We all know the iconic green can.
Whether you’ve mixed it with vodka on a night out or if it’s been your go-to pick-me-up, V Energy Drink is the choice of the masses in the Australian energy drink market.
Just how big you ask?
According to this account released by The Financial Review, the green machine takes a whopping 32.9% market share of the $1.2 billion energy drink market in Australia.
Yep, that’s right folks. 1.2 billion dollarydoos.
Giving V Energy just over a jaw-dropping $460 million in sales. I’ll just give you a minute to process that shall I? To put that in perspective, Red Bull comes in well behind in second place with a 29.1% market share.
So what’s in the magic juice raking in the big bucks? What puts V Energy Drink ahead of every other energy drink?
And, is it any good for us?
What does V Energy Drink contain?
First off, let’s have a look at the ingredients of V Energy!
Each 275ml can of V contains:
- 537Kj (128 calories)
- 85mg of caffeine
- 29.2 grams of sugar
- 303mg of sodium
- 330mg of guarana extract
- 1.3mg of riboflavin
- 8mg of niacin
- 1.3mg of vitamin B6
- 1.6µg of vitamin B12
- 1.9mg of pantothenic acid
- 550mg of taurine
- 69mg of glucuronolactone
- 50mg of inositol
Also, V Energy contains traces of the following:
- carbonated water
- sugar (the 2nd biggest ingredient after carbonated water??? Yikes)
- acidity regulators (citric acid, sodium citrate)
- Taurine
- Guarana extract (0.12%)
- Caramel colour
- Glucuronolactone
- Caffeine
- Inositol
- Niacin
- Pantothenic acid
- Vitamin B6
- Riboflavin
- Vitamin B12
- Flavours (they don’t give details)
The bottom of this list of ingredients also includes “contains wheat derivatives”.
How much caffeine is in a V Energy Drink?
Each 275ml can of V Energy Drink contains 85mg of caffeine which is considered low compared to other energy drinks.
I prefer energy drinks with caffeine content below 100mg. So, V Energy is really within my preference. I like that it contains low caffeine as I don’t have to worry about headaches and jitters after my consumption.
For reference, the caffeine limit is 400mg per day for healthy adults. Overconsumption of caffeine can lead to side effects such as headaches, jitters, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and more.
Other Notable Ingredients
Apart from caffeine, guarana, taurine, and B vitamins are the notable ingredients used in V Energy. I’ll explain briefly below!
Guarana VS Taurine
You might have heard these words getting thrown around by the energy drink market, but do you know what they actually are?
Guarana is V Energy Drink’s main addition and point of difference to a runner-up energy drink, Red Bull.
Red Bull only uses taurine as their main active ingredient (which by the way is NOT bull sperm)
Guarana is a fruit, more specifically, a dried paste made from the crushed seeds of P. cupana or P. sorbilis, a plant native to regions of the Amazon. The plant produces orange and yellow fruits that contain up to 3 seeds each. These seeds are where guarana is extracted from in the form of syrups, extracts, and distillates, which are then used as flavourings for energy drinks.
The exotic fruit contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. Coffee beans, for example, only contain about 1-2% caffeine as opposed to the dried leaves of guarana which contain 1-4% caffeine.
Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS), heart, and muscles and works on the body in similar ways to the hormone adrenalin.
Once you consume caffeine your breathing and heart rate increase. As a result, a short burst of physical energy is experienced which makes you feel more awake and can sometimes suppress hunger.
Taurine, on the other hand, is a type of amino acid that is a building block of protein. It is found in foods, such as meat fish, and dairy, and also in our brain, retina, heart, and blood.
There are many health benefits associated with taurine, such as keeping the heart healthy and being a good source of antioxidants, which work to protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules.
If you’re looking for energy drinks that contain taurine, check out my article here!
Watch the video below to know more about taurine!
B Vitamins
V Energy contains niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and Vitamin B6.
I have added a table below to show their benefits.
| B Vitamins | Benefits |
| Riboflavin | reduces oxidative stress and inflammation |
| Niacin | metabolises food |
| Pantothenic Acid | breaks down fats and carbohydrates for energy |
| B6 | promotes healthy brain |
How much sugar is in V Energy Drink?
V Energy contains 29.2mg of sugar.
That’s about 6 teaspoons of stuff you really don’t need in your body.
The sugar content in V Energy is way too high and is more than the total amount recommended per day for a healthy adult female. It’s also around 78% of the recommended daily sugar intake for a healthy male.
Sugar contains no essential nutrients and it’s bad for your teeth (cliché, but true). Added sugar is high in fructose, which can overload your liver and can cause fatty liver disease. Increased consumption of sugar can make you insulin resistant which can lead to the dreaded D word. Diabetes.
Look, the list goes on, and on…and on.
Good news? The company behind the V Energy Drink, Frucor, came up with a sugar-free version of the drink, as well as many other variations, like the new V Pure Energy Drink marketed to more of a female-based market.
Good move, V Energy. Good move!
Does V Energy Drink have alcohol?
No, V Energy Drink does not contain alcohol.
However, V drink is a popular mixer with alcoholic drinks and is the energy drink of choice at many Australian clubs and bars.
In fact, often when you ask for a “vodka Red Bull” in an Aussie club you’re actually being served a vodka and V energy drink instead of the vodka Red Bull that you actually ordered.
Are V Energy drinks good for you?
V Energy can be good for you if consumed in moderation.
On the other hand, V Energy contains ingredients that are very typical of most energy drinks and as a result, it’s no better or worse for you than those other energy drinks.
But V does contain a huge amount of sugar which is clearly not good for you.
If you don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions, you’ll be fine!
If you want something without sugar, I have listed quite a few in this article. Check it out!
Is V energy drink Vegan?
Yes, V Energy Drink is vegan-friendly.
The entire range of V drinks is vegan-friendly and free of animal products, except for Iced Chocolate and V Iced Coffee.
I have covered more details about V Energy being vegan in this article.
REIZE (best alternative to V Energy)
If V Energy isn’t within your range of taste in energy drinks, REIZE has got you covered!
REIZE contains 50 mg of caffeine, 11 calories, 0 g sugars, taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins. Indeed, it comes with a perfect blend that can provide you with the boost that you need throughout your exercise performance.
Also, it comes in light 4 g sachets that are pretty convenient to take anywhere. Plus, you can make it with water or soda!
Wait… there’s more!
You can have REIZE shipped to your home for as low as $1.
Give REIZE a try today and you might prefer it to V Energy!