Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks in the world. Its red and blue can and, of course, the iconic logo is easily recognizable from a mile away.
But did you know that Red Bull traces its origins to the farmlands of Thailand way back in 1976?
I’m referring, of course, to the original Thai Red Bull, Krating Daeng, which served as a forerunner to the worldwide Red Bull.
Of course, a lot of countries have since produced their own versions of Red Bull, but I gotta admit, the legend of Krating Daeng and how it inspired the Red Bull we know today is simply fascinating.
However, there are significant differences between them, including packaging, flavor, and contents—which I’ll cover in this article, including Krating Daeng’s caffeine and ingredients.
Ready for a blast from the past? Let’s dive in!
Krating Daeng Energy Drink Nutrition Facts
First, let’s look at Krating Daeng’s nutritional values.
Serving Size = 250 ml
| AMOUNT PER SERVING | |
| Calories | 180 cal |
| Sodium | 260 mg |
| Total Carbs | 45 g |
| Total Sugars | 42 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
Because Krating Daeng is fat-free, it is pretty well-known in the market for its high amounts of B vitamins!
| VITAMINS | DAILY RECOMMENDED VALUE |
| B3 | 57% |
| B5 | 100% |
| B6 | 300% |
| B12 | 166% |
Krating Daeng Energy Drink Ingredients
Caffeine, taurine, and B-vitamins were among the core components in Krating Daeng when it was first launched in the marketplace in 1976 as refreshments catering to Thai workers.
In addition to the nutritional information for Krating Daeng shown above, each can of 250ml includes the components listed below:
- 1000 milligrams of taurine
- 400 milligrams of D-glucuronolactone
- Caffeine
- Lysine (Amino acids)
- Choline Bitartrate
- Inositol
- Citric Acid
- Sodium benzoate (Preservatives)
Is Krating Daeng Vegan?
Yes, Krating Daeng is considered vegan.
As you might know, Krating Daeng is a flavorful and therapeutic energy drink containing B vitamins and metabolic stimulators such as amino acid, taurine, and caffeine.
However, if you’re the kind of person who wants to know what’s in their energy drink and adheres to a strict vegan diet, the only drawback to Krating Daeng is the amount of taurine it contains.
Taurine may or may not be vegan-friendly because the brand did not state if the source is synthetic; thus, if you want to make sure, it is better to avoid it if you are a vegan.
Caffeine
The amount of caffeine in each 100ml serving contains 32mg.
This implies that a 250ml can of Krating Daeng has just 50mg of caffeine, which is a relatively small amount. It is small when you consider that certain energy drinks contain up to 300mg of caffeine in just one can.
Red Bull, in comparison, contains 80mg of caffeine, which is higher than Krating Daeng’s but by no means a dangerous amount. The FDA-approved daily caffeine limit is 400mg, and both beverages are well within that limit and pose fewer risks of side effects to your health.
Moderate amounts of caffeine have a stimulating effect on our energy levels. When taken responsibly and in moderation, it can have physical health-promoting properties that make it an incredible component in energy drinks.
Calories
Every 250 ml of Krating Daeng contains approximately 160 calories.
Ideally, your calorie intake should be limited to about 2000 to 2500 calories per day. While 160 calories may seem small, these can quickly add up if you’re not careful.
If you’re also on a calorie-restricted diet or doing workouts daily, a calorie-filled energy drink may be more a bane than a boon. In this case, you might want to consider zero-calorie energy drinks.
Sugar
The 42g of sugar in a 250ml bottle of Krating Daeng is within the acceptable range. However, that quantity can be excessive if you consume Krating Daeng on a regular basis.
To make the Krating Daeng energy drink taste good and sweetened, its manufacturers utilize sugar canes, a low-cost sweetener abundantly available throughout Asian countries.
But the taste is not the only good thing that came out of it; it also serves as a valuable energy source and contributes to the beverage’s stimulatory effects.
However, ideally, women should consume no more than 25g of sugar per day, and men should not consume more than 36g. If you are adhering to a strict low-sugar diet, stick to 30g per day.
Pros and Cons of Krating Daeng
Let’s look into the benefits and drawbacks of drinking Krating Daeng.
PROS
Price
One of the most well-recognized advantages of Krating Daeng is that they have ensured their products are economical and widely available. In Thailand, one bottle of Krating Daeng costs 10 Thai baht or roughly 30 cents.
This affordability made Krating Daeng popular for people working in physically demanding industries, catering primarily to agricultural and industrial workers.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid that promotes nerve development. Synthetic taurines, the type of taurine usually included in energy drinks, work with caffeine to stimulate the brain’s mental alertness and concentration.
Inositol
Inositol is a carbohydrate naturally produced in the body, with the greatest concentration found in the brain. It serves as a stabilizer for the nervous system and helps control blood sugar levels.
B vitamins
B vitamins help our digestive system turn food into energy efficiently; they may also help you cope with stress.
CONS
Calorie Content
As mentioned earlier, Krating Daeng contains quite a lot of calories.
This content can be counterintuitive if you are aiming to lose weight. Going overboard with your calorie consumption can lead to obesity, a higher risk of cancer, and digestive system issues.
Sugar Content
Krating Daeng’s sugar content can also cause some harmful side effects when consumed excessively.
Increased body weight, relatively high chances of developing heart disease, and diabetes are just a few of the negative effects of having a high-sugar diet.
Is Krating Daeng stronger than Red Bull?
Not at all! Krating Daeng is considerably lighter than Red Bull or most energy drinks since it has less caffeine.
Krating Daeng has 37.5 percent less caffeine than Red Bull. Each 8.4 fl. oz. can of Krating Daeng has 50 milligrams of caffeine, while one can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine.
For these reasons, Krating Daeng’s caffeine and sugar levels place it at the lower end of the range when it comes to the world’s most powerful energy drinks.
Can You Drink Krating Daeng Every Day?
Because of the original Krating Daeng’s sugar content, I do not recommend it for daily consumption.
If you really want to depend on it for your daily energy source, you may want to consider having the sugar-free version instead of the regular one, which contains a high sugar content of 42g.
Red Bull Plus is Singapore’s sugar-free version that was introduced in 2019 by the parent company TCP. It contains pretty much the same nutrients and caffeine content as the classic Red Bull, except it contains only 5g of sugar.
Check out the video below to know more about sugar’s nasty side effects!
Even if you prefer to consume sugar-free alternatives, it is important to remember to drink them in reasonable quantities and maintain a balanced and nutritious diet and lifestyle.
Top Flavors of Krating Daeng
The authentic Thailand version of Red Bull is like a concentrated, non-carbonated version of the classic Red Bull. It also tastes and looks different.
While Red Bull is available in multiple flavors and variants, Krating Daeng only has the regular version available in 100ml and 250ml variants, and the Sugar-Free version is available only in 250ml.
Alternative Energy Drinks for Krating Daeng
You might ask, But I can’t go to Thailand just to try Krating Daeng, and I don’t really like the taste of Red Bull. What else can I try?
I got you! These are some of the energy drink brands that I believe are similar to or even better than Krating Daeng:
Lipovitan
Lipovitan more commonly known in the western part of the world as Livita, is an energy drink that originated in Japan.
Each 3 fl. oz. bottle contains 50 mg of caffeine, 72 calories, 16.5 grams of sugar, 1000 milligrams of taurine, and more than a daily dose worth of B vitamins. Drink it, be energized, and rise like the sun.
Sting Energy Drink
Sting is an energy drink launched in Vietnam in 2002 that is now available in more than 3 countries in Southeast Asia.
It packs an abundant serving of caffeine, taurine, ginseng extract, and inositol. This carbonated beverage was developed by PepsiCo International, the creator of Rockstar Energy Drink. Just one 250ml bottle of Sting is enough to get you through your day.
Additionally, you may be interested in trying these great energy beverages:
REIZE (10 out of 10)
Let me introduce you to REIZE, the best energy drink choice you can make.
Both REIZE and Krating Daeng contain the same amount of caffeine and taurine, ensuring that you get an energy boost that will take your brain power to the next level. Not to mention, the low caffeine content also safeguards you from the harmful side effects that come with excessive consumption.
Now here’s the part where REIZE becomes the runaway winner. It has a high concentration of vitamins and ginseng, which Krating Daeng does not have.
REIZE is also entirely sugar-free, in contrast to the excessive quantities of sugar in Krating Daeng. It has just 11 calories per serving, making it an excellent energy drink for everyday use because it won’t interfere with your diet plans or cause any crashes.
Lastly, unlike Krating Daeng, REIZE is travel-friendly. Why use clunky and fragile bottles when you can get 4g powder sachets of REIZE that you can take and mix anywhere? Plus, you can also get it shipped to you for just around $1.
All these qualities just make REIZE the superior choice.
Try REIZE today! I’m sure you won’t regret it.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Krating Daeng is an affordable and excellent source of energy boost. It might not be as healthy as most energy drinks, but it sure does its job in giving enhanced physical strength and brainpower.
While Krating Daeng has an interesting and refreshing flavor that I found to be better than its classic counterpart, the downsides of its sugar and calorie content are too big to ignore.
Still, other energy drink brands, in my view, may provide the same level of stimulation as Krating Daeng without the attendant health risks.
It is harmful to consume anything in excess, and this is also true for energy drinks. While I cannot tell you to avoid energy drinks entirely, for I can’t do that myself, I suggest that you take energy drinks that have no sugar and have reasonable amounts of caffeine – and that you take them in moderation at all times.