Peanut vs almond protein powder: how to choose

By NZ Supps Team

Choose peanut or almond protein powder by comparing the finished blend, the labelled serving and your dietary requirements. The nut named on the front is only part of the formula. For the two Macro Mike products compared here, both serving sizes are 40g, but the protein amount, energy and price per serve differ.

Neither is automatically the better powder. If both meet your requirements, choose the one whose flavour, nutrition and cost suit the way you will use it. A small numerical advantage is not much help if you dislike the drink.

The short answer

• Original Peanut Butter uses a peanut, faba bean and pea blend.
• Salted Caramel Premium Almond uses an almond and faba bean blend.
• Compare exact flavours, not a generic peanut-versus-almond nutrition chart.

Both contain the named nut ingredient and carry other allergen information. Treat that as the first check, not a footnote after choosing a flavour.

Compare two actual bags

These figures come from the NZ Supps listings checked on 21 September 2026. They describe dry powder; your chosen mixer adds its own nutrition. Prices are NZD and can change, so repeat the calculation using the current checkout price.

See the exact products: Original Peanut Butter, 1kg and Salted Caramel Premium Almond, 400g. Do not apply these figures to every flavour or pack size in either range.

The peanut serving supplies 2.4g more protein in this comparison. The almond serving has 20.5 fewer calories. Those are label differences, not proof that one produces better training results or is more filling.

If value is your main concern

Divide the price by the number of labelled servings. For the peanut bag, NZ$89.85 divided by 25 is NZ$3.594, rounded to NZ$3.59. For the almond bag, NZ$58.85 divided by 10 is NZ$5.885, rounded to NZ$5.89.

You can also compare equal amounts of protein. Using the unrounded prices per serve, 25g of protein works out at about NZ$3.50 from this peanut bag and NZ$6.31 from this almond bag. That calculation is price per serve divided by protein grams, multiplied by 25.

This is a price comparison between a 1kg bag and a 400g bag, not a fair claim that every peanut formula is cheaper than every almond formula. Pack size, promotions and flavours all affect the result. A larger almond bag may change your shortlist.

Do not buy a large bag solely because the unit price wins. If you have never tried the formula, the smaller financial commitment of another size may matter more. Compare value among products you expect to use, not among hypothetical servings left in a cupboard.

If you are choosing for protein intake

Read the grams of protein, rather than treating a 40g scoop as 40g of protein. Both products contain other ingredients. The scoop weight is the amount of powder you measure; the nutrition panel tells you what that powder contributes.

You do not need to add extra powder just to make the figures match. Work out what your meal already provides and whether the labelled serving fills the gap. If one serving fits comfortably, a small difference between these labels need not decide the purchase.

The vegan protein buying guide covers the broader nutrition checks. This comparison deliberately stays with the two finished products rather than making a claim about the muscle-building properties of whole peanuts versus whole almonds.

If texture and flavour will decide it

The Original Peanut Butter flavour is built around a peanut profile. Salted Caramel is a different flavour proposition, not an almond-flavoured equivalent of the same drink. Choose based on the recipe you actually want to make.

For example, a peanut taste may be welcome in a banana smoothie but less appealing in a berry drink. A caramel flavour may suit your oats and be too sweet for another recipe. These are pairing ideas, not results from a taste test we conducted. If you want peanut flavour without a shake, powdered peanut butter is another option.

The manufacturer's Salted Caramel directions use 230-250ml water with a 40g serving. Start with the directions on your own pack. Changing the mixer or liquid quantity can change your impression enough that two people describe the same powder differently.

Our almond flavour guide explores the wider range. Use it for flavour ideas, then keep your own judgement: liking caramel matters more than where it sits in a list.

If you avoid allergens

The peanut product contains peanut and its current listing says it may contain traces of tree nuts and soy. The almond product contains almonds and lists a facility that also handles peanuts and soy. Neither should be presented as an allergy-safe workaround for the other.

Peanut and tree-nut allergies require specific assessment; do not assume that tolerating or avoiding one answers the question about the other. ASCIA's guidance on peanut, tree-nut and seed allergy is a useful starting point for understanding that distinction.

Read the actual packaging when it arrives. For an allergy, use the advice in your management plan and clarify missing information before trying a product. A sample sachet still needs the same checks.

If you plan to use it as breakfast

A protein powder is one ingredient, even when the flavour sounds like dessert. Decide whether you want a protein top-up alongside breakfast or a larger recipe with other foods.

If you add a mixer, oats or fruit, calculate those separately. The table above cannot describe a smoothie whose recipe has changed. Keep the portion count honest if one blender jug makes two glasses.

Do not assume a lower-calorie powder is always preferable, either. The useful choice depends on the meal and your needs, not on always choosing the smallest number. Pick the job first, then compare the bag.

FAQ

Does peanut protein contain only peanut?

Not in the specific Original Peanut Butter blend compared here. Its listed protein sources include peanut, faba bean and pea.

Does almond protein contain only almond?

The Salted Caramel Premium Almond formula compared here uses almond and faba bean protein. Read the exact formula rather than relying on the range name.

Which gives more protein per scoop?

At the stated 40g serving, Original Peanut Butter lists 25.7g and Salted Caramel Premium Almond lists 23.3g. Other flavours can differ.

Which is cheaper?

At the checked prices and pack sizes, the peanut bag costs less per labelled serving. Recalculate with current prices and comparable sizes before ordering.

Is almond protein a safe replacement for peanut allergy?

This article does not establish that. The almond listing includes peanut-related facility information, so it needs checking within the person's allergy advice.

Which tastes better?

There is no objective answer here. Pick a flavour that suits your usual shake or recipe, and avoid treating a nutrition comparison as a taste test.

Sources

The linked NZ Supps product nutrition panels and prices, checked 21 September 2026; Macro Mike preparation directions; ASCIA nut-allergy guidance. Calculations use the exact serving prices before rounding.