Let me share a dirty little secret with you…
If you took your 10 favourite energy drinks to a lab and tested them all to see what they include, you would find that they are all fairly similar. The main thing that sets one energy drink apart from the next is branding.
This is what allows some energy drink brands to charge $3 or $4 for a can which is almost identical to other brands that charge only $1-$2 for a can.
Lots of energy drink brands take things a step further and create their own cool-sounding name for a combination of ingredients.
Of course, they then trademark that name so that they are the only brand that can claim that a “wonderful, miracle blend” is included in their drink.
However, time after time, if you look closely at the actual composition of their “wonderful, miracle blend” you’ll usually find one of two things:
- The ingredients within the blend are nothing special, and most (or all) of the ingredients in the “wonderful, miracle blend” are also in virtually every other energy drink, or
- If there are actually some rare ingredients included in the special blend, the amount of those ingredients is only around 1% of the amount actually required to get any benefits from them.
Don’t fall for it – it’s all just marketing.
Having shared that with you, do I think energy drinks work? Absolutely!
Do I think that energy drinks are worth the money? Usually, yes (there are affordable options out there).
My goal here isn’t to try to sway you one or another with regard to energy drinks, it’s to help you become as informed as possible about energy drinks.
That starts by understanding that the ingredients in energy drinks are mostly very similar, even if the brand in question has some kind of “special blend” that they are raving about in their marketing or on their packaging.
With that introduction out of the way, let’s start by taking a closer look at some of the most common energy drink ingredients, then I’ll share some of the best brands of energy drinks with you before ending with some additional resources for further digging in case you’re still thirsty for more.
Pardon the pun. OK, let’s get into it.
Energy Drink Ingredients
Caffeine
The most important ingredient in any energy drink is caffeine. Caffeine is what makes an energy drink and it contributes a lot to the energy-boosting effects that you experience after drinking.
As stated by the FDA, the recommended maximum daily dosage for caffeine is 400mg. Consuming more than the recommended daily dose is not something I would have you do, especially not on a daily basis.
In moderation, caffeine is healthy and has a lot of associated health benefits. But, in excess, caffeine can cause a bunch of potential side effects and health risks.
Of course, energy drinks aren’t the only source of caffeine in our lives. Tea, coffee, chocolate and sodas all contain caffeine. It’s important to be aware of how much of each of these sources of caffeine we’re getting each day to try to make sure that we’re not overdoing it.
It’s also true that some energy drinks that are high in caffeine don’t always provide you with a better energy boost than those with a lesser amount of caffeine.
In my experience, I usually find that it’s the combination of ingredients in an energy drink that contributes to the energy boost that I experience.
I’ve tried caffeine pills and energy drinks that contain 200mg (or more) of caffeine per serving. I wanted to take a nap, and I’ve had energy drinks with only a modest amount of caffeine that gave me a great boost for hours with no noticeable crash afterwards.
However, if an energy drink doesn’t contain any caffeine at all it probably won’t be very effective.
There does seem to be some magic to the combination of caffeine, taurine, ginseng, B vitamins and other ingredients that makes energy drinks what they are.
There have been plenty of attempts to launch “energy drinks” that don’t contain caffeine. In fact, there’s a fair amount of demand for it.
So, why didn’t any of them ever take off?
They don’t work.
Sure, people will buy them once to see if they are any good, but if an energy drink can’t perform its main job – to give you energy – then forget it.
How does caffeine actually work?
Caffeine binds itself to adenosine receptors in the brain. Some of the adenosine receptors are then unable to detect adenosine (which signals to the brain that it’s time to go to sleep), thereby making you feel more alert and awake than you actually are.
Caffeine, in general, is completely absorbed into your bloodstream within 45 minutes of consumption. The first effects can usually be felt within about 10 minutes of drinking caffeine, but this does vary from person to person.
The effects of caffeine generally last for about 4-6 hours depending on your genetic makeup.
Caffeine is similar to alcohol in the sense that they both have half-lives. Drinking a lot of water will not flush either of them out of your system any sooner.
The only thing that really reduces the effects of caffeine is the passing of time. That’s why it’s so important to only drink caffeine in moderation.
For those with a lower tolerance to caffeine, the effects may last longer.
Energy drinks often get a bad rap. But, to be perfectly honest, the most “dangerous” ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine and sugar. Energy drinks are certainly not the only product that contains either of these, but they are often thrown into the spotlight on the rare occasion that something bad happens from overconsumption.
Let me say that again, the most dangerous ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine and sugar.
A caffeine overdose is a serious risk from drinking too many energy drinks.
Drink energy drinks in moderation and always read the label so that you know how much caffeine (and sugar) you’re actually consuming.
Taurine
Taurine is frequently misunderstood as being manufactured from bull’s semen. Not surprisingly, this isn’t true.
Taurine is usually manufactured synthetically in a lab.
In recent years, there have been tons of articles highlighting the health benefits of taurine.
Taurine can help lower your risk of disease and improve your athletic performance. Naturally, it’s produced by your body which plays a role as one of the important building blocks of your cells.
Taurine is required by your body to:
- maintain the hydration and electrolyte balance in cells
- create bile salts (which are important for your body’s digestive system)
- regulate the minerals within your body
- regulate the antioxidant function and your body’s immune system health
- support the overall function of your central nervous system
B Vitamins
B vitamins are important nutrients that your body needs and take responsibility for many vital roles.
These are the B vitamins that are most commonly in energy drinks:
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 plays an important role in the process of breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and also in maintaining our body’s energy storage. It helps to convert carbohydrates into energy for our body’s needs. - Vitamin B3 (Niacin or Niacinamide)
Vitamin B3 generally plays a role in the process of production and repairing the DNA cells of our body. It’s also an antioxidant that protects your body cells from harmful substances. - Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is part of our body’s creation process for DNA. B12 is also important for your body to maintain healthy blood and nerve cells.
Inositol
Inositol is also commonly found in many energy drinks.
It mainly functions as a mood booster. There have been articles showing that Inositol plays a major role in your behaviour and mood.
Artificial Sweeteners (Sucralose)
Sucralose is mainly used as a replacement for sugar in many sugar-free energy drinks. It’s the ingredient that gives some sugar-free energy drinks their sweetness.
Sugar
Have you ever wondered why some energy drinks taste so sweet?
Unless you’re drinking a sugar-free energy drink, the can you’re drinking probably contains a small mountain of sugar.
Sugar often contributes to the overall energy boost that you experience after drinking an energy drink, but the energy you get from sugar is often short-lived, unfortunately, often followed by a nasty crash in energy levels.
This phenomenon is commonly referred to as a sugar crash.
Most regular consumers of energy drinks will be familiar with this phenomenon.
Guarana Extract
Guarana is an alternative caffeine source to a coffee bean. It’s often found as an ingredient in energy drinks to increase the overall caffeine content.
Preservatives (Sorbic acid, Benzoic acid)
The two most common preservatives that are found in energy drinks are sorbic and benzoic acid. As their names suggest, they aren’t terribly healthy.
They’re commonly included in energy drinks to prolong their shelf life.
Energy Drinks Review: Ingredients, Price, Caffeine and More
As an avid energy drink fan myself, I’m aware that nowadays there are a lot of brands of energy drinks out on the market.
In this article, I’ve listed the price, ingredients and caffeine content of 11 of my favourite brand of energy drinks right now.
Monster Energy
Monster Energy drinks cost about $38 for a 12-pack, which brings them about $3.20 for a can.
Considering the size of the can and caffeine content, Monster is a pretty good value compared to other energy drinks that cost the same but are half the size, or that are the same size, but cost even more.
Having said that, $3.20 for a can is still about $2 more than I like to pay for my energy drinks!
Ingredients
For a quick breakdown, here’s what typically goes inside a can of Monster.
| Nutritional Facts | Amount per serving (16 fl. oz.) |
| Caffeine | 160 mg |
| Calories | 210 cal |
| Carbohydrates | 54 g |
| Sugars | 54 g |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 3.6 mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 46 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 4.6 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 13 µg |
| Sodium | 370 mg |
Monster also contains a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- Sugar
- Glucose
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavours
- Taurine
- Sodium Citrate
- Artificial Colouring
- Panax Ginger Extract
- Sorbic Acid (preservative)
- Benzoic Acid (preservative)
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Salt
- D-Glucuronolactone
- Inositol
- Guarana Extract
Caffeine
A single 16 fl. oz can of Monster contains 160mg of caffeine which is equivalent to about 1.5 cups of coffee.
Flavours:
Monster has a HUGE range of flavours to choose from (note that some flavours might not be available in every country):
Regular Monster
- Original
- Low-carb
- Assault
- Absolutely Zero (zero calories, stronger tasting)
Rehab (Tea-based)
- White Dragon Tea
- Lemonade
- Peach Tea
- Pink Lemonade
- Orangeade
- Raspberry Tea
Ultra (Zero-calorie versions, lighter tasting)
- Zero
- Blue
- Red
- Sunrise
- Citron
- Black
- Violet
Juice (juice based)
- Khaos
- Pipeline Punch
- Ripper
- Mango Loco
Punch
- Baller’s Blend
- Mad Dog
Java (Coffee based)
- Mean Bean
- Loca Mocha
- Kona Blend
- Irish Blend
- Vanilla Lite
- Salted Caramel
- Espresso Monster: Cream
- Espresso Monster: Vanilla
- Caffe Monster: Vanilla
- Caffe Monster: Mocha
- Caffe Monster: Caramel
Muscle (with added protein)
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
Hydro (thirst-quenching line)
- Tropical Thunder
- Purple Passion
- Blue Ice
- Zero Sugar
- Mean Green
- Manic Melon
Maxx (Made with nitrous oxide)
- Super Dry
- Eclipse
- Solaris
Where to Buy
You can usually get Monster Energy in any convenience or grocery store literally anywhere on the planet. Seriously, Monster has astonishing distribution – one of the benefits of being partly owned by Coca-Cola.
For those in the US, Monster energy drinks can be found in almost every physical store that sells drinks. Walmart, Costco, Target and gas stations all over the country sell Monster in freakishly large quantities each day.
If you’re looking to buy a pack of 24 cans (16 fl. oz), you can easily find them online.
If you’re wondering whether or not Monster is bad for you, I covered that topic in great detail in my other post that you really should check out.
Red Bull
Price
Price-wise, Red Bull costs $23.88 for a pack of twelve 8.4 fl. oz cans, which works out to be about $2 per can.
I would say it’s quite affordable compared to most other energy drinks on the market, as the prices for energy drinks usually range between $2 to $3 per can.
Red Bull fits squarely into this typical price range, albeit with a smaller can than many other energy drinks in the same price range.
Once again, even at about $2 per can, Red Bull is considerably more expensive than my favourite energy drink – REIZE.
Many people ask “is it safe to drink Red Bull every day?“. The article that I’ve linked to does a brilliant job of getting to the bottom of that question and is well worth a read.
Ingredients
Each can of Red Bull (8.4 fl. oz) contains:
- 110 calories
- 28g carbohydrates
- 27g sugars
- 80mg caffeine
- Niacin (100% of the recommended daily dosage)
- Vitamin B6 (250% of the recommended daily dosage)
- Vitamin B12 (80% of the recommended daily dosage)
- Pantothenic Acid ( 50% of the recommended daily dosage)
Red Bull also contains a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- Sucrose
- Glucose
- Citric acid
- Taurine
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Caffeine
- Niacinamide
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Pyridoxine HCL
- Natural and artificial Flavours
- Colours
Caffeine
Red Bull contains a total of 80mg of caffeine per 8.4 fl. oz can.
If you consider the fact that 400mg is the recommended maximum daily dosage, 80mg is not actually that much. In order to go beyond the recommended dosage, you would have to drink at least 5 cans of Red Bull in a day, which is a lot.
I certainly wouldn’t advise you to do that.
Flavours
Red Bull is available in a variety of flavours (note that some flavours might not be available in every country):
- Original
- Red
- Ruby/Red
- Blue
- Yellow/Tropical
- Orange/Mandarin
- Green/Kiwi
- White/Coconut
- Peach
- Purple/Acai
- Lime
- Winter Edition
- Summer Edition
Sugar-Free
- Pear Sugar-Free
- Lime Sugar-Free
- Purple/Acai Sugar-Free
- Orange Sugar-Free
- Yellow/ Tropical Sugar-Free
- Sugar-free
Where to Buy
It’s very easy for you to purchase a can of Red Bull almost anywhere on Earth.
You can easily get Red Bull energy drinks in almost every country and in every store. If you’re travelling a lot and are a big fan of Red Bull, this is definitely good news!
In fact, Red Bull sells roughly one can for each man, woman and child on the planet each year. Yep, around 7 billion cans of energy drinks per year.
I’m a bit of a math geek, so I couldn’t help myself – that works out to be around 560 billion milligrams of caffeine that they are selling per year.
Wow, that’s a lot of caffeine!
For those in the US, Red Bull can be found in almost any store with a fridge and a cash register. Try Walmart, Costco, Target and gas stations all over the country.
It’s definitely not hard to find a can of Red Bull when you want one.
If you’re more of an online shopper, you can buy it in bulk on Amazon, eBay and Energy Drink Outlet.
In case you’re wondering about the difference between Red Bull and Monster, everything you need to know is covered in my other article.
Bang Energy Drink
Price
Bang Energy drink costs around $26 for a 12-can pack, which brings it to about $2.20 per can (16 fl. oz). I consider it to be quite affordable compared to many other energy drinks on the market.
You’re only paying $2.20 for more liquid content and an absurdly high amount of caffeine. Personally, if you’re looking for a huge energy boost, I would say this might be the drink for you, although I typically prefer my energy drinks to contain a more reasonable amount of caffeine so that I can think straight after drinking one of them.
Ingredients
Each can of Bang Energy (16 fl. oz) contains:
- 300mg Caffeine
- 0 Calories
- 0g Total fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 40mg Sodium
- 85mg Potassium
- 0g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- Vitamin C ( 50$ of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B6 ( 25% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B12 (25% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Magnesium (2% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Niacin (25% of the daily recommended dosage)
Bang energy also has a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid Anhydrous
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- Sodium Benzoate (preservative)
- Potassium Sorbate (preservative)
- Potassium Citrate Monohydrate
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Natural Flavors
- L-Leucine
- Potassium Phosphate Dibasic
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Acesulfame Potassium (artificial sweetener)
- Magnesium Chloride
- Super Creatine (Creatyl-L-Leucine)
- L-Isoleucine
- L-valine
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
Caffeine
Bang Energy originally had a much higher caffeine content (357mg), but they have since toned it down a little – a 16 fl. oz can now contain 300mg of caffeine.
There is no doubt that this is probably one of the most highly-caffeinated energy drinks that you can find in the market.
400mg of caffeine is the recommended maximum daily dosage (according to the FDA), and single Bang energy contains 300mg, which puts you close to what is recommended for an entire day.
Flavours:
Bang Energy are available in a wide variety of flavours:
- Black Cherry Vanilla
- Cherry Blade Lemonade
- Citrus Twist
- Lemon Drop
- Bangster Berry
- Peach Mango
- Purple Guava Pear
- Blue Razz
- Cotton Candy
- Rainbow Unicorn
- Pina Colada
- Power Punch
- Purple Haze
- Sour Heads
- Star Blast
- Root Beer
- Frose Rose
- Champagne
Other unique Bang flavours:
- Purple Guava Pear (caffeine-free)
- Keto Coffee
- Bang Shots
- Sweet Tea Lemon Drop
- Georgia Peach Sweet Tea
Where to Buy
If you’re looking to purchase a can of Bang, you can get it from their website *reminder they come in a pack of 12 cans*.
If you’re thinking about just trying a few flavours to see which best suits your taste, you can find Bang energy drink at most gas stations and grocery stores like Walmart all over the US.
Rockstar
Price:
Rockstar Energy drink costs around $33.20 for a 24-pack, which brings it to about $1.40 per can (16 fl. oz). I consider that to be very affordable compared to most energy drinks on the market.
Most energy drinks, like Red Bull, costs $2 for an 8.4 fl. oz can which only contains 80mg of caffeine. With Rockstar, you’re only paying $1.40 for much more liquid content and twice the amount of caffeine as a can of Red Bull.
Personally, if I were to choose between Rockstar and Red Bull, I would probably go for Rockstar because it just seems like a better value to me.
Ingredients:
Each can of Rockstar Energy (16 fl. oz) contains:
- 140 Calories
- 31g Total Carbohydrates
- 160mg Caffeine
- 31g Sugar
- 1000mg Taurine
- 150mg Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract
- 25mg Guarana Seed Extract
- 25mg Inositol
- 25mg L-Carnitine
- 25mg Panax Ginseng Extract
- 20mg Milk Thistle Extract
- Vitamin B2 (200% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B3 (100% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B5 (100% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B6 (100% of the daily recommended dosage)
- Vitamin B12 ( 100% of the daily recommended dosage)
- 40mg Sodium (2% of the daily recommended dosage)
There’s also a small amount of:
- Carbonated water
- Glucose
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Caramel Color
- Natural and artificial flavours
- Benzoic Acid (preservative)
- Glucuronolactone
- Sorbic Acid (preservative)
- Pantothenic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Inositol
- L-carnitine
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Cyanocobalamin
Caffeine
A 16 fl. oz can of Rockstar contains 160mg of caffeine.
While not one of the strongest energy drinks in the world, that’s still double the amount in a standard 8.4 fl. oz can of Red Bull.
Flavours
Rockstar energy drinks are available in a variety of flavours:
- Original
- 2x Energy
- Pure Zero Silver Ice
- Recovery Grape
- Rockstar 32oz Can
- Rockstar Roasted Mocha
- Sparkling Cherry Citrus
- Sparkling Peach
- Pure Zero Punched
- Supersours Bubbleberry
- Supersours Sour Apple
- Pink
- Recovery Orange
- Recovery Lemonade
- Rockstar Punched: Acai Berry
- Punched
- Rockstar Zero Carb
- Rockstar Energy Drink
- Cucumber Lime
- Frozen Lime
- Pina Colada
Cola (cola flavoured)
- Energy Cola
Organic ( uses caffeine derived from coffee beans and guarana)
- Organic Energy Drink
Mexican flavours
- Horchata Energy
Diet flavours
- Diet Rockstar Energy Drink
Juiced (juice-based)
- Rockstar Juiced
- Juiced Guava
- Juiced Pomegranate
Where to Buy
If you want to buy some Rockstar Energy you can get them online *reminder they come in a pack of 24 cans (16 fl. oz).
If you’re thinking about just trying a few flavours to see which best suits your taste, you can find Rockstar Energy drinks at most grocery stores like Walmart and Target all throughout the US, and many gas stations too.
XS Energy
Price:
XS Energy drink costs around $27-$36 for a 12-can pack depending on which flavour you want (excluding shipping). Adding another $10 or so for shipping brings the total for a pack of 12 XS energy drinks to $37-$46, which makes it about $3-$4 per can (8.4 fl. oz).
Personally, I think that’s awfully overpriced, I’d rather opt for more affordable alternatives, like REIZE and Rockstar.
Ingredients
XS Energy (8.4 fl. oz) contains:
- 10 Calories
- 80mg Caffeine
- 35mg Sodium
- 35mg Potassium
- Vitamin B3 (100% of the recommended daily value)
- Vitamin B5 (100% of the recommended daily value)
- Vitamin B6 (300% of the recommended daily value)
- Vitamin B12 (4900% of the recommended daily value) *no it’s not a typo. It’s for real*
There’s also a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- Taurine
- L-Glutamine
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Acesulfame Potassium ( artificial sweetener)
- Sodium Benzoate (preservative)
- Potassium Sorbate (preservative)
- Salt
- Sucralose (sweetener)
- Calcium d-Pantothenate
- Herbal Blend
- Purple Carrot Extract (colouring)
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Cyanocobalamin
Caffeine
XS Energy drink contains 80mg of caffeine in a single 8.4 fl. oz can, which is the same amount that Red Bull has.
Flavours
XS Energy drinks are available in a variety of flavours:
- Black Cherry Cola Blast
- Cherry Blast
- Citrus Blast
- Cola Blast
- Cranberry-Grape Blast (caffeine-free version available)
- Electric Lemon Blast
- Energy + Burn
- Root beer Blast
- Tropical Blast (caffeine-free version available)
- Wild Berry Blast
- Naranja Blast
- Classic Blast
- Summit Blast
- XS Gold
Where to Buy
The only places I’ve found that you can buy XS energy drinks are direct from the Amway website and on Amazon.
Personally, I buy just about everything on Amazon, so that’s my recommended place to find XS energy drinks if you don’t mind paying a premium compared to most other energy drink brands.
Mountain Dew Kickstart
Price
Mountain Dew Kickstart costs $15 for a 12-can pack which brings it to about $1.30 per 16 fl. oz can. Comparing this to most of the other energy drinks on the market, Mountain Dew Kickstart is one of the cheapest options you can get.
Ingredients:
Each can of Mountain Dew Kickstart (16 fl. oz) contains:
- 80 Calories
- 0g Total fat
- 180mg Sodium
- 21g Total Carbohydrate
- 20g Sugar
- 0g Protein
- Vitamin C (100% of the daily recommended intake)
- Niacin (80% of the daily recommended intake)
- Vitamin B6( 80% of the daily recommended intake)
- Pantothenic Acid (60% of the daily recommended intake)
- Phosphorus (10% of the daily recommended intake)
There’s also a small amount of:
- Carbonated water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- White Grape Juice Concentrate
- Citric Acid
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate (to protect flavor)
- Potassium Sorbate (preservatives)
- Gum Arabic
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
- Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
- Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Caffeine:
A single 16 fl. oz can of Mountain Dew Kickstart contains 92mg of caffeine which is much less than the recommended maximum daily intake of 400mg.
Flavours:
Mountain Dew Kickstart is available in a variety of flavours:
- Energizing Orange Citrus
- Energizing Fruit Punch
- Energizing Black Cherry
- Energizing Limeade
- Energizing Midnight Grape
- Energizing Orange Cranberry
- Energizing Mango Lime
- Energizing Original Dew
- Energizing Grape
Sugar-Free flavours:
- Ultra Energizing Original Dew
- Diet Mountain Dew
Kickstart Hydrating Boost (made with coconut water):
- Energizing Strawberry Kiwi
- Energizing Pineapple Orange Mango
- Energizing Watermelon
- Energizing Raspberry Citrus
Kickstart Recharge (contains vitamins C and E) :
- Energizing Blood Orange
- Energizing Blueberry Pomegranate
Where to Buy
If you’re looking to get your hands on Mountain Dew Kickstart, you can get it from Amazon *reminder they come in a pack of 12 cans (16 fl. oz)*.
Another place you can buy these drinks in bulk is eBay.
If you’re thinking about trying a few of the flavours to see which best suits your taste, you can get Mountain Dew Kickstart at most grocery stores and gas stations all over the US.
Xyience Energy
Price
Xyience energy costs around $34 for a pack of 8 cans (16 fl. oz). A can of Xyience costs around $4.30, which to me is very expensive.
You may prefer other cheaper alternatives like Monster or Rockstar.
Ingredients
Xyience Energy (16 fl.oz) contains:
- 0 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 176mg Caffeine
- 160mg Sodium
- 15mg Potassium
- 2g Carbohydrates
- 0g Sugars
- 0g Protein
- Niacin (100% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B6 (250% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B12 (80% of the daily recommended value)
- Pantothenic acid (500% of the daily recommended value)
There’s also a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Taurine
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Caffeine
- Glucuronolactone
- Potassium Sorbate (preservative)
- Sodium Benzoate (preservative)
- Calcium D Pantothenate (vitamin B5)
- Ginseng Root Extract
- Guarana Seed Extract
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- L-Carnitine
- Gum Arabic
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
- Inositol
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Ester Gum
Caffeine
Xyience has 176mg of caffeine in a single 16 fl. oz can which is almost similar to that of Monster which has 160mg of caffeine per 16 fl. oz.
Flavours
Xyience Energy comes in a few flavours such as:
- Cran Razz
- Fruit Punch
- Fuji Apple
- Wild Grape
- Tangerine
- Melon Mayhem
- Frostberry Blast
- Blue Pomegranate
- Cherry Lime
- Mango Guava
Where to Buy
You can get Xyience Energy drinks from their official website or even on Amazon.
They’re also available at your local departmental stores such as Walmart, Target, Kmart, and others.
3D energy drink
Price
3D energy drinks cost about $25 for a 12-can pack, which brings it to about $2.10 per 16 fl. oz can.
Ingredients:
A single serving of 3D energy drink(16 fl. oz) contains:
- 15 Calories
- 200mg of caffeine
- 0g Total Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 250mg Sodium
- 7g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
- Vitamin B6 (140% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B12 (140% of the daily recommended value)
- Pantothenic Acid (140% of the daily recommended value)
- Niacin (140% of the daily recommended value
- 1.5g Proprietary Energy Blend
Proprietary Energy Blend consists of Taurine, Caffeine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, L-Carnitine, Tartrate, Glucuronolactone, Inositol, and Guarana Seed Extract.
Caffeine
A single 16 fl. oz can of 3D energy drink contains 200mg of caffeine, which is quite a hefty amount in my opinion.
Flavours:
3D energy drinks come in a few flavours such as:
- Red (Fruit punch)
- White (Grapefruit, similar to White Monster)
- Blue (frozen Bombsicle)
- Green (Citrus soda, similar to Mountain Dew)
This video tackles 3D energy and what it tastes like.
Where to Buy
If you want to purchase 3D energy drinks, you can get them from their official website.
Other places where you can purchase these drinks in bulk are on Suppz, Amazon, GNC and your local retail stores like 7-eleven and many more.
The brand is targeting gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts, just like another popular brand that you may have heard of before…
Celsius
Price
Celsius Energy drinks cost about $27 for a 12-pack can, which equals about $2.30 per can. This is definitely not the cheapest energy drink option on the market, but it isn’t all that expensive either.
I would say that Celsius Energy drink is somewhere in the middle of the range in terms of price compared to other energy drinks.
Ingredients
Each can (12 fl. oz) of Celsius Energy drinks contains:
- 10 Calories
- 200mg of caffeine
- 2g Total carbohydrate
- 20mg Niacin
- 50mg Calcium carbonate
- 50mg Chromium
- 0g Sodium
- 300mg of Biotin
- Vitamin C ( 67% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B2 (131% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B6 (118% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B12 (250% of the daily recommended value)
- Pantothenic acid (200% of the daily recommended value)
- 1.81g of “Metaplus Proprietary Blend’
( 200mg caffeine and 1.61g of other ingredients such as Taurine, Guarana Extract, Glucuronolactone, Ginger Extract, and Green Tea Leaf Extract)
There’s also a small amount of:
- Carbonated Filtered Water
- Citric Acid
- Fruit and Vegetable Juice (for colour)
- Sucralose (artificial Sweetener)
- Natural Flavor
Caffeine
Depending on which Celsius product line you go for, the caffeine content varies. Celsius “Originals”, “Naturals’ and the”on-the-go” powder sachets contain 200mg of caffeine for each serving.
On the other hand, Celsius “Heat” contains a hefty 300mg of caffeine per 12 fl. oz can. That certainly puts it high up on the list of the strongest energy drinks.
Flavours
Celsius energy drinks come in a variety of flavours:
Originals
- Orange
- Grape Rush
- Watermelon
- Wild Berry
- Kiwi Guava
- Cola
- Peach Mango Green Tea
- Raspberry Acai Green Tea
Naturals
- Grapefruit
- Cucumber Lime
- Orange Pomegranate
- Watermelon Berry
- Pineapple Coconut
- Strawberries & Cream
On-The-Go
- Orange
- Berry
- Coconut
- Cranberry Lemon
Burn
- Blueberry Pomegranate
- Cherry Lime
- Inferno Punch
- Strawberry Dragonfruit
- Tangerine Grapefruit
- Apple Jack’d
- Orangesicle
Where to Buy:
If you’re looking to shop online for Celsius energy drinks you can get them on:
- Amazon
- eBay
- Supplements Geeks
You can also usually get Celsius energy drinks in retail outlets such as:
- Target
- 7-eleven
- GNC
- The Vitamin Shoppe
- Hi-Health
NOS Energy
Price
NOS energy drink costs about $10 for a pack of 8 cans (16 fl. oz), which puts a can at about the $1.30 mark. This is definitely amongst the cheaper energy drink options.
Ingredients
NOS Energy drink (16 fl. oz) contains:
- 210 Calories
- 160mg of caffeine
- 0g Total Fat
- 410mg Sodium
- 54g Total Carbohydrate
- 53g Sugar
- 0g Protein
- Vitamin B6 (200% of the daily recommended value)
- Vitamin B12 (200% of the daily recommended value)
NOS energy drink also contains a small amount of:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate (preservative)
- Natural Flavors
- Taurine
- Gun
- Acacia
- Potassium Sorbate (preservative)
- Glycerol
- Ester of Rosin
- L-Theanine
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Calcium Disodium EDTA (preservative)
- Guarana
Caffeine
NOS energy drink has 160mg of caffeine in a single 16 fl. oz can which is twice as much as a regular can of Red Bull (8.4 fl. oz).
Flavours
NOS energy drink comes in a wide variety of flavours such as:
- Original
- Original Sugar-free
- GT Grape
- Power Punchh
- Cherried Out
- Nitro Mango
- Sonic Sour
Where to Buy
If you want to get your hands on NOS energy drinks you can get them online from Amazon and eBay.
Other places you can buy NOS energy are at your local convenience stores, such as 7-eleven.
REIZE Energy Drink
If you’re looking for a delicious energy drink that is also very affordable, give REIZE a try.
REIZE comes in powdered form and in a convenient sachet, unlike your conventional ready-to-drink energy drink. All you need to do is add water, or mix the powder with a drink of your choice.
At 50mg of caffeine, REIZE doesn’t have as much caffeine as most energy drinks on this list, but it still does give you a great energy boost.
Also, because it’s sugar-free, you don’t need to worry about crashing afterwards either.
REIZE comes in a pretty cool-looking and convenient sachet, which is much easier to carry around than a bulky can.
At around $1 per drink including shipping right to your door, REIZE is definitely the most affordable energy drink option on this list.
What are you waiting for?
Give REIZE a try for yourself and you might just find that it quickly becomes your favourite energy drink too.