Aspire brings something new to the table, with its rich blend of natural ingredients, vitamins, and nutrients. It aspires to boost your metabolism, improving calorie-burning and exercise performance.
While it certainly sounds amazing, does it really live up to the hype, especially in terms of taste?
In brief, Aspire is light and refreshing, with mildly sweet fruity taste, and a carbonated finish.
For a more detailed discussion, read on to find out on Aspire, from its caffeine and ingredients to how it is taste-wise.
But, if you’re more interested in how it affects your health, check out my article on whether Aspire is bad for you or not for an in-depth analysis on the matter.
Aspire Energy Drink Nutritional Facts
First up, let’s compare the nutritional values of Aspire Energy against some of its competitors:
| Standard Values | Aspire Energy (12 fl.oz) | Red Bull (8.4 fl.oz) | Celsius (12 fl.oz) |
| Energy | 0 calories | 110 calories | 10 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Total Fat | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrates (Of Which Sugars) | 0g (0g) | 28g (27g) | 2g (0g) |
| Sodium | 60mg | 105mg | 0g |
| Calcium | 26mg | – | 50mg |
| Chromium | – | – | 50μg |
| Caffeine | 80mg | 80mg | 200mg |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | – | – | 1.7mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 11mg | 22mg | 20mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) | 4mg | 5.05mg | 10mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 3.4mg | 5.05mg | 2mg |
| Vitamin B7 (Biotin) | 8μg | – | 300μg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.7μg | 5.1μg | 6μg |
| Choline | 83mg | – | – |
How Many Calories Are In Aspire Energy Drink?
Aspire Energy Drink is completely calorie-free.
If you’re looking for a low-calorie energy drink, Aspire Energy definitely ticks all the boxes. Being a calorie-free energy drink would mean that Aspire wouldn’t affect your daily intake, and you wouldn’t have to worry about unnecessary calories either.
For context, the recommended daily caloric intake is 2000 to 2400 calories for women and 2400 to 3000 calories for men.
Compared to sugary energy drinks like AMP Mountain Dew and Full Throttle, it’s safe to say Aspire is on the healthy side of the energy drink spectrum.
However, because Aspire has no calories, you’d be left feeling quite hungry after drinking it since the caffeine in it would provide most of your energy boost rather than any actual food. If you want to get the health advantages of Aspire, it’s best to consume it in conjunction with a balanced diet.
Looking for more calorie-free energy drinks like Aspire? Check out my article on the best energy drinks without sugar for some great recommendations.
Aspire Energy Drink Ingredients
Here’s a brief look at the ingredients within a 12 fl.oz can of Aspire Energy Drink:
- Carbonated Water
- Malic Acid
- Taurine
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Calcium Lactate
- Guarana Seed Extract
- Natural Flavor
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Green Tea Extract
- Natural Caffeine
- Choline Bitartrate
- Vegetable Juice (Coloring)
- Sucralose
- L-Carnitine
- Green Tea Polyphenols (EGCG)
- Ginger Root Extract
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
How Much Caffeine Does Aspire Energy Drink Have?
A 12 fl. oz can of Aspire Energy Drink has 80mg of caffeine.
With 80mg, Aspire Energy Drink has the same caffeine content as Red Bull (80mg per 8.4 fl. oz), which is a pretty small amount for an energy drink of its size. In fact, it’s nearly the same as a cup of coffee (95mg of caffeine).
Of course, Aspire’s low-caffeine nature would mean that it’s suitable for everyone, especially if you have low caffeine tolerance. After all, although Aspire only has 80mg of caffeine, it can still provide you with a decent boost to keep you awake and improve your exercise performance as well as cognition.
That said, if you have a relatively high caffeine tolerance, a can of Aspire might not be enough to energize you, so you’d have to drink another one.
While caffeine is beneficial in providing stimulation and enhancing your performance, it’s important to take note of the FDA’s recommended daily caffeine limit, which is 400mg for healthy adults. Anything else than that, and you may encounter unfavorable impacts, for example,
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
In any case, be sure to moderate your Aspire intake to a personal tolerable limit, and monitor your overall caffeine consumption too.
Does Aspire Energy Drink Have Sugar?
Aspire Energy Drink doesn’t contain any sugar since it’s certified completely sugar-free.
Aspire substitutes sugar with an artificial sweetener, sucralose. Sucralose is a zero-calorie sweetener that functions to improve the taste of food and beverages, especially low-calorie products.
Plus, sucralose doesn’t contain carbs, so it doesn’t raise your blood sugar levels, making it a pretty attractive option if you’re looking forward to shedding a few extra pounds.
While sucralose is an FDA-approved sweetener, it’s best to consume it in moderation, as artificial sweeteners have been linked to some concerning controversies in the past.
All in all, as long as you’re not having sucralose in all of your meals every day, you should be okay.
For more sugar-free energy drinks, have a look at the article I’ve written on some of the best sugar-free energy drinks on the market.
Aspire Energy Drink Flavors
Aspire Energy offers a pretty decent selection of flavors, as stated
- Lemony Lime
- Tropical
- Orange Pineapple
- Peach Tea Lemonade
- Dark Cherry Lime
- Raspberry + Acai
- Mango Lemonade
- Apple + Acai
- Cranberry
How Does Aspire Energy Drink Taste?
I managed to get my hands on Aspire’s Peach Tea Lemonade flavor and drank it before my workouts.
All in all, Aspire Energy has a light and clean fruity taste that isn’t too sweet, with a refreshing carbonated finish.
However, the Peach Tea flavor wasn’t as delicious as I expected. The peach taste was quite artificial to me, and combining it with the soft flavor of tea and some carbonation didn’t make it any better.
To be honest, I’ve always been a fan of fruity flavors, but Aspire’s Peach Tea Lemonade was just dissatisfying to my taste buds. However, there are other flavors from Aspire that I’ve yet to try, so I might change my mind later.
That said, what I like about Aspire was that it wasn’t very sweet, like many energy drinks out there, and didn’t leave much of an aftertaste.
Since this review is purely from my own standpoint and personal preference, the taste might vary depending on your personal tastes.
Aspire Energy Drink Price
Based on my search on Amazon, a 12-pack of 12 fl. oz cans of Aspire Energy costs around $31, thus a single 12 fl. oz can is around $2.40.
In my opinion, $2.40 for a 12 fl. oz can of Aspire is quite reasonable, considering that most energy drinks range from $2 to $3 nowadays, with some brands going for a more expensive price.
Plus, Aspire contains a number of natural ingredients, vitamins, and nutrients that you won’t find in most mainstream energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster, making its price worth your money.
In short, Aspire is quite reasonable in pricing, though there are more affordable energy drinks if you keep a close eye out.
What Are The Benefits That Aspire Can Give You?
Aspire Energy can provide you with a few benefits, namely an energy boost to keep you awake. After having a can of Aspire, you’ll feel more alert and refreshed, ready to tackle your intense workouts or even a long study session.
Furthermore, as Aspire has caffeine, your physical performance would also improve, especially in terms of stamina and endurance. For context, a 2016 study reported that the performance of 18 recreational endurance runners improved after the consumption of an energy drink.
The caffeine present in Aspire would also give your cognitive functions a boost, helping you to focus and concentrate longer. This would be really helpful whether you’re gaming or trying to cram in some last-minute info for your exams.
Of course, while Aspire can be beneficial to you, be sure to consume it in moderation, and try not to double down on caffeinated beverages in general either.
Aspire Energy Drink Side Effects
Now, Aspire might have a low caffeine content and a potent blend of nutrients, but it doesn’t mean you can consume it in excessive amounts.
Like many energy drinks, having too many cans of Aspire can lead you to a number of unwanted health issues.
Here’s a list of some potential negative effects if you don’t consume Aspire in moderation:
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Chest pains
- Caffeine addiction
- Dehydration and weakness
- Poor dental health
- Kidney stones
- Respiratory problems
- Miscarriage
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Allergic reactions
Thus, the best way you can benefit from drinking Aspire is by consuming it in moderation and making sure you also have other healthy beverages like water and juices.
Aspire Energy Drink Review (7/10)
Personally, Aspire Energy provided me with a pretty decent boost for my workouts, but it last as long as I expected it to. The taste was also dissatisfying for me, though that’s based on my own preference.
In terms of effects, Aspire Energy gave me a decent boost within minutes after one can, improving my concentration and providing me with the energy to push through my reps at the gym.
I was able to work out longer after drinking Aspire, and I noticed my mental focus had also increased, as I didn’t find myself getting easily distracted as I sometimes would during my reps.
With that being said, the boost from Aspire also lasted for only one hour and a half, though I should have expected it considering it only has 80mg of caffeine. I also didn’t notice much of a change in my alertness.
Furthermore, the Peach Tea Lemonade flavor wasn’t to my liking, though that’s just for me personally.
All in all, in my opinion, Aspire Energy provided me with a pretty great boost that improves my physical and cognitive performance, though it didn’t have a similar effect on my alertness. The boost also only lasted for a short time, which is just enough to keep you going for a quick exercise or study session.
Plus, the taste wasn’t as great as I wanted it to be, thus taking all of these into consideration, I give Aspire Energy a 7 out of 10.
Of course, depending on your personal preferences and caffeine metabolism, Aspire might affect yours differently.
Alternatives To Aspire Energy Drink
If you’re looking for other energy drinks similar to Aspire Energy, here are some great alternatives:
Energy drink powders are also awesome options since they’re easily customizable and more affordable:
- Zipfizz
- Advocare Spark
- G Fuel
- REIZE (my favorite)
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
While Aspire is great if you’re health-conscious, its caffeine content might be too high for some people. If your caffeine tolerance is pretty low, why not give REIZE a try instead?
Packaged in light and convenient 4g sachets, REIZE is a powdered energy drink that has a sensible 50mg of caffeine and only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE is also sugar-free and contains a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins that work together to provide you with a smooth energy boost without the dreaded sugar crashes.
Best of all, REIZE ships to your doorstep for just $1 per sachet, which is an astounding value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and you might find that it’s a smarter and better pick-me-up for your energy needs than Aspire.