Torq Recovery Drink

Recovery drinks are useful after a strenuous ride or race. They provide an immediate hit of protein and carbohydrates to replenish tired muscles and are a smarter choice than a slab of cake. Torq's Performance Recovery Drink features all the recovery and training benefit claims you'd expect, and is easy to mix, easy on the stomach and in this Cookies & Cream flavour, extremely tasty.

I've been testing the Torq Performance Recovery Drink for a good few months now, using it after cyclo-cross races and regular training rides. I ride my bike every day so being fresh and ready to go the following day is paramount for testing bikes. As well as a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet, a recovery drink is a good way of easily getting some protein and carbohydrate into the body immediately after a ride. It's especially handy when driving home after a race, when it might be a couple of hours before you're able to cook a meal.

Find your nearest dealer here 

Buy this online here 

While I can't write this review from a scientific standing, I did feel slightly better after a hard race, particularly a couple of hours later when the fatigue really starts to set in. And the next morning tired legs weren't quite as unwilling to cooperate on a ride. The recovery drink also delays the onset of hunger as well, which again is useful on the drive home from a race, stopping you reaching for a cake or chocolate bar.

Mixing the drink is easy. Inside the pouch is a scoop and it's simply a case of measuring out the number of scoops you need based on your weight, using the neat table on the back of the packaging. A 125g serving in 500ml of water provides 83g of carbs, 27.5g of protein and 447 calories, with just 0.3g fat. The powder dissolves easily in the bottle and it's really easy to shake up into a satisfying drink.

The drink lists whey protein isolate, skimmed milk powder, maltodextrin, fructose, L-glutamine and D-ribose among its ingredients. Torq claims the mix of glucose polymers, fructose and whey protein isolate provides the quick absorption of carbs that your body craves immediately after a ride or race, and the mix of vitamins and minerals help repair muscles.

>> Check out other energy and recovery drink reviews on road.cc here 

The packaging is worth a mention. Torq's recovery powder used to be delivered in tubs, but now they come in a resealable pouch, which uses 80 per cent less material and so is better for the environment. I've found the packaging also takes up less space on the kitchen shelf and it can be more easily packed away in a bag if you're travelling to a race or cycling event for the weekend.

As well as the Cookies & Cream flavour I tested (delicious, I should add, works better than it sounds), there is Strawberries & Cream, Banana & Mango, Mandarin Yoghurt and Chocolate Mint. Something for all taste buds. It's important that a recovery drink is palatable, otherwise you're going to be less inclined to want to drink it. Torq has a knack of trying slightly unusual flavours, but typically pulls them off really well.

Verdict

Very tasty and easy to mix recovery drink