Foosh Energy Mints

Energy drinks aren't always the quickest way to get caffeine, it seems nowadays. Coffee can be bothersome, as you have to prepare a pot, then down it piping hot. Energy drinks were thus created. As if chugging a 16 ounce can was difficult enough to get a good burst of energy, energy mints were created in succession. I like the idea of energy mints. Just think of the advantages: Sugar free, portable, 6 calories per mint, and only the size of about 2-3 Altoids. The only disadvantage that realistically could exist would be the realization that you're not drinking anything to get energy, which is probably the main way consumers attain caffeine. I know that some folks enjoy drinking an energy drink, or a cup of joe to get energy, not only to drink, but because they enjoy the flavor. A bit of background information on Foosh reveals that in just 1 single mint, there's a total of 100mg of caffeine. No joke. Doing loads of math, I find out that two mints roughly equal a 16 ounce energy drink -- perhaps even more. A Monster has about 150mg in a 16 ounce can, in comparison to only 2 minute mints.

This paragraph will be rather brief, only because I don't intend on focusing much on the flavor. Just a few minutes ago I opened up the metal case containing the mints, and popped one in my mouth. Immediately, a rush of strong minty flavor came at me, with some noticeable bitterness in the background. I can relate the flavor to that of your every day dinner mint. The shape of the mint is larger than a regular dinner mint, has a chalky-white color and texture, and the word 'Foosh' is engraved on one side of the mint, with a familiar symbol of electrons swirling around an atomic nucleus. Surprisingly, this minty flavor has masked most of the bitterness, which potentially, could be strong due to the high amount of caffeine and B vitamins. It takes about 5-10 minutes for the mint to dissolve completely, depending on how intent you are on finishing it.

When it comes to energy, Foosh means business. They relate one mint to a cup of coffee, in means of caffeine content. I mean, if you're a coffee person, and this still doesn't convince you I don't blame you. That is, until you find out Foosh contains ginseng, taurine, niacin, thiamin, and Vitamins B6 and B12. By now, not only are getting the same caffeine amount, but you get the healthy stuff, too. Judging the effects of Foosh over the past few days, as I've been using these mints every now and then, I find a lot more than I initially expected. The kick is great. I liked how after only one mint, I feel a sudden burst of energy, and a general upbringing of my mind and spirit. Not yet have I tried two minutes at once, only because I haven't felt it necessary thus far. If you choose to, go nuts. On the other hand, one of the effects I've felt peeved me was how dehydrated I felt after the mint dissolved and the energy kicked in. My lips felt dry as dirt, and no matter how much water I would drink, the effect lingered. It left a decent crash as soon as all of the caffeine was used up, too.I want to know how the mint affected you; when you have the chance, drop by and leave a comment on your experience with Foosh.

In one mint, there's only 5 calories, 25mg of sodium, and no sugar. As for ingredients, there's sorbitol, natural peppermint extract, caffeine, other natural and artificial flavors, propreitary synergistic energy blend, Magnesium stearate, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, and blue 1. Although it's artificially sweetened, I find very little distaste in the mint.

On one last note, I want to remind you all the dangers of too much caffeine. It may be easy to access this much caffeine, but it never means you should. It's not safe to exceed 3-4 mints in a sitting, unless you're down to experience serious heart palpitations, massive headaches and stomach pains, and a mean crash. Overall, I believe Foosh has created the next generation of energy intake.

Taste: 6 - Strong peppermint flavor, with decent amounts of bitterness
Kick: This can vary. If you're having one mint, expect a good pick-me-up. Two mints, strong jitters. Three mints, well, you can tell me how that felt.
Overall: 9 - Great concept, and I want to make sure Foosh gets known to every caffeine consumer world-wide.

Reviewed by: Chan

Amp Energy Juice Mixed Berry

The second of the two new Juice flavors is Mixed Berry, as you can most likely see on the left. Mixed berry can be more than relatively different for every other company that decides to take it on, whereas orange and grape, for example, are mostly the same. Because Amp targets breakfast or early morning caffeine consumers, they decided to go with the down-home, basic breakfast, juicy flavors: orange and berry. They're also advising you to give Amp a try, rather than pouring yourself a routine cup of coffee every morning, or driving out to Starbuck's, for that matter. Anyways, what allured me the most when I reviewed the Amp Orange a few weeks ago, was the synonymous flavor it shared with basic orange juice. Despite the bitterness pin-pointed at the B vitamins and other energy ingredients, I didn't think the Orange was that bad at all. Knowing that, my expectations are higher for the mixed berry. Stated in the previous review, a bit of background info about the Amp Juice: it's made from juice concentrates (So don't forget to shake the bottle before opening; it's got pulp), they're made in 12 ounce bottles, and they're absolutely, 100% Juice. Predictions? Well, I'm going to guess grape, strawberry and blueberry, accompanied by the usual bitterness.

Twisting open the large, purple cap, the scent isn't really enticing, but more bland. However, if I stick my nose far enough in, there's some hearty, all-pure berry aroma. I don't have to pour the drink out, because the bottle is translucent. Peering straight through the bottle, I see a dark, orange-purple mixture. Taking a bold sip, the first thing I notice is the smooth, sour flavor of grape, orange, and blueberry, with fading flavors of raspberry, and the consistency exactly like that of orange juice. More subtle, there are hints of strawberry in the aftertaste, that literally calls you back for more. It's thick and syrupy due to the pulp, as it reminds me of a smoothie, just without the ice. There definitely is much less bitterness in this drink than the Orange, which I believe the reason to be the stronger flavor of the berry masks most of the bitterness, as opposed to lighter Orange being unable to do so. It's not carbonated, which I think you could have assumed by now. On a final note, the flavor is exceptional, and perhaps my personal favorite of the two Juices. Let's see how the kick compares.

Per bottle, the Amp Juice has a reputation to load up on calories and sugar, with about 200 calories and 42 grams of sugar in one 12 ounce bottle. On a much better note, however, this bottles got 100% juice, which means you get 100% of your daily fill of Vitamin C, and 150% of Vitamins B6 and B12, Niacin, and pantothenic acid. Other ingredients are found in this drink such as: orange juice from concentrate, white grape juice, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, taurine, guarana seed, caffeine, ascorbic acid, modified food starch, niacin, calcium pantothenate, panax ginseng, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, lycopene, and Vitamin B12. Realistically, there aren't any out-of-the-ordinary ingredients, with the exception of maybe the juice concentrates, though this isn't the first energy drink with definite juice concentrates. As for the kick, it impacted me in waves of mainly jitters, and as a generic pick-me-up, with slight alertness raised. Overall, the better of the two Juice products. I think Amp did a great job, all in all, in created an alternative to coffee, being that many energy drink labels have not yet made that jump thus far. What's the best way to expend this energy? Watching the Celtic's game, of course!

Taste: 8 - Smooth grape, blueberry, orange breakfast 'blend', with only traces of bitterness
Kick: 7.6 - Relatively similar kick to that of a Monster, maybe a bit less, with less energy ingredients
Overall: 7.8 - Go for this one if you're a fan of berry+orange

Reviewed by: Chan

Amp Energy Juice Orange

Do you recognize the delightful taste of Amp? How about orange juice? Well, if you combine together, you get Amp Energy Juice Orange. Today, I'm here reviewing an energy drink much anticipated by myself. I've never seen an energy drink that's dedicated to skipping out on coffee in morning, and combines their original formula with a real orange flavor, like this one. You do see Monster M-80, which is orange, lemon, lime, etc. and Monster Chaos, for example, but the main difference between that and this juice is that Monster uses "natural flavors", while the Juice is goes into more detailed by using orange juice and white grape juice concentrate. Amp suggests skipping out on you're cup of joe, and downing a 12 ounce bottle of this energized juice. So, this morning, that's exactly what I did. Being the usually groggy and caffeine-deprived person I am, I'm just about to break this bottle open and down it. Before I do that, however, I'm gonna examine the bottle in further detail. Looking at the front of the bottle, there's Amp's logo "A" in orange, in front of an orange background as well. At the top, I see "100% Juice", which will determine the difference between any average orange-flavored energy drink, and this one. My prediction will be a basic pulpy orange juice flavor, with a bit of Amp's original mix. Let's find out.

Giving the small bottle a thorough shake, I open up the wide, orange cap. Immediately, an odd, yet pure and pungent aroma filled the area. It reminded me most of the Awake Orange. The color is exactly like the color of orange juice, though just a bit darker, I think. Taking my first sip, I was thrown off by the flavor, which is best described as your every day orange juice, with slightly more bitterness from the vitamins, caffeine, and other energy supplements. Its flavor is subtle, as it fades quickly into a near revolting aftertaste of vitamins, but again, best just described as bitterness. About halfway finished with the 12 ounce bottle, I find the taste more smooth, like Tropicana, as if much of the bitterness has disappeared. Because it's not carbonated, it goes down easy, once you get past the noticeable gumminess from some of the fruit concentrates. I wanted to say that Amp did a fantastic job creating an orange drink that has very little added sugar, and for the most part is 100% juice. Overall, Amp Energy Juice is not only tasty, but is refreshing as well on another warm day, just as summer approaches.

Per bottle of Amp, you get a whopping 190 calories and about 41 grams of sugar. On average, an energy drink will have 200-220 calories per can, but that's in a complete 16 ounce can, not 12 such as this bottle. On a more optimistic side, however, you get 100% of your daily amount of Vitamin C, 150% of niacin, Vitamin B6, B12, and pantothenic acid. In a complete bottle, Amp packs in a vast amount of ingredients such as: orange juice, white grape juice, citric acid, taurine, guarana seed extract, caffeine, ascorbic acid, gum arabiv, natural and artificial flavor, niacin, calcium pantothenate, modified food starch, panax ginseng, sucrose acetate isobutyrate, Vitamin E acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and cyanocobalamin. Most of these ingredients come standard in energy drinks, with the exception of the three fruit juices. Well, when it came down to the kick, I had to admit, I was disappointed. It acted almost like a coffee: it wakes you up, gets you through a few hours, and leaves you with a mean crash. Of course proportionally, the amount of caffeine per 12 ounce bottle is set, but if you're looking for a great kick, I hate to disappoint you. After it all, I was satisfied with the smooth orange juice-like flavor, and somewhat grateful for the kick to follow.

Taste: 7.5 - Good orange juice take, though somewhat bitter from all the energy ingredients
Kick: 7 - Generic coffee/energy drink jitteriness
Overall: 7.3 - Give it a shot; maybe you'll prefer it over your morning routine of coffee

Reviewed by: Chan

Spot On Energy Patch

Hey, what's new? You know we here at Canned Reviews are devoted to reviewing energy drinks (hence the Canned Reviews), but today I feel a bit more daring than usual. If you look to your left, you see no can, instead a little square, green package. These hold a total of four energy patches that you place onto your skin. I can't say I'm a huge fan of their "No More Energy Drinks" idea, but hey, it's cool to take a break every once in awhile. To me, this is a radical idea anyways, but it just might work. I do respect Spot On for its cleverness. Think about all the advantages: no sugar, no calories, small and discreet, and most importantly, it's healthier. Because I'm obviously not going to review taste, I'm going to go ahead and slip on these patches now so I can get right down to work on the kick section. Anyways, I requested a sample from Spot On about a week ago, and thanks to a speedy delivery, these came in just this afternoon. Being eager, I ripped open the box, and immediately started reviewing. As I place two small brown patches on to my inner arm (they recommend two, as it compares to two 8 ounce Red Bulls, or one 16 ounce), I notice they're extremely adhesive, so you wouldn't have to worry about them falling off. Additionally, they don't seem to bother my arm. Since they're made out of latex, you may want to stay away if you're allergic. Okay, well I feel some energy starting to kick in, so let's move on.

Spot On claims that their energy won't get you jittery, but will keep you awake and will maintain focus. It's always about the consumers' opinion; some like jittery, sugar-filled drinks, while others, like myself, appreciate caffeine with amino acids, B vitamins, and low-to-no sugar, therefore increasing focus. Nevertheless, caffeine allows you to get the job done to put it simply. Each patch of Spot On contains caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, Green Tea extract, niacin, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12. These ingredients are standard in any energy-delivering product, except Green Tea. Some energy drinks may contain Green Tea extract, whether to improve taste, or to aid in giving energy. In this case, obviously Green Tea extract aids the B Vitamins and caffeine to improve energy. Green tea also can help lower cholesterol, reduce heart disease, and not only increase fat oxidation during moderately intensive exercise but also improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. On that note, it's good to have Green Tea Extract in your body. Moving on to the kick, using only two patches I definitely feel a bit more alert and focused, though it's a different feeling than you get with an energy drink. For someone who uses caffeine regularly and has built up a tolerance to small doses, I personally recommend perhaps three patches. It all really depends on your surroundings and prior activity, too. Finishing a long day, I'm already tired, and Spot On seemed to pick me up from that rut, and didn't propel me farther than I need to go. Overall, your experience with Spot On is going to be experimental. Try two patches for a solid kick, and three for an added extra, but don't exceed four in 24 hours.

Taste: N/A
Kick: 7.5 - Using two patches, solid focus and alertness, but nothing too substantial
Overall: 7.5 - Good all-purpose pick-me-up

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Energy Cola

For the past few years, I've been looking for the Rockstar Cola, although had trouble locating it due to the fact that they discontinued making them. I'll admit, I was disappointed until very recently Rockstar released a new and improved Rockstar Cola, as if the old formula was never released. Anyways, I'm totally stoked to review the new Cola drink. On the market, it's difficult to find many Cola energy drinks, thinking only of...Red Bull Simply Cola, and maybe the Monster Assault, if you'd consider that cola. Therefore, I'm definitely intrigued to find out how the Rockstar Cola compares to the said above. Its can design catches the eye, being mostly black, from the bottom rim, all the way to the tab. The gold writing shimmers in the light, contrasting nicely to the pitch-black background. In most soft drinks, cola is comprised of vanilla, mustard seed, lime, kola nut, cacao, licorice, cinnamon, ginger, coca leaf, orange, corn mint, pine, cardamom, mace clove, etc. If combined with original Rockstar flavor, I'd expect a blast of mixed flavors, hopefully delicious.

Okay, so popping the tab, I immediately sense natural licorice, and a hell of a lot of sweet, 'limey-ness'; very little actual cola. You'd know very much what I'm talking about if you've tried Airborne, a dissovable tablet that allegedly helps support your immune system. Its taste is dynamic in its own way. It reminded me a lot more of Pepsi, which in this review, I'll relate it most to rather than Coca-Cola, though some can't even taste the difference. Its similar characteristics: redundant lime/citrus-cola sweetness and a subtle hint of bright, pure vanilla. Its different characteristics: bitter, bitter aftertaste that's noticeable almost directly after taking a drink, and no dullness brought on by the high fructose corn syrup in Pepsi. I'm starting to think Rockstar has the edge on cola, here, definitely all around better tasting than the Monster Assault, and the Red Bull Cola. I noticed Rockstar didn't add any of their original formula to the Cola; apologies to let you down if that's what you were hoping for when buying the product. It's very lightly carbonated, and goes down well, being sweetened with sucrose and glucose, therefore avoiding potential gumminess some drinks may have. As mentioned above, I wasn't a fan of the aftertaste, but if it doesn't bug you, hey, Rockstar Cola may very well be flawless. To sum up the taste, Rockstar nailed cola on the hammer. It really doesn't get much better than a refreshing, true cola drink.

Topping off the can, I go in to check out the ingredients. Actually, I think Rockstar put on the same ingredients list from all their other drinks, although the defining factor-of-flavor is the "natural flavors" ingredient listed as the sixth on the list. This natural flavoring makes up the flavor of Rockstar you buy. If you grab a regular, it's raspberry/apple flavoring. How about guava? Same deal, though they add guava flavoring. You get the point. The only exception I believe is the coffee line of Rockstars, and their borderline unpopular energy shots. Knowing that, check out these ingredients: carbonated water, taurine, sucrose, glucose, caramel color, natural flavors, caffeine, phosphoric acid, citric acid, L-Carnitine, inositol, milk thistle extract, niacinamide, Calcium pantothenate, ginkgo biloba, gaurana, ginseng, riboflavin, pyridoxine, Kola Nut extract, and cyanocobalamin. You don't see Kola Nut in every energy drink. Since it's at the bottom of the list, Rockstar sneaked just a hint of the trademark flavoring ingredient. Thanks to Wikipedia, I get a bit of a background on Kola Nut: it's got a bitter flavor, is a source of caffeine, and is even used to treat whooping cough, and asthma. It's got a double job in the Rockstar because not only does it give it the cola flavor, but it enhances your physical energy, elevates mood, increases sensitivity and suppresses the appetite, and like stated above, is a good source of caffeine. Additionally, it's toxic in large quantities, and can cause fever. Per can, you get about 260 calories, 66 grams of sugar, and an energy blend (Taurine, ginkgo, caffeine, ginseng, etc.) of about 2.7 grams. This includes 2000mg of taurine, and 160mg of caffeine. The ginkgo in the drink is known to improve focus, as well. Overall, a vast, dynamic collection of energy ingredients, and a great cola drink. Before you get your usual Coca-Cola or Pepsi, give one of these a try; you'll like it.

Taste: 9 - Different, yet bright and delicious citrus-cola
Kick: 8 - Usual Rockstar buzz, slightly improved from the Kola Nut...not by much though
Overall: 8.5 - Fantastic, refreshing drink; let's see how Monster responds

Reviewed by: Chan

Ex Pure Energy

I'm pretty sure there are drinks out there I need that are literally walking distance from where I am sitting typing this up right now. Going to my every-day local grocery store and seeing some Ex freshly stocked on the shelves really surprised me. So, obviously, I needed to grab a can or two and review it instantly, and I got them. I've definitely heard of Ex Pure Energy before, and I thought I never would find it, but I did and I'm extremely excited to crack this compact can open. I know that Ex Pure Energy is canned and made in the UK, so I think that's pretty neat to finally review a genuine foreign energy drink. Another oddity on this can is the design; it's a multi-colored man with his mouth wide open, showing white teeth and a red tongue. His face and hair seem to have colors all over him like red, orange, silver, yellow, and black, but it looks mostly splotches and abstract. I see their motto at the bottom of the can "The Natural Alternative" which obviously means it's got natural sweeteners and flavors. In fact, on the back of the can, there's a phrase saying, "No artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives." Awesome.

I know my expectations are a bit high for Ex, but I strongly believe in a good flavor, I'm going to find out now. As I open up the can, I get an indicated scent of simple Red Bull with a whole lot of sweet sugar and a side scent of lemon-lime and grapefruit. Pouring it out of the can, I see a color that looks most like just any average Red Bull, golden-caramel-yellow-orange. Before I take I'm going to be a plain and boring Red Bull Clone, just nothing special, this disappoints me. But, on the other hand, Kombucha has a distinct flavor, so maybe it'll be better quality. Taking a sip, I'm extremely satisfied, and surprised, of the flavor I found. It's mostly an overly sweet red apple and grape combination, which is what Kombucha tastes most like, but it seems to be saturated with too much sugar. Behind the sweet Kombucha flavor is a nice, smooth Red Bull flavor that compliments the slight sour prominent flavor. It has a gentle aftertaste of just pure sucrose with some light fruitiness the finish it off. Drinking only 8 ounces seems to be enough, as it makes me feel sugared-out after about 6 ounces. Taking the first few sips made me instantly think that this one is going in the books for the best taste, but I couldn't imagine me wanting another can, after topping this one off. On carbonation, it's light on the tongue and pretty pleasant. Gumminess is not an issue for Ex as there's not a trace of it, because it's got no artificial sweeteners, nor HFCS, just 'natural beet sugar'. Overall, I'd say you would enjoy Ex only for the 8 ounces in comes in, otherwise, it's just too sweet to drink again, in larger quantities.

In one 8 ounce can, I'm pleased to see only necessary energy and flavoring ingredients, and having very little ingredients in all. It's full list reads as following: carbonated water, natural beet sugar, natural flavor, citric acid, guarana, Kombucha, caffeine, and Vitamins B & C. Well, you may have notice the odd sweetener 'natural beet sugar, and it's actually some pretty good stuff. Basically, beet sugar comes from a vegetable called the sugar beet, which contains high concentrations of sucrose and is grown commercially for sugar. Another ingredient you may find odd or confusing is Kombucha. Kombucha is surprisingly an energy ingredient containing organic acids, probiotics, and enzymes and helps your body find its natural balance, which promotes overall health. Per can, you get 140 calories, and an insane 35g of sugar. Now, remember it's 8 ounces, but say it was 16, you'd get 70g of sugar and 280 calories, perhaps a new energy drink record for Canned Reviews. Coming back a few hours later, I'll determine the kick was sub-par. Well, being that it's only 8 ounces and has a mere 80mg of caffeine, I can't say the kick was all that great. All in all, Ex Pure Energy was about average, the kick being lame, tasting sweet throughout the can, and good only for a few ounces.

Taste: 7.6 - It's awesome upon the first few sips, but as you top it off, it's just too sweet
Kick: 7 - A lame kick, although it's only 8 ounces and has just 80mg of caffeine.
Overall: 7.3 - I'd advise you get one of these and experiment it; again, it's only 8 ounces

Reviewed by: Chan

5-hour Energy

A five hour energy shot is probably most useful in the morning, at the start of your day, when you've got everything ahead of you. That's what I'm about to do now; have the 5-hour Energy before the start of a long day. In theory, it should work perfectly, since it promises hours of energy, no crash later and zero carbs. The differences between this sort of shot and a regular energy drink, I'm guessing, are that shots have less caffeine, if any, and lots more vitamins. Reading the back of this, I see that is does have many vitamins, but also a very nice, large amount of energy ingredients. Instead of plain caffeine and vitamins, I also see some hefty doses of Glucuronolacone, Taurine, Malic Acid and many amino acids. I don't want to waste time on this paragraph, so I'll get to opening it.

This plastic bottle doesn't crack open like a can, but instead has plastic to tear from the top and a plastic screw-off lid. I take care to tear only the plastic surrounding the cap, as I need the bottom of the wrapper for the third paragraph. I decide to shake it for good measure and slowly twist off the cap. I should expect an artificial berry. My first whiff is that of sharp, sour blueberry/strawberry and then a secondary smell of tons of vitamins and supplements. It surely doesn't seem as bad as many people have described it to me. It's tough to drink from this tiny opnening, but I manage and at first taste bland strawberry, followed by an intense artificial blueberry that's very, very, sour, to be honest. Knowing many people who think a plain Monster is too sour, I don't think this would suit many people's tastes. The intense sourness goes on down the throat, causing extremely sour sensations as you swallow, enough to make me cringe and then make my mouth water afterwards. Though I can tell many probably wouldn't like this drink for that reason, I find myself taking more tiny sips anyway. Halfway in, the berry mostly fades into a generic chalky flavor and some of the energy ingredients or vitamins are somewhat noticable, tasting kind of bitter and sour. Though this by far isn't the best drink I've had, and probably not the best shot I'll ever have, it is a fun experience drinking it and feeling the extreme sourness.

From an energy shot of this sort, I should probably expect hours of steady, constant energy; what I got was almost constant and steady. For an hour or so, I was still a bit tired, sleepy, and disappointed. Then, nearly 45 minutes in, I felt an insane boost, like a constant rush of energy, sending me soaring 100 miles per hour. That lasted for about an hour and then dwindled, till I was back to normal and a little focused. What I did notice is that, though this promises no crash, it does get a little scary when you do rigorous exercise because you feel slight heart palpitations; something no energy drink enthusiast wants to feel. I suppose if you're going to have a 5 Hour Energy, make sure work you do is moderate.

So, looking at energy ingredients, this little bottle contains a cocktail of lots of interesting supplements, vitamins and amino acids. For vitamins, I see Niacin (150%), B6 (2000%), Folic Acid (100%), and B12 (8333%). For energy supplements, there's a hefty 1870mg of Citicoline, Glucuronolactone, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic Acid, Caffeine. Citicoline is something I haven't seen before, but search online doesn't yield much useful information. All I can deduce is that it's something naturally present in the body that has to do with energy levels. And as for N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, apparently, it's a precursor for chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals that are related to the fight of flight response, motor activity, and mood. Speaking of mood, after this, I noticed my mood really elevated where I was hyper and ecstatic. I had little faith in the 5-Hour Energy, but I was surprised and delighted with its effects.

Taste: 5.2 - Tastes bad, but is fun to drink, I have to admit
Kick: 8.7 - Amazing burst of high-octane energy, though seemingly short
Overall: 8.2 - I'm not crazy about having another one of these, but it was a fun ride

Reviewed by: Jeff

Rumba Energy Juice

Man, never before have I seen an orange-juice like energy drink, without the carbonation. To me, 100% orange juice with energy ingredients in one 16 ounce can is two thumbs up, being a fan of orange juice and energy ingredients. Rumba comes out with a can design that catches the consumers eye, having blue stripes going down the can leading to half an orange at the bottom. In large, messy font "Rumba" is slapped across the top part of the can as well as "Energy Juice." I like the stamp on the orange reading "100% Juice" and "Non-Carbonated"...perhaps this is a drink I want to have as an early morning pick-me-up. The flavors are morning-friendly, and the kick would perhaps get me through half my day, rather than going straight to a tartly fruity Monster or Rockstar. By the way, Rumba is usually not found in standard grocery stores, but is found in the most random places, like where I got mine, in a gas station in practically the middle of nowhere. I'm expecting from Rumba just a plain orange flavor, but perhaps some earthiness and a slight tartness shortly following. Well, I won't ramble much longer, so here comes the next part of this review.

I break open a can of Rumba expecting a non-carbonated and possibly flat orange juice aroma and a scent similar, but with more of a dirty bite to it. Of course, it's color is a standard orange,but with a lot of cloudiness and what seems to be pieces of pulp. Knowing that, I see 100% juice on the label, which convinces me even more that there's potentially pulp in this can. After a quick swig, I analyze a flavor that tastes quite odd, much different than most orange flavors I've come across. I would most likely describe the flavor as a slightly minty and somewhat 'dirty' orange, with a bitter bite shortly following. Rumba makes their energy juice really stand out, I think; it's flavor seems to be more on the natural side and more organic, if you will. About half way, I find myself taking larger sips, more often, most likely due to the amount of sugar and therefore causing a sip-addiction. There seem to be some more notes of other fruits, like pear, apple, and white grape. The general flavor of Rumba is a distinct, yet light on the pallet dirty orange, but not so light as to drinking it too fast, or you will most likely end up like foolish me and get a stomach ache. Gumminess luckily did not play major role in the drink, supposing there would be any. Finishing up the can, I can conclude the flavor was quite disappointing due to the amount of sweetness and the peculiar minty note, but there was a bit of earthiness made it more distinct. The last few ounces of the drink are thicker than the rest, due to the amount of pulp from the pear, apple, white grape, and pineapple.

I'm extremely curious to find out what I just drinking, so a quick glance at the back of the can reveals ingredients such as: filtered water, fruit juices (water, orange, apple, pear, peach, tangerine, white grape, pineapple), apple puree, glucose, taurine, natural gum stabilizer, natural flavors, ginseng, citric acid, ascorbic acid, caffeine, niacin, guarana, glucuronolactone, Sucralose, maltodextrin, inositol, and beta carotene. First of all, I'm a bit shocked to see all those fruits in what's supposed to be an orange flavored energy juice, but I guess it makes it that much better. I also notice a great sweetener in Rumba, glucose, although Sucralose managed to sneak its way into this drink like it does with most others nowadays. Per can, there's about an average 240 calories and about an average 56g of sugar. Yet again, a sweet drink without much sugar, which I think is from the glucose not needing much sugar to be sweet. As for energy ingredients, it has a standard 5000mg of energy blend per can, which is about the same as an average energy drink, like Monster, Ace, or Joker. You also get a standard amount of taurine, which is 2000mg as well 400mg of ginseng. All in all, I have to agree with the others who say Rumba isn't bad, but just plain weird when it comes down to taste.

Taste: 7.7 - Odd, yet nice distinct and smooth orange-apple-pear flavor
Kick: 8 - When it comes down to energy ingredients, it's nearly the same as a Monster, hence producing the generally same kick
Overall: 7.8 - Good drink to have for a decent kick and smooth flavor, but I wouldn't rely too much on these as an every-day energy drink

Reviewed by: Chan

Archer Farms Energy Fortified Pink Grapfruit

Being wiped out after a long day usually doesn't feel too good, but that's why energy drinks are around right? Sometimes you want the energy, minus the carbonation, and minus the jitteriness it most likely produces. This is why, after a long and tiring day, I'm going after something light on flavor, and with just enough energy to get me alert and somewhat focused. I didn't think I'd find anything good over at Target the other day until I took a glance at the Archer Farms water-based beverages and I found one that's actually energy fortified. I though, "Eh, why not? I mean, it's technically an energy drink, right?" Most of the time, I enjoy finding beverages I consider energy drinks because in reality, they are on the better-tasting, most refreshing, and fresher flavor side. But then again, I sometimes do crave and enjoy searching for those mean carbonated energy drink because they are tough and they do pack a punch. The bottle design is cool being connected diamonds that produces a design matching with the nice bright pink color in the background. There's also the tiny little suspicious Archer Farms chicken sitting right in the middle of the bottle. Well, let's see how this compares to energy fortified water beverages around.

I have no trouble twisting off the simple twist-off cap and find an aroma that's a bit light and has that natural-tasting bitterness from the grapefruit mixed in that tells me it's not all artificial. I mentioned before, the color is a nice bright pink grapefruit hue with quite some cloudiness towards the center of the drink. Hm, the flavor threw me off pretty well, as I was expecting a flavor guided more towards the aroma. Instead, I'm finding a taste that's mostly earthy and then a very small amount of grapefruit seems to be lurking around going down the throat. Gulping this drink down, the pink grapefruit flavor is being brought out a bit more and diminishes most of the earthiness within, but it's not that great if you're looking for even just an average amount of flavor. Being extremely diluted, there really isn't much of an aftertaste, perhaps some bitterness from the natural extracts of pink grapefruit. I wouldn't say a bottle of this is too gummy, but that's because it's sweetened well, whether it be acesulfame potassium, or what they call "sucromalt."Overall, I'm getting a bit fed up with all these extremely light/diluted drinks coming onto the market. I mean, sure, they are refreshing, but it gets annoying after a few consistent bottles of it.

I like change, and I'm glad Archer Farms changed up their ingredients list, differing from other top companies. They read as following: Water, sucromalt, resistant maltodextrin, citric acid, gum arabic, natural flavor, ascorbic acid, caffeine, Sucralose, acesulfame potassium, Vitamin E, sucrose, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, and niacin. I see the problem with this drink was all the various amounts of sweeteners tied in with each other and created a mess which blocked all the flavors. But, I was impressed by the fact that they masked the acesulfame potassium and the Sucralose very well. I hardly even tasted it. Per 16 ounce bottle, you only get about 50 calories, which after everything, isn't bad considering the light taste. There's also only about 6g of sugar in the whole thing, wow that's really good. For caffeine, I was surprised to see as much as I did, 75 whopping milligrams in one bottle. 75mg gave me some great alertness, no jitteriness, and gave me the power to actually walk around without dropping to the ground. All in all, I nice pick-me-up energy drink, but just not enough flavor I was expecting came to me.

Taste: 5.5 - Man, I was really let down with that little amount of flavor in the bottle
Kick: 7 - A nice kick lasted for about an hour with no crash later on
Overall: 6.4 - Actually, it's not bad for a water based beverage, but I prefer it cold for refreshment purposes.

Reviewed by: Chan

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy+Coffee

I first want to say sorry it took me so long to get this review in. I've had this drink since June and I guess I just totally left it in the dust, caught up with all the other energy drinks I've been finding lately. I especially want to apologize to Evan, for supplying us with these coffee energy drinks, who has been patiently waiting for me to review the final Starbucks drink out of their newer three released a few months ago. I know Jeff wasn't very happy with this line of energy drinks at all and I thought so far they weren't bad, just nothing too special. Coffee flavor tends to be a bit 'plain' if you will, so you won't see companies label a flavor as just 'coffee', however for some reason Starbucks did. This shows that I can potentially get a flavor that's dull, generalized, and somewhat lame that doesn't have enough sweetness. If I explained it correctly, you now know why coffee/energy drink companies come out with flavors based on coffee, rather than just a regular coffee. Right now, I'm hoping Starbucks can prove my point wrong and amaze me with a flavor different than a boring coffee drink. The can design is perhaps the best of the these Starbucks drinks being streaks of coffee mixed in with a dark chocolate brown and a few other shades like milk chocolate and iced coffee brown. I like that background; it has to be one of my favorites.

As I break the tab and bend it forward, the top of the can disperses a pretty strong scent, being a general artificially robust coffee aroma. Actually, it doesn't really smell like coffee, now that I'm getting more whiffs of it. The Starbucks Coffee delivers a hue that's basic, milky brown color with very little darkness mixed in. It's flavor has to be the worst coffee flavor I've ever had. Not only is it not sweet enough, but it's so artificially sweet that it's unbearable and a bit bitter. It has that fake robustness coffee energy drinks try to add. I'm questioning Starbucks in my head, "From such a large coffee enterprise, wouldn't you expect a better quality coffee energy drink?" I guess the flavor in general is a starting artificial, weak, lame coffee flavor and ends with a more intense note of artificialness and a fake version of robust coffee beans. As much as I hate to mention something personal on this blog, I must: this drink nearly made me throw up, and right now my stomach is in more pain than any other energy drink I've tried, sugar free or not. Right now, I frankly don't care what it's sweetened with and how gummy it is because Starbucks already screwed up the whole drink in terms of being sweet, not sweet, etc. About 8 ounces into it, I can easily say that I'm finished with this drink. Email me if you want the rest and I can send it right away. Just kidding. Overall, I say that I've never seen this much abuse to such a valuable and meaningful flavor in the energy drink community.

The ingredients in this wannabe energy coffee are Starbucks coffee (Filtered water, coffee), reduced fat milk, skim milk, sugar, natural flavor, maltodextrin, dextrose, taurine, cellulose gel, L-Carnitine, ginseng, cellulose gum, inositol, Vitamin C, guarana, niacin, Sucralose, Vitamin A, B Vitamins, and caramel color. Hm I know they didn't go wrong with the Starbucks Brand coffee, because that stuff is pretty good, but I do see hidden sugars and unnecessary ingredients. There's reduced fat milk and skim milk, most coffee energy drinks do not need both. there's also a combination of sucrose, maltodextrin, dextrose, and Sucralose. I would only establish sugars that are needed in a coffee, not added in for extra artificial and unappetizing sweetness like Sucralose and maltodextrin. There's an upside to this drink, the kick. The kick is formulated with guarana, ginseng, caffeine (From the coffee), and B Vitamins. I have a good 5-6 ounces left and I can definitely say that I'm more alert. Per can, you get 210 calories, 26g of sugar. and 12g of protein. From what I'm seeing, this drink can be improved by putting more real sugar into the mix, hence giving it a better sweetness and overall imroving the taste. All in all, I can't say I enjoyed this coffee energy drink at all, and until the next energy drink company makes their line of coffee energy drinks, I'm done.

Taste: 3 - The overall flavor was mostly artificial with fake robustness added in, a shame to energy coffees
Kick: 8 - I can't say many bad things about the kick
Overall: This line of Starbucks energy drinks are overpriced and not good for the money, I'd stick with Rockstar Roasted or Java Monster for now

Reviewed by: Chan

Jones Energy

Well, we all know Jones Soda for their gourmet sodas with some tasty flavors. Well, they've had an energy drink out for a while and they even apologized for it on the back of the can. They label it as an Extra Strength Energy Drink, and I didn't believe them, until I checked out the ingredients. They add a dose of Ubiquinone, otherwise known as Coenzyme Q-10, or CoQ-10, which definitely has to deliver some energy because it's what is responsible for our body's production of energy. I'm not that excited to try this for the taste, but I really do want to know what the kick will feel like. Since I've got sort of a tolerance for Caffeine, Guarana, Taurine and Ginseng - the common energy ingredients, this is going to be like my first time trying an energy drink all over again, or so I hope. I've about had my fill of drinks that are too sweet, like the BooKoos and Freeks, and I want something a bit easier to drink. This drink sounds all right with a comfortable 27g of sugar per serving, the same as a Monster. I'm wondering what the flavor will be. This orange and black can may possibly hint at an orange flavor, which wouldn't excite me, to be honest. I'm about to find out.

I poured out the Jones to observe the color, and I saw a bright golden-yellow, that made me think of pineapple. I was hopeful for a minute and then I took a sip. It was a total let-down to taste a lame, chalky, orange, similar to the Rip It Power I reviewed. I don't think it's a very Jones-like flavor to begin with, but the fact that it has that vitamin and mineral taste takes it even further. Cold, it was terrible, but warm, it's a little bit better. It reminds me of Shasta Orange on ice, but it's a little bit gummier and has the vitamins. Something about this is forcing me to drink it in waves because every time I have some, I start to feel an upset stomach. The first time was bad, the second time was unpleasant, and now it barely has any negative effect. Now that it's warm, I'm able to really taste the orange. It's subdued and sweet with no bite or acidity, which is what I liked about the Shasta, especially when it's flat. Now that I think about it, the carbonation wasn't too bad. Also, the gumminess isn't bad at all. Warm, I find that this drink isn't so bad after all. It does still leave a bitter aftertaste, but it's nothing I can't handle. And warm, this thing doesn't taste too sweet at all. I'm comfortable with the sugar level. I have a hunch that this drink is also just a little old, though the best by date says otherwise. I guess when you get this, you should leave it warm or chill it lightly.

I wasn't feeling very good before, but after letting my stomach settle for a while, this drink has some nice vitalizing effects. I'm not getting the jitteriness and quick little energy rush I get from other drinks loaded with Caffeine and other traditional energy ingredients only. The CoQ10 had an amazing effect that is keeping me up nonstop. This drink's energy blend does a good job of providing a long-lasting and very consistent boost that will glue your eyes open without any jitters. Coenzyme Q10 is such a great thing to have in this drink. It delivers insane alertness with awesome concentration that is as good as Ginkgo Biloba. I found out online that Co Q10 is necessary for energy production in the body's cells. It's got something to do with the mitochondria and ATP and such. It's such an essential supplement, it works as an antioxidant and is used to treat several medical conditions such as Cancer. The rest of the ingredients list includes Carbonated Water, HFCS, Citric Acid, Taurine, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Benzoate, Caffeine, Caramel Color, Inositol, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Polysorbate 80 (emulsifier), Pyridoxine Hydrocloride, Riboflavin, and Vitamin B12. The stack of vitamins, minor amounts of Caffeine and Taurine, and the Co Q10 provide a nice energetic and focused kick. It's even lasted through the night, which is amazing.

Taste: 6 - Painful at first, tasty toward the end
Kick: 8.5 - The Co Q10 yields incredible focus and vitality
Overall: 7.5 - I knew it would be worth having for the kick

Reviewed by: Jeff

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy+Coffee Mocha

What better thing to do on a scorching-hot day over here than to review an iced coffee? I was so relieved to pull one of these out of the refrigerator after putting it off for a few weeks. It's a fairly new energy drink, coming out mid to late June in most places, but over here it came out early June. Starbuck's released the energy drinks in three new flavors: Vanilla, Mocha, and Coffee, but some said they were a fail due to the amount of Splenda in the drink. I have only had the Vanilla, and I thought it had a mediocre flavor, tasting real artificial, but the kick made up for its lack of flavor. If you want to head over and get one of these for yourself, prepare to pay a bit extra because Starbuck's is one company that charges quite a bit for their drinks. This can has a smooth coffee-brown background, looking as if it's mixed with chocolate, hence the Mocha favor I'm reviewing. I'm going to cut this paragraph a bit short because the can is warming up and my ice is melting...

I open up the can, and to my delight, I smell a fresh-brewed coffee aroma with some chocolate blended in. This Starbuck's energy drink comes out of the can a light brown color, similar to all the other coffee energy drinks out on the market. If Jeff, as well as many other people are telling the truth, I should take a drink and be upset. For starters, this drink is noticeably thicker in the mouth than your average Java Monster. I next notice a somewhat weak Mocha flavor that is supposed to resemble a chocolaty coffee taste, but fails. It goes down really smoothly with no aftertaste, except that of a minor fake sugar taste. I do think this drink is much better than what energy drink fans claimed it to be like, but I think it's just missing essential coffee flavors that remind us of what coffee's all about. After a few more sips, I notice more of a less sweet flavor that draws you away from that artificial primary sweet flavor. Obviously, it's not carbonated, so we can skip this part. I was surprised to find a decent amount of gumminess after downing most of what's supposed to be a coffee flavor. In my mind, it tasted better than Rockstar's Mocha energy drink, but didn't compete with Monster's Mean Bean and Big Black drinks.

As for ingredients, this non-carbonated drink's got Starbucks brand premium roasted coffee, reduced fat milk (Semi-sweetener), skim milk, 'sugar', maltodextrin (Semi-sweetener), dextrose, taurine, natural flavor, cellulose gel, ginseng, L-carnitine, Vitamin C, guarana, sucralose, vitamin B, and caramel color (Gives it that smooth light brown color). Per can, you get an average 200 calories, which isn't bad at all, considering its pretty sweet and only 26g of sugar. The sugar amount is less than half of what an average (Monster, Rockstar, Amp) energy drink is, I could live with that. In terms of energy, you get 2000mg of maltodextrin, 1800mg of taurine, 325mg of ginseng, and 90mg of guarana. You may be thinking where in this paragraph I mentioned how much caffeine is in this drink, I'll tell you, even though it's not listed, we know it to be around 150mg, which isn't bad. With this 15oz coffee, packing 150-something milligrams of caffeine and Taurine, Ginseng, Guarana, and B Vitamins, you get an explosion that'll keep you wired two and a half hours. Okay, so it was just an average coffee energy drink, but still I really enjoyed every sip. Go out and try one for youself, you may like it, you may not.

Taste: 8.2 - Once again, any coffee energy drink is to my liking, but I'd have to speak not only for myself, but as well as the consumers willing to purchase it
Kick: 9.2 - A great, long-lasting kick
Overall: 8.6 - Although it'll cost you roughly $2.60, it might be worth it

Reviewed by: Chan

Sobe Energy

I was just browsing at Albertson's, not really interested in getting any energy drinks when I saw the Sobe Energy. I figured that it qualifies as an energy drink because it contains guarana, ginseng, and taurine, so I just decided, "Why not?" I'm pretty interested in reviewing this for a few reasons. First, I really haven't reviewed a drink that's made out of glass, nor one without a pop tab. Next, I have really enjoyed Sobe's energy drinks, and I hope they will continue to impress and amaze me. I think Sobe does a great job on their taste but I've realized one thing about it: most have a base flavor of citrus. This bottle is obviously transparent, revealing a dark, opaque citrus color, as well as waves and dots carved into the glass. Sobe slapped a sticker on the glass showing a dark logo that is the two lizards and the default word, "Sobe." In smaller print the words, "Citrus Flavored Beverage" is printed at the bottom, which helps me out explaining the taste. Okay, here it goes...

Unlike many drinks, this one twisted off with the sound of metal separating, or the cracking sound you get when you open up a water bottle. Anyway, I go in for a smell to get a tropical orange-citrus aroma. Just like I mentioned earlier, Sobe Energy has a dark orange color, like a citrus fruit. This drink has an extremely light citrus-orange flavor immediately going into the mouth and touching the tongue. Odd enough, I can feel a chalky, or vitaminy taste as it goes into the mouth as well. I peek over to the ingredients and I don't seem to find anything explaining this odd taste. Okay, I let the ingredients settle, and it tastes about normal; maybe I shouldn't have shaken it. It fades away with some odd various berries, and maybe a bit of cherry, perhaps. This one reminds me of the Vitamin Water Energy, because it has the same mild and light taste; maybe it's Sobe's answer to Vitamin Water's energy drinks. In case you didn't know, this is not carbonated, which leaves me caught chugging its light taste enjoyably. As well as that, I'm pleased to delcare that it has no gumminess whatsoever. Overall, this drink wasn't bad, I really enjoyed its various tropical flavor, but I think it was just too light for me.

Here comes an ingredient list you won't see in just any energy drink. I first see filtered water, which is basically an alternative to carbonated water. Next, I see just plain sugar, or sucrose as well as orange juice from concentrate. Following citric acid, there's some lemon juice from concentrate and natural flavors. There's vitamin C and caffeine with some cherry juice from concentrate (I knew it). After that, taurine finally shows up in this list as well as elderberry juice from concentrate. Per can, you get 270 calories, which isn't bad, considering that it's a 20 ounce bottle. there's also 66g of sugar, isn't that a nice amount for this size? In hardly noticeable small font at the bottom, I see the caffeine content, which is a weak 81mg. For a 20oz bottle, I was expecting a bolder buzz and taste, I guess this is one Sobe didn't do their best on. Compared to all the other citrus energy drinks out there, this one was an easy fail. I think that this one didn't have enough flavor to wow someone, but just enough to down in about 5 minutes or less.

Taste: 6.5 - It wasn't gross at all, but the ingredients in the drink didn't settle
Kick: 5 - 81mg?
Overall: 6- Nothing great, there are many better citrus drinks to choose from

Reviewed by: Chan

Vitamin Water Energy

I haven't had very many Vitamin Waters in my days, so I guess it's time I had one. And what do you know, Vitamin Water has a drink that claims to provide energy. Not surprisingly, they called it the Vitamin Water Energy. Since I'm just recovering from a bit of a cold, I went for this instead of a more sugary energy drink. Hopefully this can deliver the energy without the large amount of sugar. The energy components in this drink are simple: Natural Caffeine (50mg), Guarana (25mg), and B vitamins. It's weak compared to other energy drinks, so it's definitely not going to have as much of an effect. However, I'm still up to try it, in the name of Canned Reviews. The flavor is written on the side, which is something I think other drinks should adopt... maybe. It's helpful in telling you just what flavor your drink is gonna be. This Vitamin Water says "tropical citrus," and it's the same yellow as the yellow Vitamin Energy. I bet it's the same flavor.

The smell is hardly sweet, and it isn't easy to distinct the flavors within. I'm trying my very hardest, and the best guess I can get is melon, I think. Aww, the flavor disappointed me a bit. It surely doesn't taste like your average energy drink. It's the same flavor as the Vitamin Energy Tropical Citrus, but is toned down and watered down. That is to be expected, since there's only 13g of sugar. Fans of light drinks will find this more appealing than others. I'm the type of person who enjoys more overpowering, flavorful drinks than light ones, so this isn't my favorite drink. After a long, long time of tasting and analyzing the flavor, the best I can come up with is a subdued and rounded-out lemon with orange. There really isn't much more. It doesn't do well on taste for an energy drink, but I suppose it's just fine as a Vitamin Water. And the good thing about Vitamin Waters is that they come without carbonation and impart no gumminess to the mouth. In the end, the drink is very refreshing, something rarely seen in an energy drink, and something I like and need right now.

This 20oz bottle took a while to finish, as I was taking sips not very frequently, but only when I got rather thirsty. And since I drank it after I'd eaten, it didn't have as much of an effect as it would have. Still, this was a great pick me up, I have to admit. It did deliver some great energy, but I think that was because I hadn't had a drink in a while with these energy ingredients. It has 100% of your daily allowance of Vitamin C and half as much of an assortment of B Vitamins. The only ingredients present here are Caffeine and Guarana, which you find in very small amounts. Caffeine, you would usually find in amount of 100mg or so and Guarana would usually be aroun 50mg, I believe, though it varies per drink. If you're looking for a refreshing, light, tasty pick me up, this is a great choice. But if you've been drinking some energy drinks in the past week or so, this isn't going to do a thing.

Taste: 7.8 - Though it was light, I enjoyed it
Kick: 5 - Fine for a Vitamin Water; doesn't compete with other energy drinks
Overall: 6 - Great drink overall, not the best energy drink

Reviewed by: Jeff

Glaceau Vitamin Energy Tropical Citrus

After about a week of refrigerating, I decided to give the Vitamin Energy Tropical Citrus a shot. As you know, we have all the other Glaceau Energy Drink products already reviewed, so this will be the last one. I wasn't too fond with the Vitamin Energy Fruit Punch because of its weak and unappealing flavor, but I have a good feeling about this one. I'm predicted a smooth citrus flavor, maybe similar to Squirt, with a hint of some mango. Vitamin Water, itself, is actually a great drink to have, in terms of supplements, but the Vitamin Energy is lacking effort in producing a quality energy drink. Like all the other Vitamin Energy drinks, this one has a basic can design. It's half yellow, and half white, like a pill. It says Vitamin Energy 3 times vertically across the can. Ok, here it goes...

As I crack this one open, I immediately go in for a smell. I get a sweet citrus aroma, with a a bit of mango, some melon, and noticeable pineapple. It comes out of the can an opaque yellow color, similar to lemonade, or urine. Hm, I regret saying that Glaceau makes bad energy drinks because this one is quite tasty. It first goes into your mouth with a sweet lemony citrus flavor, with little carbonation. It then fades away with a natural blend of mango and sweet pineapple. Surprisingly, this drink does not have any aftertaste, which results in a pleasant drinkablility. I think this is one drink that kids, adults, seniors, and pretty much anyone else you can think of will like. I really enjoyed its natural citrus and lemon sweetness, as well as its sweet pineapple taste. Vitamin Energy Tropical Citrus is genuinely lightly carbonated and is incredibly easy to drink and/or chug. Due to the crystalline fructose, this drink has no gumminess whatsoever, just another great feature of this drink. Overall, this was one incredible and powerful drink, and it had an amazingly tasty flavor. Definitely one of the best drinks I've had in awhile, but almost worthy of the "Best Taste List."

Now for the ingredients. This drink uses the fancy "Vapor distilled deionized, and/or reverse osmosis carbonated water." It also used the fancy sugar, crystalline fructose, which is only sugar based on cornstarch, not fruit. Taurine then comes in at number three, a good set up there. Like a few other energy drinks, this one uses only natural flavor, which explains its great taste. It also has vitamin C, ribose, natural caffeine, niacin, gum acacia, ester gum, electrolytes, beta carotene, and folic acid. Per can, you get only 200 calories, which pretty sweet, considering this is an energy drink. You only get 50g of sugar, which is below average for an energy drink, but is sweet enough. You also get 150mg of natural caffeine, which should keep you alert and steady for about a few hours. And lastly, like usual, you get 2,000mg taurine, which is average. I'm surprised that Glaceau can make such a powerful energy drink, considering that the other two were pretty weak and lacked good flavor.

Taste: 8.5 - I really enjoyed its tropical flavors, it reminded me of Hawaii
Kick: 8 - Pretty steady kick so far...
Overall: 8.5 - I must recommend you get it

Reviewed by: Chan

Archer Farms Sugar Free Grapefruit Energy

Wow! I'm so happy to get a review in. It's been awhile, huh? Well, as I move along with part III (and the final) of my Archer Farms reviews, I decided to review the sugar free one. As you know, these drinks are pretty cheap over at Target, but you gotta get over there fast because I believe they raised their price to $1.00. Anyway, this can has the same basic design as the Fruit Punch and Tropical Fruit drinks, but this one has a light green color to it, similar to a Monster. I guess this light color is supposed to resemble the fact that it is sugar free...who knows? Well, I'm finished writing this paragraph up, so let's see how this beast tastes...

As soon as the can opens with a loud crack, I get a bold grapefruit aroma, similar to that of Squirt. I am so excited now because I recognized this scent, the Bookoo Zero Carb! However, I do get that scent you get when having a low calorie drink, you know, that artificial scent. Right when the cup gets filled with a grapefruit-like energy drink, I notice an odd, bright pink color. I would never have guessed that would be the color... The first thing I notice in this drink is the sweetness and sourness fighting for flavor. What this drink reminded me of is if you've ever had a grapefruit and dipped it in sugar, you get that exact taste. I don't why this says sugar free, because I can taste a noticeable amount of sugar. Unlike what I said, this drink tastes nothing like the Bookoo Zero Carb; instead, it tastes like Squirt, with quite a lot of sugar, most likely artificial. The grapefruit in this drink is hardly noticeable, after a few ounces. This artificial sugar has taking over the drink, and started a reign of terror, which is starting to bug me because I kinda wanted a fruit drink, not a sugar-filled drink. This drink does contain a lot of gumminess, like the two other Archer Farms Brand energy drinks. The gumminess, to me, doesn't effect me too much, simply because I am used to many drinks being gummy, but this may effect you. There is also a quite large amount of carbonation, similar to a soda. Overall, this drink just tastes like a diet soda. I mean, it has no real flavor, just artificial sugar.

I now turn the can around to see the ingredients and take note of the important facts. Citric acid is number 2, no surprise there, considering there is no sugar to be listed. Taurine then comes in at number 3, an astonishing move by Archer Farms. Oh, hm, let's see, what's this? ASPARTAME. Aspartame is a dangerous, artificial sweetener placed in sodas. I guess I was right, this is basically a diet soda, with taurine. Per can, you get only 20 calories, similar to the Lo-Carb Monster. If it were up to me, however, I would choose the Lo-Carb over the this because you get a healthier sugar placed in, as well as more flavor. Obviously, you don't get any sugar whatsoever; this has advantage over other low carb/calorie energy drinks because, although they are low on that, they have sugar...You also get 2,000mg of taurine, a standard dosage for almost all energy drinks out there. As you have read in my review, you're better off getting a Low carb Monster, or a sugar free Amp. This leaves me wondering why Archer Farms would even bother making a sugar free energy drink if it isn't gonna taste good, compared to all the other low carb energy drinks out there.

Taste: 5.5 - It wasn't too good, way too artificial, and frankly, no flavor
Kick: 8 - These do pack a kick, though
Overall: 6 - Eh...

Reviewed by: Chan

Archer Farms Fruit Punch Energy

Hey, I am finally reviewing this drink after it being chilled in my fridge for a few days. Like the Tropical Fruit, I purchased this drink at Target for about .85 cents. I'm telling you, these drinks are the real deal. I mean, for .85 cents, why not? If you recall, my last Archer Farms review explained how good the Tropical Fruit was, so I am excited to crack this one open. This can has its Archer Farms logo, a small red rooster, just above a pinkish fruity color; most likely resembling the drink's color. I have noticed some frost on the can, that'll make it really cold, and in my case, better Other than that, this drink has a pretty basic design to it, mainly what Archer Farms usually does with their products. So, here comes the pitch.

As the can cracks open, I get some of this drink everywhere, due to the carbonation. However, the smell is similar to a mixed berry aroma. I smell a blend of raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry. It comes out of the can a dark orange color, similar to the Full Throttle Fury. Hm, that's an odd taste. Imagine strawberry soda, with a hint of wild berry...I wouldn't call that fruit punch. As soon as it hits your mouth, you get a sour strawberry taste, and the aftertaste is a sweet blueberry and raspberry blend. However, you do get a lot of carbonation, which draws you away from the real flavor, so be aware of that. This drink reminds me of the Summer, where you aren't really doing anything but hanging out in your front or backyard, and just drinking a soda. The good part of this is you don't get a lot of gumminess, which I, and many other people prefer not to have. After about 5 ounces into the drink, I start to notice a great amount of melon, almost instantly after it touches your tongue. Now, you do not want to chug this because you will get a weird feeling in your throat like you get after drinking some cranberry juice; the carbonation will hurt you as well if you are trying to take big sips, so please savor and enjoy this drink. Overall, I guess it was alright, it tasted a bit natural and a bit artificial. If you want to make a drink with many flavors such as strawberry, melon, and various berries, you need to support it with less carbonation and no artificial sweeteners. Enough said.

Following the taste test, we have the ingredients. I first see carbonated water and and HFCS, no surprise. You will find HFCS in almost any food or drink out there, you just gotta be careful. Taurine comes in at a whopping number four, pretty good for a generic brand. Per can, you get 220 calories, which is almost average for your every day energy drink. You also get about 52g of sugar, which is about average as well, so you can count on this as being your average drink on the market. You will get supplied with 2,000 mg of taurine and 100mg of inositol. I know I never mention inositol in a review, but this is an exception. This drink was alright to me, I thought the Tropical Fruit was a lot better, but you can't beat it for .85 cents. If you want a drink that'll give you a punch of various fruits, you can get this drink, but why when there's better fruit-like drinks on the market?

Taste: 7 - I won't give this drink a bad rating only because I like fruity drinks, artificial, or not
Kick: 8 - Just like the other one, I get a great kick
Overall: 7 - It was pretty good, not as good as your genuine fruit drinks, though

Reviewed by: Chan

Glaceau Vitamin Energy Dragonfruit

Well, here is my last review of the month of March. This time, I had planned on trying the Ace Juiced, but before I got to it, I found this, the Vitamin Energy. It seems to be by the makers of Vitamin Water, so I expect quality. The little blurb on the back of the drink about the future and your teen years is pretty interesting and keeps me thinking this just has to be good. Even the simple can design and color scheme just has me wanting to try it. It looks like a Tylenol pill, but I'm not worried. It's not meant to cure a headache, but rather to give me some serious energy.

I don't remember ever tasting dragonfruit before, and I'm interested. The color out of the can is a rosy-pink, I guess the color of dragonfruit. I take a sip and think, "Wow!" This is unlike any fruit I've had before. It's tough to describe, but I'll say it is a little like sweet apple and some peach with sourness mixed in. In the background, I sense some tea-like taste. It is very light, with just enough flavor and not too much to be overpowering. The carbonation, also, as always, takes away from the sweetness, making it seem about as sweet as a Gatorade. I was a little sad because I thought I'd get an irresistibly exotic and savory drink, but I guess there was not so much emphasis put on flavor. The second time around, however, you'll think this is simply an amazing drink. I am really hoping for a big boost now.

I skimmed the ingredients list and found the standard energy ingredients taurine and caffiene. Wait, not just caffiene, natural caffiene. And, guess what, this drink isn't sweetened by HFCS, glucose, sucrose, surcalose, aspartame, saccharin, or anything. It's instead sweetened with crystalline fructose. With thisLovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drink new term, I had to stop and run a search. To my dismay, I learned that crystalline fructose is actually simply crystallized corn syrup. Basically, it's like HFCS in its dry form. It doesn't help the taste at all, and makes it duller than I bet it could be. To continue, there's the normal 2000mg of taurine in the whole can and "Bioenergy Ribose(TM)" Note the trademark. I remembered Ribose from Science class in 7th grade that Ribose is part of your DNA, and to put simply what Lovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drinkit's for, it's essential to the body. Overall, the ingredients are pretty standard, except the Ribose, which I think is a nice addition. I actually feel really good right now, and I think I can say it's because of the Ribose. If you are simply looking for a pick me up that's not sugary and that won't make you crash, pick this one up

* Oh, no, now I find strawberry to be in the mix. And maybe some melon. I'll just have to recognize this as dragonfruit.

** That's right, the back of the can did say that it wouldn't give you a crash. That could be the reason for so little sugar.

Taste: 7.5 - Refreshing exotic taste that takes some getting used to, but is quite good
Kick: 7.5 - I don't get an amazing kick, but I feel overall quite good
Overall: 7.5 - Lovely, but I think it's more of a "vitality" drink

Reviewed by: Jeff