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Most strawberry protein shakes taste like a milkshake that's been told to behave. Sweet, one-dimensional, and forgettable by the third one. This one is different, and the reason is sitting in your herb pot.

A handful of fresh basil turns a plain strawberry smoothie into something that tastes deliberate. Basil is aromatic and slightly peppery, so it lifts the fruit instead of competing with it — the same trick behind strawberry-basil sorbets, salads and summer cocktails. Blend it with unsweetened coconut milk, a teaspoon of chia and a full scoop of ISO Bang hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, and you land at 27g of protein for under 200 calories.

It works as a low-sugar breakfast smoothie, a light post workout shake, or the thing you make in summer when nothing heavy sounds appealing. All 8g of sugar comes from the strawberries themselves.

Why you'll love this strawberry basil smoothie

• Tastes like a chef made it. Strawberry and basil is a genuine restaurant pairing, not a health-food compromise.
• 27g protein, 191 calories. One of the leanest protein-to-calorie ratios on this blog.
• Low sugar, and all of it natural. 8g, entirely from a full cup of fresh strawberries. No syrup, no honey.
• Thickens itself. The chia gels as it stands, so the shake gets creamier while you drink it.
• Genuinely refreshing. Coconut milk and basil make this light rather than heavy — it suits hot weather far better than a chocolate shake.
• Clean label. Made with ISO Bang — no fillers, no proprietary blends, banned-substance tested.

What basil and chia actually bring to the glass

Why basil belongs in a strawberry smoothie

Basil's aroma comes largely from compounds like linalool and eugenol — the same family of aromatics you find in warm spices. In a sweet drink that reads as a fresh, slightly peppery top note, which stops the strawberry from tasting flat. It's the same logic as a pinch of salt in a dessert: the contrast is what makes the main flavour land. Use it fresh, never dried — dried basil in a smoothie tastes like pizza.

What the chia seeds are doing

Chia seeds absorb many times their weight in liquid and form a soft gel, which is how they thicken a shake without adding sugar or much in the way of calories. They also bring fibre and plant-based omega-3 fats. A single teaspoon is enough here — go much heavier and you'll be chewing your drink rather than sipping it.

Ingredients

Five ingredients, one of which is probably already on your windowsill.

• Trident Nutra ISO Bang — Mixed Berry1 scoop (30g)
• Fresh strawberries, hulled1 cup
• Fresh basil leavesSmall handful
• Coconut milk (unsweetened)½ cup
• Chia seeds1 tsp

Which ISO Bang flavour should you use?

Mixed Berry is the natural choice. Strawberry is a berry, so the protein reinforces the fruit rather than pulling against it — and because it carries zero added sugar, the strawberries stay in charge of the sweetness.

Avoid Chocolate Cinnamon for this one. Chocolate and basil fight each other, and the cinnamon muddies the fresh herbal note that makes the recipe interesting in the first place.

How to make a strawberry basil protein shake

1. Add the liquid first. Pour the coconut milk into the blender before anything else, so the powder doesn't pack down under the blades.
2. Add the fruit, chia and protein. Strawberries, chia seeds and your scoop of ISO Bang. Hold the basil back for now.
3. Blend for 30–40 seconds, until smooth and completely pink with no seeds visible on the surface.
4. Add the basil and pulse. Tear the leaves in, then pulse two or three times only. You want fine green flecks through a pink shake, not a green shake.
5. Pour and rest. Give it two minutes before drinking if you have them — the chia softens and the texture improves noticeably.

Nutrition facts

Per serving (approximate), using carton-style unsweetened coconut milk. Canned coconut milk is far richer and will raise calories and fat considerably.

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	191 kcal
Protein	27 g
Carbohydrates	15 g
Fat	3 g
Sugar	8 g

The protein runs slightly above the 25g on the scoop because the strawberries, chia and coconut milk each contribute a little of their own.

Pro tips & tasty variations

• Use frozen strawberries. Colder, thicker, cheaper, and available year-round. Skip any ice if you do.
• Add a squeeze of lime. Half a lime sharpens the strawberry and makes the basil pop even harder. Costs nothing, changes everything.
• Swap basil for mint. If basil feels like a step too far, mint gives you a similar fresh lift with a more familiar profile.
• Make it creamier. Two tablespoons of Greek yoghurt adds body and a few more grams of protein.
• Stack your creatine. Trident Nutra Creatine is unflavoured and dissolves straight in — an easy way to fold your daily dose into a drink you're already making.
• Sweeten naturally. Out-of-season strawberries can be tart. A few drops of stevia or monk fruit fix it without adding sugar.

How to store your strawberry basil smoothie

Best fresh — basil dulls in flavour and colour within a few hours. If you need to make it ahead, keep it sealed in the fridge for up to 24 hours and add the basil just before drinking. Expect it to thicken as the chia continues to absorb liquid; loosen it with a splash of coconut milk and shake well.

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Frequently asked questions