until smooth (don’t overblend or it will get thin)
- Garnish with just a little whipped cream
I know – not the most complicated recipe.
But trust me it’s unbelievable how much taste you can get from such a basic recipe.
If you’ve ever had a vanilla ‘fribble’ at Friendly’s than you know just how good this shake can be.
Like honestly it’s unbelievable that what I just drank has almost 30 grams of protein, very few carbs, and virtually no fat (well, other than the bit of whipped cream and some in the milk).
But legit you can make an Apollo shake by itself just the powder and water and come up with something that tastes like 95% as good.
I can’t speak highly enough about how freakin good this protein powder tastes…
After trying the vanilla I immediately went and tried their 6-flavor variety pack to see what the other flavors tasted like…
Apollo Protein Flavor Analysis
So, since they have quite a few flavors, I wanted to describe each one in some detail, and then share which one I liked best.
I know flavor can be subjective, so just take my opinions with somewhat of a grain of salt.
You may find that you prefer a different flavor depending on your own personal tastes and preferences.
That being said, I think my analysis is pretty spot on with these flavors – and honestly they are all so good that you can’t go wrong.
Let’s begin with my favorite of them all – the birthday cake flavor.
1. Birthday Cake
This flavor was totally epic, and I’ll lead with a bold statement right off the bat.
The UNICO Birthday Cake flavor is the best-tasting protein powder that I have ever tried, bar-none.
I have tested literally hundreds of protein powders in my day, and I’m not kidding when I say this is truly on another level.
It’s not just the flavor, which is buttery, sweet, and completely spot-on…
But it’s the texture of this protein powder that does it for me.
There is no chalkiness, there is no grittiness…it’s like nothing else I’ve ever tried.
A nice detail of the birthday cake flavor is also that it has little rainbow sprinkles in it – how cute is that?!
2. Vanilla Ice Cream
You guys might think I’m lame and boring for picking this as my second-favorite Apollo protein flavor…
But when you try it, you will see why it stole my heart.
The taste is similarly sweet, and rich, just like the birthday cake flavor…
So it can stand up on it’s own if you prefer to just mix it with milk or water.
However, the great thing about this Vanilla Ice Cream flavor is that its also super versatile…
I was making all kinds of smoothie combinations with the vanilla flavor, and I even mixed it into my coffee a few times for a morning protein boost.
Grab this flavor if you prefer the versatility of drinking it on its own, as well as using it in different recipes.
3. Molten Chocolate
It would be impossible to rank the Molten Chocolate flavor outside of the top three, for a few reasons.
First of all, sometimes you just are craving something chocolate-y, and this flavor delivers big time.
It’s got the perfect amount of sweetness, bitterness, and even a touch of saltiness to hit your taste buds in all the right ways.
If you’ve ever had a ‘Frosty’ from Wendy’s, than you have a good feel for what this flavor tastes like.
It’s definitely not a ‘dark’ chocolate taste, but more of a smooth, velvety chocolate.
It’s insanely drinkable, and you won’t fatigue of it.
I ranked it behind the Birthday Cake and Vanilla flavors, but you could make a strong case for this being a top-2 option…
Especially if you are a chocolate-lover.
4. Banana Cream Pie
This one is going to raise some eyebrows for some of you, I already know it.
Ranking banana above strawberry is usually never the right play…
But in this case with Apollo protein – it is, and here’s why:
This is the best banana-flavored product I’ve ever tried.
And not just protein…
I’m talking like, period…I’ve never tried something ‘banana’ flavored that I actually enjoyed, until I tried this.
It’s actually a ‘banana cream pie’ flavor, so it has a bit more nuance to it than just plain old banana…
You can really taste the pastry, or ‘crust’ flavors as well as the ripe banana filling flavor.
The overall effect is completely delicous, and unlike anything else that I’ve tried.
In a similar way to how I enjoyed the Prickly Pear flavor of the BPN Flight pre workout, I really like the APOLLO banana flavor because it is so unique.
5. Strawberries ‘n Cream
Okay this one will make you strawberry lovers out there very happy.
I ranked this one technically in the ‘bottom two’ of the six flavors, but this flavor is still ridiculously tasty.
It has the right sweetness, just the right amount of tart, and a really pleasing vanilla aspect as well.
I’ve never been to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, but I have seen it on TV….
And they are always eating fresh strawberries ‘n cream at the stadium!
It’s some kind of tradition or something, and I’d imagine that this flavor tastes exactly like that.
If you love strawberry, you will adore this flavor.
6 Chocolate Peanut Butter
Okay so this was my ‘least’ favorite of the 6 APOLLO flavors, but it was still super drinkable.
I only ranked it lower than the others because the others are that good – not because this one underwhelmed.
You actually get a really true ‘peanut’ flavor from this one…and the chocolate is quite subtle.
I was a little surprised that they made it so ‘peanut-buttery’ instead of more chocolate-y, but the flavor grew on me.
It provides a nice change of pace from the sweetness of the others…
And I found myself reaching for this flavor more often than I thought I would.
What’s the Best Flavor of Apollo Protein?
The best flavor of the APOLLO protein has to be the Birthday Cake flavor.
While the other flavors all had their strengths, and weaknesses…this flavor has a ‘wow’ factor that can’t be topped.
…this flavor has a ‘wow’ factor that can’t be topped.”
– lovelyreviews.com
Between the rainbow sprinkles…the perfect sweetness amount, and the true ‘cake’ flavor, I just can’t praise this flavor enough.
It’s simply a must-have in any protein powder cupboard.
Now that we’ve covered off on flavor, let’s discuss the formula and the macros a little bit.
This Apollo Formula is Spot-On
After taking a few hours to dig into the nitty-gritty of this protein powder, I must say…
Apollo is one of those rare products where I’m hard-pressed to find any real problems with it.
It’s almost like that kid in class growing up who had all the right answers.
As someone who makes a living critiquing these products, I actually found it quite frustrating to review the Apollo protein.
And I say that because not only is the flavor spot-on, but the formulation is brilliant as well…
Apollo Protein Ingredients
APOLLO uses three sources for it’s main Apollo Pure Protein Blend:
- Grass-Fed Whey
- Micellar Casein
- Egg White
These three sources are combined in the optimal ratio for satiety, energy, and recovery.
I’ve always gotten better results from protein blends*, which is another reason why I like Apollo.
*’Blends’ meaning a combination of different protein sources, as opposed to just 100% whey alone.
When you combine the faster and slower sources, your muscles have a more consistent stream of amino acids to use for a longer period of time.
Plus, this makes you feel fuller for much longer, which makes it a great ‘cutting’ or dieting protein.
Other ingredients in this product include:
Digestive enzyme blend, prebiotic inuline, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, sucralose, and salt
If I have one critique of this formula, it would be the usage of sucralose, which is technically an artificial sweetener…
That being said, I don’t think they would be able to make it taste as good as it does if they used stevia (not a huge stevia fan)…
But I would still be curious to know how good they could make it without the artificial sweeteners.
But other than that, this formula is flawless.
Oh – and here’s another really cool thing about this formula…
Setting the Bar for Sustainability
Look – most protein powders don’t really bother making their product more sustainable.
But I appreciate that UNICO went out of their way to do so.
Apparently they teamed up with a new protein technology called ‘Perfect Day‘, to make their product more eco-friendly.
‘Perfect Day’ makes sustainably-made whey protein through a fermentation process, instead of an animal (cow) process…
And while I don’t fully understand the science behind it, I know that I definitely vibe with UNICO for putting in the effort here.
They also changed their packaging from a plastic tub, to a standing pouch for an additional sustainability boost.
As for the macros, well, those check all the boxes too.
Apollo Protein Macros Look Great
APOLLO provides 20 grams of protein, has 100 calories, less than 3 carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fat.
It also has added protease enzymes, and even 2.5 grams of prebiotic fiber (from Inulin).
The macros are just fantastic in this product.
If you are looking to lose weight, this product is especially great, because it is so low-calorie, with no added sugars.
Another reason why it’s amazing when you are on a diet is because of those three protein source we talked about before…
This stuff literally keeps you full forever.
Like, you won’t want to eat for about 4 hours after slamming down one of these APOLLO shakes…
You won’t want to eat for about 4 hours after slamming down one of these shakes”
– lovelyreviews.com
And if you’re like me, 4 hours is a good long stretch of the day without needing to snack.
So the macros are great, but what about the packaging?
Apollo Packaging is Fabulous
Let me tell you this. If you go out and buy APOLLO, you are buying not just a protein powder but also a work of art.
I’m not kidding.
I loved the old APOLLO designs in the plastic tubs, but these pouches might be even better…
In fact, I know they are.
Not only are they more sustainable than those big, clunky tubs…
But the new designs are slightly more refined, and elegant than the previous designs.
They really are beautiful, with the perfect amount of minimalism, and trendiness.
The overall theme of the pouch is brilliant in a very ‘retro’ way…
And the colors work to set off the design in just the right amount.
The new designs utilize a rainbow palette within certain areas of the label to bring out some of the graphical elements that they wanted to stress…
These areas have a really bright quality, while the rest of the label maintains an understated, ‘matte’ appearance.
The product name is big, bold, and stylishly split up into three lines, similar to the rest of the Unico products (that I also love).
I could literally spend all day telling you about how much I love this design, but I will save that for a rainy day.
But just trust me – you gotta get some of this stuff- if for no other reason than for the packaging alone.
It’s simply brilliant.
Now before we wrap things up, let’s talk about the price-point.
Is Apollo Protein Worth it?
Value is key these days, with everything being so darn expensive.
I mean – you can barely get out of the grocery store for less than $100 these days…
So that makes it harder to spend the big bucks on something like protein powder.
And for all APOLLO’s strengths, unfortunately it comes at a cost.
This protein is offered in two ways –
A 16-serving bag, which costs $34.99 on Amazon or on the UNICO website…
Or as a 6-flavor variety box, which I was able to find for $22.49 on sale on Amazon.
The price is $2.16 per serving, which is definitely on the more ‘premium’ side of things…
But I’ve been buying it regardless, because I simply won’t compromise on my protein.
Like…I’ll find a few extra dollars per month somewhere to be able to subsidize my APOLLO fix.
So yeah – it’s expensive – and I wish it were cheaper…
But it is SO worth it.
Apollo Protein Review Summary
- APOLLO is the flagship protein powder made by UNICO Nutrition – a boutique nutrition brand that specializes in great-tasting powders
- This protein comes in 6 completely delicious flavors, including our personal favorite, the birthday cake with rainbow sprinkles
- Sustainability is an important part of what makes this protein powder so unique, as they feature brand-new ‘Perfect Day’ technology in the formula
- APOLLO utilizes a combination of different protein sources to help keep you full for several hours
- Each scoop of APOLLO contains 20 grams of protein, 100 calories, and very little carbs or fats – making it great for dieting
- UNICO recently changed their packaging from a plastic tub to these smaller pouches, but they are still gorgeous visually
- APOLLO protein is offered in a 16-serving pouch, or a 6-flavor variety pack, which contains 1 serving of 6 different flavors
So what’s the bottom line on this one?
I think you guys already know the answer.
I looked for every chance I could to rip into this product.
You know from reading my blog that my reviews usually contain at least ONE segment where I absolutely destroy some aspect of a product…
Be it the taste, the formula, the packaging, etc. etc.
But with APOLLO, I could find no flaw…
It is by far the best protein powder that I’ve tried to date.
The taste is absolutely second-to-none.
The packaging really is ‘otherworldly’ in it’s captivating and unique design.
And you just can’t beat those macros.
Is it pricey?
Sure.
That’s always the knock on Unico.
You can’t buy it in stores and it’s not very cheap.
But as I’ve said a hundred times – I don’t have a problem shelling out on my supplements.
I’m investing in my good health.
You go do the same and try some of this stuff.*
Final Score
- Flavor: A+
- Formula: A
- Packaging: A+
- Value: B+
- Final Score: A
Recommended Reading:
- BPN Flight Pre Workout Review – Simple, Effective, & Affordable - February 22, 2024
- CBUM Protein Review – Is Chris Bumstead’s Brand Any Good? - January 13, 2024
- Beam Pre Workout Review – A Must Try for 2024 - January 9, 2024
