BLACKMARKETRaw BCAA, 300 Grams…

It's very chalky. There seems to be an aftertaste that remains, despite whatever I mix it with. I've tried plain water (big mistake), and mixing it with electrolyte drinks, with pre-workout mixes, with smoothies as a recovery and with a sugar-free sweetener packet and it's all about the same: there is a distinct aftertaste when I add a scoop of this mixture.The aftertaste isn't the end of the world, but it's off-putting to a degree. Overall, mixing it with a zero-calorie electrolyte drink seems to be the best solution for taste.As for effect, it's always hard to judge long-term results, but there are no negative short-term side effects, so that's positive. I have used this before going out for long runs and have not noticed any gastro-problems that can be prevalent in some supplements. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I can comfortably say that the maintain muscle mass and fast recovery have not been disproven, but when it comes to using it with an intense running regimen, I don't put much stock into the "pump up fast" claims. Perhaps that's better suited for the barbell crowd?The part that makes me a bit suspicious is the label. The amazon description says the amino acids listed are L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine, but the label on the bottle simply says "BCAA 5mg." That' snot a lot of info. The label also says "do not exceed recommended dose" but the only hint of a dose is "before, during or after a workout" so that's pretty vague.Overall I didn't have any negative effects and no part of my training slid backwards, even if I didn't experience any leaps forward in muscle growth. The lack of info on the label or online does leave me hesitant about trying this again.

I usually buy unflavored BCAA's to mix in with my post workout drinks, such as one containing carbohydrates like MuscleTech Cell Tech. Cell Tech doesn't have many BCAA's in it, even at 2 scoops. But it is a flavored creatine first and foremost. I also use unflavored BCAA's in flavored carbohydrate powders such as EFX Sports Karbolyn. Anyway, these BCAA's by BlackMarket, even when mixed in Karbolyn(Blue Razz Watermelon tastes awesome) or Cell Tech(the original not the new concoction), it makes tastes awful. It makes those two taste bitter. I'd be afraid to try this mixed in only water!The other problem I have with these BCAA's is there's no disclosure of the ratio of BCAA's you're getting. All it says is 5g of BCAA's per scoop. Are we getting the typical 2:1:1 ratio or something else. I don't suppose it's huge problem as long as there is a sufficient amount of each BCAA. But why hide it in the first place?Personally, I'd pass on this raw BCAA powder and buy something flavored(that tastes good) and shows the ratio of BCAA's you're getting. Also I think you can do better price wise for 60 servings of unflavored BCAA's if that's your ball game. Evlution Nutrition makes a good that I use all the time. Same number of servings and $10 bucks less!

I ordered this without seeing that it's unflavored. The company touts it as "raw", "pure", and "premium"....for what that's worth to you. You're buying chemically engineered amino acids, why are we concerned about how "raw" they are?Anyways, I digress. This stuff tastes pretty awful on its own, I couldn't down it when it was mixed with just water. However, a thinly mixed protein shake made with milk actually covers up quite a bit of the bite, and you may even come to like it. Things like drink mixes that combine with water usually don't have enough oomph to overpower the flavor this has, but I'm sure you could do something like adding Mio or a similar flavor additive.Pros: - "raw", "pure", "premium" BCAAs - mixes well with waterCons: - not a good flavor on its own (but not super overpowering either) - only 5g per serving (you can always double up if you like though)Overall, I'm not sure I buy into the whole "this is raw and whatnot" marketing, because the premise of the product itself is a rather unnatural thing to begin with. That being said, it does seem like a useful product and I'd say it's a good value if you're worried about artificial colors/flavors.

I've been impressed with the miscibility of this product. It mixes with water very thoroughly, much more so than the other BCAA supplement I've been using. It has been equally effective at sustaining energy through my workouts and combating soreness after.If you're new to BCAA supplements: BCAA's taste bitter, and any unflavored BCAA product will (in fact should) taste bitter on its own. Leucine in particular is naturally bitter. Citric acid is supposed to be particularly effective at countering the bitterness if the taste is important to you.Because I saw other reviews criticizing it for not stating the BCAA ratio, it's 2:1:1. Listed in the product highlights/bullet points at the top of the page. I agree that the ratio should be prominently listed on the label, but the information is provided.Overall, this is an effective product that's noticeably easier to mix than other BCAA powders.

BlackMarket Labs' Raw BCAA are perfect for adding to anything from water to juice to smoothies. I even tried it in coffee (not bad). Tasting the powder alone, it has a faint vitamin taste but no real flavor. I use BCAAs to help grow and maintain lean muscle when combined with my resistance training at the gym. Recovery time seems to be better when using BCAAs than without, though they are also present in protein supplements and a healthy diet.Theoretically, alone and in powdered form, BCAAs will absorb and be used by the body more rapidly and without adding any calories. That's great if you're watching your weight and/or trying to get ripped. I have seen the results when combined with proper diet, challenging workouts, and enough rest & recovery. The medium-sized canister arrived full and with the scoop buried at the bottom.Made in the USA~ Kort