REVIEW OF VUKA RENEW

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE BOTTLE.


RATING: 7.6 OUT OF 10.


Vuka's line-up of functional drinks has done well thus far. Let's see if my 190th review has a good rating. Vuka Renew comes in a light green, solid aluminum bottle. When I untwist the cap and take a sip, my taste buds are greeted with a lightly carbonated mixture of mango and peach. It does have some bitterness in my opinion. The flavor is unique but not the tastiest drink I have ever had. It also gave me cottonmouth, something I don't enjoy getting from energy drinks. Like I have stated many times before, each Vuka flavor has different ingredients depending on what formula it is. This is Renew, so it has the following energy boosting ingredients: 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 160 milligrams of caffeine, 100 milligrams of d-ribose, 100 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, and 50 milligrams of grape seed extract. The ingredient that is unique to the rest of the line-up is d-ribose. According to wikipedia, d-ribose is "an organic compound with formula C5H10O5; specifically a monosaccharide (simple sugar) with linear form H-(C=O)-(CHOH)4-H, which has all the hydroxyl groups on the same side in the Fischer projection." In simpler, less confusing terms, it is a simple sugar. The purpose of Vuka Renew is too restore energy levels at a time during the day when you need a second wind. Say your morning coffee buzz is wearing off and you are starting to get sleepy again. I tried Vuka Renew simply because I wanted to. I didn't really need a second wind, I was only tired. This delivered an average kick in the pants that lasted about 4 hours. I can see why someone would use this as an afternoon pick-me-up. Overall, this is a pretty good product. 7.6 out of 10.

REVIEW OF PROVITA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN. 


RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10.

Coming from Plano, Texas this 2.9 ounce shot contains a massive 42 grams of protein from hydrolyzed collagenic protein isolate, whey protein isolate, and casein protein isolate. It actually contains an unheard of (for this size of a drink) 170 calories. Recently I have become a fan of protein shakes, but never got any because they were too expensive. Thanks to this blog, and to the fine folks at Provita, I received two 12 packs for free. My real concern was in the flavor. 42 grams of protein is seriously a lot. Even the protein powders you see at GNC usually don't pack that much. Provita has managed to cram it into 2.9 ounces of liquid, which gets me thinking how many ounces is equal to 42 grams? As it turns out 42 grams is about 1.5 ounces. And the other 1.4 ounces is water, caffeine, taurine, and 17 vitamins and minerals. So what happens to the flavor when a drink is basically half protein. The first thing I noticed was the thickness. It has the consistency of a smoothie so slamming it quickly wasn't easy. I also noticed an overwhelming sweetness to try to mask the protein flavor. Thankfully this was only 3 ounces because I'm not sure I could handle more. I will give them credit for creating a palatable beverage that jams in that much protein. If this was even an 8 ounce energy drink, I would dump about half of it down the sink. Sorry, but it really isn't my cup of tea. The energy blend is primarily a mixture of 1,194 milligrams of taurine, caffeine, and l-trytophan, which is the ingredient that explains why people get sleepy after eating a lot of turkey. It also contains 17 vitamins and minerals: vitamin a, vitamin c, vitamin d3, vitamin e, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin b6, folic acid, vitamin b12, biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, and sodium. Not to mention it has nearly unpronounceable ingredients such as cholecalciferol and retinyl acetate. And while were at it, what in the world is cholecalciferol and retinyl acetate. According to Wikipedia, cholecalciferol is vitamin d3. Ok, that explains that one in a huge way. Retinyl acetate is vitamin a. So these are just fancy names for vitamins, kind of like cyanocobalamin and pyridoxine hydrochloride are vitamins b12 and b3 respectively. The caffeine content is masks beneath the cup of coffee nonsense. Seriously, coffee can vary from 60 to 200 milligrams according to Mayo Clinic. Regardless of what the caffeine content is, this worked like a charm. I found myself playing outside more often than inside. When I played basketball, I noticed that I had more energy and was less tired. It actually lasted quite a while, coming close to the advertised 6 hours. My only complaint with this drink is the foul flavor. 7.3 out of 10.

REVIEW OF VUKA THINK

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10.


Where do I even start? Today with crazy and hectic all the way through. The schedule was mixed up and despite it being high school, people still dressed up for halloween. I even got in trouble on the bus for no good reason. And when I say "no good reason", I actually mean it. I really need to start taking drivers training. Thankfully through all of this craziness, I was aided by the Think drink from Vuka. This comes in the solid aluminum 16 ounce bottle like all the other Vukas. The bottle is painted a lovely purple. Unfortunately, the price of this beverage is quite expensive. It costs $3.50 for 1 bottle, $14.00 for a 4 pack, and a 12 pack will set you back $36.00. However, Vuka fits into the category of gourmet energy drink or high end energy drink so it should be more expensive. The flavor is listed as pomegranate lychee. Now I have had pomegranate juice before, but I have never had a lychee. When I took a sip, I noticed their was a pomegranate flavor coming in along with something extra which must have been lychee. It is very tasty and extremely light on the carbonation. It is definitely unique and not something you would see everyday. What's cool about Vuka is every drink has different ingredients for different energy needs. This is the Think version so it has 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3,  100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 160 milligrams of natural caffeine from coffee beans, 100 milligrams of gingko biloba leaf extract, 100 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, 50 milligrams of grape seed extract, and 50 milligrams of dimethylaminoethanol bitartrate (better known as DMAE Bitartrate). Unlike the Awaken version, this contains no juice, only natural flavors. All right, let's get to the kick. I was looking for a boost in alertness and focus from this drink. I have to say it worked pretty well although I think the effects might be a placebo. I felt like I was a little bit more focused in tougher subjects such as Concepts of Algebra Two. I also felt more attentive in a small meeting I had to go to. Overall, I was impressed with Vuka Think. I liked the unique yet delicious flavor and I like the their attention to quality. 8.5 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ED HARDY ENERGY MINTS

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 20 MILLIGRAMS PER MINT.

Courtesy of Chemical Evolution

RATING: 6.8 OUT OF 10.


Bawls, Mpower, Foosh, Penguin, VoJo, XTZ, and M-60. What do all of these have in common? They all make mints with caffeine in them. The caffeine levels in energy mints can vary from a measly 2.2 milligrams all the way to Mpower's 120 milligrams, which is the most caffeinated mint on the market. I have tried just 2 energy mints and I was impressed with both. Today I'll be taking a look at Ed Hardy Energy Mints, manufactured by Eat Hearty. It comes in an altoid style red box with a bulldog on the cover. On the back, it states that 5 mints equals 100 milligrams of caffeine. They are about the size of an altoid, but they are more lustrous and don't have that intense mint flavor. The mint flavor was at a lower level than I would have liked it, but at least it didn't have any medicinal flavor. In my opinion, it was a pretty good energy mint. Since these have 20 milligrams of caffeine per mint, presumably from guarana, I ate about 10 of these in one sitting, and then had around 2 more at lunch, making a total of 240 milligrams. I thought the first 200 milligrams worked pretty well and lasted me until lunch. At lunch I took two more mints to power me through the rest of my insane school day. And by insane, I mean we had two tornado warnings, half of third and fifth hour were basically erased, lunch times were screwed up, and everyone started to question why we even came in the first place. I apologize for this review being so darn short but it's just an average energy mint with guarana and maybe some ginseng. I would rather take 2 or 3 Foosh Mints instead of 10 or 12 Ed Hardy Mints. Here is a sneak peek at what I will be trying next: Ed Hardy Coffee Rocks, Vuka Workout, Vuka Think, Vuka Renew, Provita, Provita Chill, Provita Slim, Wave Sugar Free, and if the samples get here, I will try my first energy gum and also take a look at an energy drink called Caffeine. 6.8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ED HARDY CHOCOLATE ROCKS

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 600 MILLIGRAMS PER 1.40 OUNCE BOX.


RATING: 9.5 OUT OF 10.


I have always been a big fan of chocolate covered coffee beans. Ever since I first tried Crackheads, I have loved these candies ever since. Ed Hardy Chocolate Rocks are a little bit different. The are not chocolate covered coffee beans, or chocolate covered anything for that matter. They are decadent pieces of semi-sweet chocolate, and are one of the tastiest things I have ever ate. They were so "addictive" that I ate the entire box, barely able to pace myself. So that's basically it for flavor. Now, one 1.4 ounce box, which isn't that big contains 600 milligrams of caffeine. Not 6, not 60, but 600. To put that into perspective that is 7.5 Red Bulls worth of caffeine, or 3.75 cans of Monster. No matter how you look at it, 600 milligrams is a serious amount of caffeine. My advice is to spot at half the box. They get the caffeine from Guarana Seed Extract, because this is just a ball of semi-sweet chocolate, rather than a coffee bean. I really don't know what else to say about the energy ingredients. It's just an ultra amount of caffeine, and to be honest, my consuming of the whole box was more idiotic than anything else, even though I hardly had any side effects. You might become uncomfortably jittery. Ok, since I don't want this post to my almost laughably short, I will elongate my experience with these chocolates. The weird thing is, these babies take a while to kick in. I took about 30 to 40 minutes to feel the full effects. It started of as a basic medium level boost, and when it peaked, let's say I was content, but not exactly impressed. With that much caffeine, I should have been wired out of my mind, and yet I wasn't. Just a side note, please do not comment on how you consumed 3 pots of coffee in one sitting or drank 10 Red Bulls in an hour. I'm not entirely sure if caffeine has anything to do with weight but I am 5 foot 6.5 and 107 pounds (I know, I am skinny, blame my metabolism or my family genes. I eat food.) Anyway, these chocolates absolutely rock. They taste ridiculously good, they have insane amounts of caffeine, and they deliver a pretty nice kick in the pants. 9.5 out of 10.

REVIEW OF VUKA AWAKEN

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 160 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE BOTTLE.


RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.

Ever since I first saw a photograph of Vuka, I knew I had to have it. Thankfully, Vuka was kind enough to send me samples of their 4 flavors: Awaken, Think, Workout, and Renew. Today I will be covering Vuka Awaken. Awaken comes in a beautiful orange 16 ounce hard aluminum bottle. The flavor is orange, but it has other juices such as white grape, apple, and pear. When I took a sip, I was hit with a pleasant orange flavor along with other fruit flavors and some bitterness. Since this energy drink is so sophisticated, you would assume that it would have 100 percent juice. Unfortunately, it doesn't. It has 50 percent juice which is somewhat of a bummer. Still, the overall non-carbonated orange flavor was pretty good. Each flavor of Vuka has different energy ingredients for all of your certain energy needs. This one is called Awaken, so it is formulated to jolt you out of any morning grogginess. For one 16 ounce can of Vuka Awaken, this has: 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 160 milligrams of natural caffeine, 50 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract, 50 milligrams of white tea polyphenols, and 50 milligrams of grape seed extract. What I'm wondering is where they get 160 milligrams of natural caffeine. This drink contains no guarana, which is normally used for natural caffeine. The only caffeine containing ingredient is white tea polyphenols, and I don't think 50 milligrams is going to yield that much caffeine. So I wonder where they get it? So, did this awaken me out of my morning sluggishness? Well, a little bit. I did feel a slight kick from this, but not much. Keep in mind, everyone's body reacts differently to caffeine, so just because I think it didn't work very well doesn't mean it won't work for you. Overall, I though my first experience with Vuka went fairly good. 7 out of 10. Also, take a look at the energy products that I will be reviewing in the near future: Provita, Provita Chill, Provita Slim, Vuka Think, Vuka Renew, Vuka Workout, Ed Hardy Chocolate Rocks, Ed Hardy Coffee Rocks, Ed Hardy Energy Mints, and Wave Sugar Free. I am also expecting samples from Vibe Gum.

REVIEW OF WAVE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 7.6 OUT OF 10.


I noticed that a lot of others reviewers evaluated Wave Energy Drink and they all seemed to enjoy it. I contacted Wave and they were kind enough to send samples. To start, the can is blue and silver with a wave graphic on it. The color of the drink is crimson, for "sophistication" and it comes in the typical 16 ounce aluminum can. As for the flavor, it appears that Wave took Red Bull as their base and removed most of the gumminess and bitterness. Then they added what might be a mixed berry flavor. I definitely prefer this over a Red Bull. It is not medicinal and goes down very smoothly. Wave boasts about their high vitamin b content, so let's take a look at their energy blend. It has 28 percent daily value of vitamin b1, 172 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 192 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 480 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 96 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 96 percent daily value of vitamin b5, and 1,140 milligrams worth of energy blend that consists of taurine, caffeine, inositol, l-lysine, choline bitartrate and guarana seed extract. You get all of this with a whopping 300 calories and 70 grams of sugar. Unfortunately, the makers of Wave are not willing to disclose their caffeine content. However, they state that Wave has a lower caffeine content than the main energy drinks. All I know is that it is lower than 160 milligrams so based on the information given my best guess is around 120 to 140 milligrams. I honestly do not know why some companies refuse to give out their caffeine content and I'm not just speaking to the makers of Wave. What exactly are you trying to hide from us? Do you think we're going to make fun of you because you have a low caffeine content? If anybody from any company that doesn't disclose caffeine content reads this review, I encourage you to comment below the post. Before this turns into a huge rant, I'm going to talk about the effect Wave had on me. Since this drink contains a lower caffeine content, I didn't expect much. I received a moderate jolt similar to drinking a small cup of arabica coffee. The effect lasted the usual 3 hours. Overall, I am impressed with Wave. I thought the flavor was smooth, the blend was adequate and the kick was decent. 7.6 out of 10.

REVIEW OF GO FAST LIGHT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 162 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.5 OUT OF 10.


Today I will be taking a look at the low calorie, zero carb, and sugar free version of Go Fast, named Go Fast Light. When I cracked open the can and took a sip, I realized that the flavor was the traditional Go Fast flavor, which is a lemon-citrus, but it was partially ruined by the artificial flavor sucralose. It had that "diet" flavor to it. Those of you who drink Diet Coke will know what I'm talking about. It actually says "with no diet aftertaste" right on the can, and I have to disagree. However, for a diet energy drink it isn't that bad, but I'd rather have a Monster Lo-Carb or Rockstar Zero Carb. Go Fast does in fact have an extensive list of energy ingredients. Per can it has 200 percent daily value of riboflavin, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 300 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 260 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 182 milligrams of ribose, 162 milligrams of caffeine, 500 milligrams of ginseng extract, 150 milligrams of guarana extract, 150 milligrams of gingko extract, 50 milligrams of inositol, and 100 milligrams of milk thistle herb extract. A total of over 3,000 milligrams of energy inducing ingredients. It's always nice when an energy drink states their caffeine content right in the nutrition facts. Anyway, let's move on to the kick. About 20 to 30 minutes after consuming the 16 ounce beverage, I started to feel a medium boost of energy. It stayed like that for roughly 3 or 4 hours and had no crash. Overall, Go Fast Light doesn't bring anything no to the table, and I would rather have a Monster Lo-Carb. 7.5 out of 10.

REVIEW OF EX SLIM

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 8.4 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.9 OUT OF 10.


It seems like these healthy energy drinks are becoming more and more prominent. Here we have EX Slim, the low calorie, low carb, and sugar free version of EX Pure. I remember when I first tried EX Pure and I recall that I could not pinpoint the flavor. It's the same with this one. Basically, if you like the flavor of Kombucha Tea, you will like this. What does this drink taste like? I couldn't really tell you. It is sweetened with Sucralose and the flavor was thankfully not overwhelmed by the artificial sweetener. The overall flavor isn't really sweet. It's sort of like Verve, only it doesn't have that carrot juice flavor. Since this is a healthy energy drink, I expected it to have some quality energy boosting ingredients. It has 83 percent daily value of vitamin c, 74 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 83 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 41 precent daily value of folic acid, 50 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 300 milligrams of kombucha tea extract, 80 milligrams of natural caffeine, and 50 milligrams of panax ginseng root extract. I like the vitamin c, although I wish it had 100 percent daily value instead of 83 percent, and I like the addition of kombucha. But what is Kombucha? According to the can, Kombucha is an ancient healthy food culture containing organic acids, probiotics, acids and enzymes that helps your body find its natural balance, which promotes overall well-being. So there you have it. Now let's move on to the kick. I have a high tolerance for caffeine so I did not expect a lot from 80 milligrams of caffeine. Shortly after drinking the contents of the can, I started to feel less tired. I was still a bit lethargic, but EX Slim took off that edge so I could be awakened. The buzz had no real peak or crash and it was at a low to mid-level. Overall, EX Slim is a decent energy drink. It has a palatable flavor, a nice little blend, and a decent boost. 6.9 out of 10.

REVIEW OF UP! BERRY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.

RATING: 8.2 OUT OF 10.


Well, there you go. I just performed a Brett Favre. After 19 days of "retirement", I am back reviewing energy products. Perhaps I just needed a rest after reviewing 26 energy drinks in a month. You can also check out my other blog at addictedtorootbeer.blogspot.com which has reviews of root beers, birch beers, sarsaparillas, and similar products. If your a fan of root beer, you should check it out. Also, I would like to address my hit counter. If you look, you'll notice it says 787. That is because I reset the hit counter for some odd reason. I can assure you that it is over 30,000 unique views. I also think that this would be a good time to thank all of my viewers. It means so much to me when you comment on my posts, even if it is a derogatory statement. I also want to personally thank Edjunkie, Possessed by Caffeine, Caffeine-A-Holic, Band'd Designs, What I Drink at Work, Energy Heaven, and all the other blogs that have put me on their link list and made me part of the "energy drink review family". Now, let's get cracking on the review of Up! Berry. I reviewed the grape flavor of Up! on September 25, and I didn't enjoy it very much. I thought the taste was fine but the kick was lack-luster. Hopefully that will change with Up! Berry. When I unscrewed the cap and slammed it down, my palate was greeted with a nice mixed berry flavor. I thought it tasted better than 5 Hour Energy and it did not have that bite. Overall, it was a pretty good shot and it did not require a chaser. Now let's talk energy enhancing ingredients. Per bottle, this shot has 100 percent daily value of niacin, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and a 2,125 milligrams energy blend consisting of taurine, malic acid, caffeine, glucuronolactone, n-acetyl, l-tyrosine, and l-phenylalanine. The caffeine content is "as much as a cup of brewed coffee". The only reason they don't put the actual amount is because people can't relate to 150 or 200 milligrams. But if they see "as much as a cup of coffee" then it will make more sense. For us energy drink reviewers, it's a pain in the butt. The last time I had Up!, I took it before a workout and it didn't effect me at all. So instead I took it before school to see if it helped me there. And sure enough, it warded off the morning grogginess and woke me up for 1st hour. The buzz was at a mid-high level and lasted until 5th hour. Overall, this shot did a lot better than it's grape flavored counterpart. 8.2 out of 10.

REVIEW OF HARD 8 .50 CAL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 120 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.4 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.9 OUT OF 10.


I've always enjoyed the products that have a theme to them, like this .50 Cal Energy from Hard 8. The only problem is, they didn't do a very good job. It is the same old 2.4 ounce aluminum bottle but the top is supposed to be the head of a bullet. To me, the entire container should resemble a bullet, and not just the top. But it was a nice try, anyway. The flavor is labeled as blueberry pomegranate, but to me the flavor didn't resemble any of those fruits. This shot uses three sweeteners, two of them artificial, so the shot is quite sweet. It is by no means unpalatable, but if you are looking for a high quality shot that delivers the taste of pomegranate and blueberry, you should look elsewhere. .50 Cal is the second drink in the Hard 8 Line-Up that I have reviewed that contains the antioxidant blend, nicknamed the warrior blend in this one. Before we get to that, I'll list the b vitamins and energy blend. Per shot, it has 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 960 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 9,600 percent daily value of vitamin b12. It also contains ginseng extract, gingko biloba, taurine, guarana extract, carnitine, glucuronolactone, and glutamine. The warrior blend consists of acai berry extract, goji berry extract, blueberry extract, grape seed extract, and pomegranate extract. Sweeteners are sugar, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. I'm going to give Hard 8 props for doing the antioxidant blend on a couple of their drinks. I've always been a sucker for those superfruits. Alright, now for the kick. If you've read any of my recent posts, you probably know when I drink these. If you don't know, I suggest you go read some of them. This shot hit me in 15 minutes and gave me a nice uplift to last me into roughly 4th or 5th hour. It's not overpowering by any means, and the buzz is completely jitter free without any crash. .50 Cal Energy is an all-around decent shot. It's sweet, it has a nice little antioxidant blend, and it gives off a nice boost. 7.9 out of 10.

REVIEW OF HARD 8 G

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 120 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.4 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.5 OUT OF 10.


Here we have the green tea flavor of the Hard 8 Energy Shots. This one is simply called 'G'. G stands for gingko biloba, green tea, and ginseng. The package is a black and silver solid aluminum 2.4 ounce bottle with a plastic screw on top. As for the taste, I have tried multiple tea based shots and I think the best is the Dragon Pearl Shot. This Hard 8 Tea Shot would take second in my book. I found the flavor to be quite pleasing and it left no bitter aftertaste and needed no chaser. Well, that covers the taste, now let's get to some energy enhancing ingredients. It has 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 960 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 9,600 percent daily value of vitamin b12. It also includes green tea extract, ginseng extract, gingko biloba, taurine, guarana extract, carnitine, glucuronolactone, and glutamine. Apparently, this shot doesn't have the antioxidant blend. It does contain a modest 120 milligrams of caffeine per 2.4 ounce bottle. I wish they put the amount of energy blend they put in this shot. All of this comes with 8 calories, 2 grams of total carbohydrates, and 2 grams of sugars. It is sweetened with sugar, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. That must explain the drink's incredible sweetness. I never mentioned this before but this shot is quite sweet. Ok, moving on to the kick. Like always, I took it before school to get me ready for Chemistry. It didn't actually get me pumped to do some stuff on the Atomic Theory, but it did give me a nice uplift comparable to a few mugs of tea. Thus far, the Hard 8 line-up hasn't necessarily brought anything new to the table, but of course that is difficult when the energy shot market has grown substantially since it's beginnings in 2004. The thing that really stuck out were the solid aluminum bottles. No plastic here! So that basically wraps it up for me. 7.5 out of 10.

REVIEW OF HARD 8 POM B

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 120 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.4 OUNCE BOTTLE. 

RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.


Here we have another flavor of Hard 8 Beverages, and this has not been reviewed by anybody except for me as of September 28, 2010. First of all, this comes in basically the same 2.4 ounce solid aluminum bottle as the Caffe B Energy Shot. I unscrewed the top of the bottle and took a nice whiff. A fruity smell danced through my nostrils as I proceeded to take a sip. Thankfully, there is no chaser required here. The fruits-mostly pomegranate and blueberry-hit my palate with ease. I slammed the rest of the can without incident. Before we get to the kick, what powers this bad boy? Well, there is 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 960 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 9,600 percent daily value of vitamin b12. It contains an energy blend consisting of ginseng extract, gingko biloba, taurine, guarana extract, carnitine, glucuronolactone, and glutamine. Now here's something different from the Caffe B flavor: it has an 85 milligrams antioxidant blend consisting of acai berry extract, goji berry extract, blueberry extract, grape seed extract, and pomegranate extract. It comes with 8 calories, 8 grams of total carbohydrates, and 2 grams of sugars. It is sweetened with sugar, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. Fortunately there is no high fructose corn syrup, but they are still using these sweeteners: Sucrose, Splenda, and Sunett. Those are just some brand names, by the way, except for the Sucrose. That one is just another name for table sugar. Right, now the kick. As always I downed this puppy before school started and felt a low to mid-level rush. The 120 milligrams of caffeine is about as much as a cup of gourmet coffee, and it had the same effect (I know I said that on the Caffe B review). It lasted for about 3 or 4 hours with no crash. So far I think these products are fairly good. You can purchase Hard 8 Products at www.kingofcaffeine.com. Other than that, they are sold at Ralph's in Southern California, QFC Stores in Washington, Fresh Encounter Stores in Ohio, and about 300 Convenience Stores in North Carolina to the Canadian border. So there you have it, now it's time to rate this thing. 8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF HARD 8 CAFFE B

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 120 MILLIGRAMS PER 2.4 OUNCE BOTTLE.

RATING: 7.3 OUT OF 10.


I've always enjoyed getting samples from companies, but what really pleases me is when I get a product that I have hardly even heard of. Over the next several days, I'll be taking a look at some of the shots offered by Hard 8 Beverages. First up, we have Caffe B Energy Shot. This is the first coffee energy shot that I have reviewed on this site. So, let's get right to it. Let me say, if you don't like coffee, you will not like this. I found it to be a harsh coffee and mocha flavor that wasn't too overpowering. Thankfully, I like my coffee black, so I could handle the flavor. Also, this shot is quite thick, it's almost like drinking coffee syrup. So if you like coffee, you'll probably like this. If you don't like coffee, chances are this is going in the wastebasket after the first sip. Now let's move on to the energy enhancing ingredients list. It has 240 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 240 percent daily value of vitamin b5, 960 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 9,600 percent daily value of vitamin b12. They also have an energy blend which is comprised of ginseng extract, gingko biloba, taurine, guarana extract, carnitine, glucuronolactone, and glutamine. Each 2.4 ounce bottle has 120 milligrams of caffeine, or about the same as a cup of brewed coffee (sorry I used as much caffeine as coffee junk). One ingredient that stuck out was Glutamine. In fact, Glutamine is marketed under the name Gluta-Force by American Body Building. For more information on Glutamine, click here. Alright, I slammed this bad boy before school started and waited for the rush. In about 20 minutes, I felt a mid-level boost come over me. It had about the same affect as Arabican Coffee. The buzz lasted for about 3 hours and ended with no crash. All of this energy comes with 8 calories, and 2 grams of sugars. And now I'm going to let you into a little sneak peek of what's to come. Over the next several days, I will be reviewing: Pom 50 Energy, G Energy, .50 Cal Energy, Go Fast Light, Ex Slim, and Arizona Rescue Water. So there you have it. I'll give the Caffe B Energy Shot a 7.3 out of 10.

REVIEW OF UP! GRAPE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.


RATING: 5.7 OUT OF 10.

Ever since Living Essentials developed 5 Hour Energy in 2004, energy shots have been an ideal way to get some energy. Their small, portable, they don't need to be refrigerated, and they have barely any calories. On the downside, they usually taste like Robitussin, and some of them don't even work at all. So how will Up! fair? Well to start, let's talk about the package. It's either orange or purple depending what flavor you have, and it's pretty much generic in every way. This one is flavored grape, and that got me a bit worried. You see, grape is a common cough syrup flavor and with all these medicinal ingredients I hoped that it didn't taste like dextromethorphan. When I unscrewed the cap, my nostrils were greeted with a familiar smell: artificial grape candy. And when I slammed it down, things went well. The grape flavor was definitely artificial and candy-like, which is fine. It shot down my throat with ease and there was absolutely no aftertaste. So far, so good then. Now let's move on to the energy blend. Up! Energy Shot is powered by 100 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 100 percent daily value of folic acid, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and their 2,125 milligrams energy blend: taurine, malic acid, caffeine, glucuronolactone, n-acetyl, l-tyrosine, and l-phenylalanine. Unfortunately for me, the people at Up! thought that they would be cool by not listing the caffeine content. Instead, they put that "contains as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee" nonsense that hardly makes any sense. Although, I can think of a reason why they put this phrase. If a new consumer of energy drinks and shots looked at the label and saw "caffeine: 200 milligrams", they wouldn't really know how much that was. But if you put the "as much as a cup of coffee" junk, he/she would understand. As for us caffeine junkies, it's one of the most annoying phrases in the entire world. So, does it work? No, actually. I actually took this before a workout and I honestly did not feel a single thing. Their was absolutely no change whatsoever. I can't tell you how long it lasted because it never kicked in in the first place. So their you have it, Up!. It's an energy shot that tastes good but has no effect on me at all. I'll give this 5.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF GO FAST TEA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 162 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.8 OUT OF 10.


Go Fast Sports and Beverage Company, based out of Denver, Colorado, has continued to amaze me. I think they really nailed the coconut flavor and the original was pretty good as well. Here we have their tea flavored energy drink. Go Fast uses green tea, black tea, and white tea to flavor this energy drink. When I cracked open the can and took a sip, I was blasted with all three of the aforementioned teas. And like the original, it gave me quite the cottonmouth. There was just a hint of bitterness from the teas, and I like it that way. I've never been a fan of extremely sweet teas, especially the ones that taste more like sugar than tea. Unlike the coconut flavor, I couldn't notice any of the original flavor coming through. Overall I think Go Fast nailed this flavor down. It looks like Denver knows their energy drinks. Well, at least this company does. Before we get to the energy enhancing ingredients, let me just say that you could drink two of these and still take in less calories and less sugar than your typical Monster or Rockstar. Alright, now lets get to it. It has 200 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 300 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 260 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 182 milligrams of ribose, 162 milligrams of caffeine, 500 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 150 milligrams of guarana seed extract, 150 milligrams of gingko biloba leaf extract, 50 milligrams of inositol, and 100 milligrams of milk thistle herb extract. Like I mentioned in my last two reviews, this blend tops out at over 3,100 milligrams. It is sweetened with sucrose and stevia extract. It has no preservatives and no High Fructose Corn Syrup. I think Go Fast did a really nice job with the blend in these drinks. I just wish they would've sent me some of their new product called Core, which is essentially a Spike Shooter replica except it doesn't contain all of those weird chemicals. Don't quote me on that last few words about the chemicals. Anyway, moving on to the kick. Once again, Go Fast got me going.....uh....fast. I drank it before I went to school and I had a good amount of energy to last through the day. It was jitter free and no absolutely no crash. I am impressed with these Go Fast drinks. It's a good thing they gave me a lot of cans. 8.8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF GO FAST COCONUT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 162 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

9 OUT OF 10.


This is the first energy drink I have ever tried that is coconut flavored. Go Fast got my seal of approval last time, so let's see if they can do it again. First of all, let me just say that I am not a big fan of coconut. Almond Joy? No thanks. Mounds? Not happening. Despite my disliking coconut, this drink tasted phenomenal. It still had that lemon citrus base of original Go Fast, but it was enhanced with this delicious coconut flavor. This is one of those taste combinations that doesn't sound good on paper (at least in my opinion) but tastes great while drinking it. Alright, that covers the taste, now on to the energy enhancing ingredients list. It has 4 milligrams of vitamin b2, 40 milligrams of vitamin b3, 6 milligrams of vitamin b6, 16 micrograms of vitamin b12, 20 milligrams of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 182 milligrams of ribose, 162 milligrams of caffeine, 500 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 150 milligrams of guarana seed extract, 150 milligrams of gingko biloba leaf extract, 50 milligrams of inositol, and 100 milligrams of milk thistle herb extract. The full blend exceeds 3,100 milligrams and has roughly 12 to 13 energy enhancing ingredients. What really stuck out was the calories and the sugar. This drink has 100 calories per can. That means that you could drink 2 cans of Go Fast Coconut Energy Drink and still take in less calories than a Monster. The same goes for the sugar. Monster has about 57 grams of sugar per 16 ounce can. This only has 24 grams of sugar per 16 ounce can. This drink uses sucrose, honey, and stevia extract as it's sugars/sweeteners. So, I chugged this beverage before school started and in 20 minutes I could definitely feel it. I didn't necessarily have any jitters but I did have a hard time sitting completely still. I was on full buzz mode for about 4 to 5 hours with no crash to speak of. I say if you want an energy drink that tastes great, has lower sugar than most energy drinks, and works pretty well, then go with Go Fast Coconut. Go and try some and let me know what you think. 9 out of 10.

REVIEW OF GO FAST

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 162 MILLIGRAMS PER 16 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.7 OUT OF 10.


Just recently I received a "full" case of Go Fast Energy. Well, it was full until one of the cans exploded, and now I have 23 cans left. Actually, make that 22 since I just drank one this morning. The very first thing that popped out at me was this little medal. Apparently, this energy drink, Go Fast, has received the Superior Taste Gold Medal Award by the American Academy of Taste. That got me wondering. What is the American Academy of Taste? How prestigious is this award? Will my own expectations be met in the taste department? After a quick google search I did find a relatively small site on the American Masters of Taste. I'm not the greatest paraphraser so you might want to have a look at this site. So, with my expectations set higher than usual, I dove right in. Interestingly enough, on my first sip I couldn't figure out what the flavor was. When you sip it, it gives you cottonmouth, sort of like eating a lemon. And that's really all I can compare it to. It's definitely a citrus flavor that focuses more on lemon than any other citrus fruit. The real question is, would I give this an award for taste. The answer is simply no. But keep in mind, I am nowhere near the delicate palates of the American Academy of Taste. Don't take my word for it, buy some cans yourself and let me know what you think. I though it tasted quite good. Ok, here is Go Fast's energy blend: 200 percent daily value of vitamin b2, 200 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 300 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 260 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 200 percent daily value of pantothenic acid, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 182 milligrams of ribose, 162 milligrams of caffeine, 500 milligrams of ginseng extract, 150 milligrams of guarana extract, 150 milligrams of gingko extract, 50 milligrams of inositol, and 100 milligrams of milk thistle herb extract. That totals out to be 13 energy enhancing ingredients and 3,294 milligrams. So, surely all of these lovely ingredients will give me a boost. To my surprise, it did. I slammed this drink before school started and I wasn't expecting a whole lot. Boy, I don't know what they put in this thing but the kick I received from this was definitely noticeable. It was nice and smooth with no jitters and it wasn't overpowering. I'm quite glad I still have almost a full case of this stuff left. To conclude, I enjoyed Go Fast. The kick was above average, the taste is great, and the blend is awesome. Rating? 8.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF CLIF ENERGY GEL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 50 MILLIGRAMS PER PACKET.

RATING: 6.5 OUT OF 10.


Even the protein induced aisle can have it's share of caffeine. Sometimes I even see energy jelly beans and other times I see numerous chews. While at Harvest Health I bought two packets of Clif Energy Gel. One of them is a mocha flavor and the other is chocolate. I will be tackling both flavors today. First let's start with the mocha flavor. I did this sort of like medicine by squeezing it unto a spoon, until I realized my spoon couldn't hold every drop, so I made a small mess in the sink. The first thing I realized is how gunky and how sticky this is. It's a cross between a syrup and a gel. The cool thing is, these packets don't taste bad at all. Sure it's not your average Starbucks Mocha flavor but for a concentrated gel like this, it's pretty good. The only thing that might put people off is the stickiness. The second flavor I tried was the chocolate flavor. This is basically the same story as the mocha except it has no coffee flavor. It's still stick, gunky, and quite thick on the palate. After a quick swig of water, I had it down in no time. Right when I looked at the package I noticed this small phrase at the top of the packet. It said, "50 milligrams of caffeine". This equates to about the same amount as a weak shot of espresso or a can of Mountain Dew. Then I took a gander at the chocolate flavor. It didn't have any caffeine at all. No protein either. And no B Vitamins. So where is the supposed "energy"? Then I spotted it: carbohydrates. Both flavors have 25 grams of carbohydrates. They also make a double espresso version with 100 milligrams of caffeine. About as much as a cup of brewed coffee. Now, it says to take this about 15 minutes before a workout. Unfortunately, I wasn't what you would call ready when I took it, so I ended up taking it about half an hour before I fired up the treadmill. During my 1.5 mile warm-up run, I didn't really feel a whole lot from this. But I do realize that this stuff isn't exactly what you would call potent. After my run, I swallowed the second one with a swig of water and got to my boxing session. Again, not really a whole lot from this. It's hard to say what exactly your supposed to feel when you take these. Energy drinks are supposed to give you a boost of energy via caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, etc. These packets are more like gelled versions of energy bars, only without the protein. It relies mostly on carbohydrates then it does anything else. Although I'm sure the double espresso would be nice. I think I will give this product a 6.5 out of 10.

REVIEW OF STEAZ LIME

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 6.6 OUT OF 10.


For my second review of the day, I will be tackling the lime version of Steaz Organic Fuel. I first tried Steaz on July 21, 2009. Over 1 year later I am back with another review of Steaz Organic Energy Drink. I picked up this drink from Harvest Health Foods for a sale price of 1 dollar and 69 cents. It also appears that  Steaz has a new version of their drink with 100 milligrams of naturally occurring caffeine, as opposed to the version I am reviewing, which has 80. The new cans also look nicer as well. Anyhow, it is time to get to the taste. So, was the lime flavor noticeable? You bet. Was the green tea good as always? Oh yeah. Was the overall flavor delicious? Sort of. I wouldn't put this as my top energy drink as far as taste. In fact it is somewhere in the middle of the pack range. While the organic green tea is nice, the lime sort of ruins the flavor a little. The drink is by no means unbearable or disgusting. It's just not one of my favorites. Alright then, onward to the ingredients list. Since this is an organic energy drink, I have decided to list every single ingredient in here. sparkling filtered water, organic evaporated cane juice, sambazon organic acai juice, organic guarana extract, guayaki organic yerba mate extract, natural flavors, citric acid, organic fair trade certified ceyton green tea, sodium citrate, and ascorbic acid. As I said earlier, this drink contains 80 milligrams of natural caffeine per can. You get this with 34.5 grams of sugar and 135 calories. 34.5 grams of sugar may sound like a lot, but this drink isn't getting it's sugar with anything that ends in -ose. This drink also contains 90 percent of your daily value of vitamin c. I like the ingredients list and it is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture. That's USDA for all you acronym fans. I wouldn't say it's more organic then the Sambazon drink I reviewed earlier, but it's still plenty enough to get that seal. And now, onto the kick. Because this drink has the same amount of caffeine per ounce as a bottle of Bawls, I wasn't expecting too much. The funny thing is, I actually forgot that I drank this. I think that might be a problem. Either my memory sucks these days, or I didn't feel a thing from this. By the way, that last remark was supposed to be humorous not derogatory toward Steaz. Remember, I have always been a fan of natural and organic energy drinks. Sometimes I just get sick of the High Fructose Corn Syrup. Let me put it this way. If you want an energy drink that will pound you back into 1969, grab a hardcore energy drink like Redline or Spike. If you want a gently uplift with the benefits of the aforementioned organic ingredients, then have yourself a look at Steaz Organic Fuel. Available at Harvest Health Foods. 6.6 out of 10.

REVIEW OF SAMBAZON AMAZON ENERGY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN.


RATING: 8.1 OUT OF 10.


I've always been a fan of the organic energy drinks such as Steaz. I enjoy their gentle uplifts as opposed to some of the hardcore energy drinks that knock you into the next century. I have a cold and I need something to give me a nice uplift without leaving me feeling jittery or anxious. Enter Sambazon Amazon Energy. This organic energy drink can be found at Harvest Health Foods for about 2 dollars and 50 cents. It is a tad bit on the expensive side, but it does use quality ingredients. I'll get to those ingredients later. For now, let's talk about the taste. Sambazon uses Acai to flavor this drink, which is quite nice. I enjoy the taste of Acai juice so this should do well. It did. Of course, it's not pure Acai juice, in fact it's mixed with cane juice and acerola juice. Despite this drink sporting an organic logo on it, I found the flavor to be quite nice. Yes, their is some bitterness from the Acai but it's not enough to take away the quality of the flavor. If you don't like the taste of traditional energy drinks such as Red Bull, you might like Sambazon Energy. Now it's time for that aforementioned ingredients list. Since this is a organic health drink with nothing artificial, I am going to give you the entire list of ingredients. Here we go. sparking filtered water, organic evaporated cane juice, organic acai juice, organic acerola juice, organic natural flavots, citric acid, organic guarana extract, guayaki organic yerba mate extract, organic green tea extract, and fruit and vegetable juice for color. It contains 80 milligrams of natural caffeine from guarana and yerba mate. It also contains 1,125 percent daily value of vitamin c. Great for boosting your immune system. You get all of this organic greatness with 120 calories and 29 grams of sugar. The sugar may sound like a lot, but remember that this drink uses the sugar from the fruits to sweeten it, so it should be better for you then adding a hit of Glucose, Sucralose, Dextrose, or any other -ose. So the final question is...does it work? Well first of all, you have to understand that this isn't actually what you would call hardcore like a Spike, or a straight up energy drink like Rockstar. That being said, this drink uplifts you gently like a few mugs of green tea. You can also think of it this way: a Spike is like the Ferrari Enzo or McLaren F1 of energy drinks. The Sambazon Amazon Energy is the Rolls-Royce Phantom of energy drinks. It just gently lulls you along in great comfort. But enough of the car analogies and back to the drink. For what it is, this drink is pretty good. It tastes fine, it has nothing artificial, the average human being is able to pronounce nearly all of it's ingredients, and it gives a gentle uplift. I will give this an 8.1 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ARIZONA ENERGY LOW CARB

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 200 MILLIGRAMS PER 15 OUNCE CAN. 

RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.


Arizona Beverage Companies latest trek down the energy drink isle resulted in the Arizona Energy Low Carb. I tried the regular version of this yesterday and I really liked the taste. Will sucralose affect the taste of this fruity drink? Actually, yes it did. The flavor is still that lovely mix of pear, apple, mango, and peach but with the aftertaste of sucralose. In my opinion, the sucralose ruins the flavor. But hey, it's a low carb drink so I don't expect it to taste like the original drink. If you are watching your waistline and sugar intake, the 20 calories, 6 grams of sugar and 6 grams of total carbohydrates should fit the bill. And who knows? You might like this version better than the original one. I liked Monster Lo-Carb better than Monster Original. Alright, now we must move on to the energy enhancing ingredients list. Per can this has  200 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 200 percent daily value if vitamin b12, 200 milligrams of vitamin b5, 2,000 milligrams of taurine, 200 milligrams of caffeine, 200 milligrams of l-carnitine, 200 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 200 milligrams of inositol, 200 milligrams of guarana extract, 200 milligrams of glucuronolactone, and 70 milligrams of milk thistle. Including the b vitamins, this 15 ounce drink tops out at at 3,282 milligrams and 11 energy inducing ingredients. I would say those are some pretty nice looking numbers. The caffeine content is 40 milligrams higher than a regular Monster. Ok, onto the kick. Unfortunately, it appears I am suffering from a minor cold so this review may not be accurate, but I am too darn impatient to not review this drink today. My suggestion is to buy some, try some, and tell me what you think in the comment section below. Now, this drink did take a while to kick in, and despite the small cold it did work fairly well. I was still a little tired but Arizona Energy Low Carb did a nice job of warding some of it off. It lasted maybe 3 hours without a crash. I think overall I would pick the original Arizona Energy. But that's my opinion. Go out and try the low carb and tell me what you think. 8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ARIZONA RX FAST SHOT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.


RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.

It appears that Dr. Oz Garcia has teamed up with Arizona Beverage Company to create the line up of shots for Arizona. I have already reviewed the A.M. Awake and P.M. Relax, and both of them did fairly well. Now it's time for the Arizona Fast Shot. This comes in the same size and shape as all the other Arizona Shots. I recall that when I drank the A.M. Awake shot, I noticed that there was a bitterness in the flavor. Did I experience that with the Arizona Fast Shot? No, surprisingly enough it tasted quite good. Albeit it is quite on the sweet side but I don't mind that since it's a shot and the flavor is going to be a bit strong. When I slammed it, I waited for an awful bitterness to creep up on me, but that never came. It's definitely a very sweet concentrated green tea and citrus flavor. The usual from our friends at Arizona Beverage Company. On the energy enhancing ingredients side of things, this shot has a pretty nice list. It has 150 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 8,333 percent daily value of vitamin b12, 100 percent daily value of vitamin b5, and a 1,445 milligrams performance blend consisting of 7 ingredients: taurine, caffeine, guarana seed extract, inositol, glucuronolactone, milk thistle seed extract, and panax ginseng root extract. So that's a total of 11 energy inducing ingredients and over 1,525 milligrams. The exact amount of caffeine in this beverage is unknown, but I can tell you that on the back of the can it states that this drink has the caffeine equivalent of 2 cups of coffee. If your an energy drink junkie or if you also review energy drinks/shots/etc. then you know this is meaningless. Coffee varies a bunch depending on how you make it. For instance, two cups (16 ounces) of brewed coffee has 216 milligrams of caffeine. Two cups (16 ounces) of drip coffee contains 290 milligrams of caffeine. That's a difference of 74 milligrams. About as much as an original 8.4 ounce can of Amp Energy. So as you can see, saying this drink has two cups of coffees worth of caffeine is a load of meaningless garbage. Ok, no onto the kick. I slammed this drink right before I went to school. I was very tired and needed to be awake for Chemistry, my first class. Arizona RX Energy Fast Shot did not ignite my brain with a furious amount of energy, which is fine, instead it gave me a gentle uplift. It's similar to drinking 2 or 3 cups of green tea. The effect lasted for roughly 4 hours with no crash. Overall I would say this is a pretty good shot. Go out, buy some, and tell me what you think about it. 8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF EX PURE ENERGY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 80 MILLIGRAMS PER 8.4 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 7.7 OUT OF 10.


Let's dive right in to the natural side of things with Ex Energy. Extreme Drinks (Extreme is what Ex stands for) are the creators of the Ex Chill drink I reviewed not too long ago. Ex uses absolutely no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. The can design is definitely pretty cool. It has somewhat of a paint splatter design to it. The can alone will tell you that it is all natural. The interesting thing about these natural energy drinks is the taste. I actually had 2 cans of Ex Pure Energy and I could not figure out the taste. I tried comparing it to Verve, but that is more of a carbonated carrot juice. I really don't know what to say about this drink as far as taste goes. Even my good friend Big Red Boots at Possessed By Caffeine said that he could not pinpoint the flavor either. Instead, he mentioned Kombucha which is most likely where the flavor comes in. Most likely, if you like the taste of Kombucha, you might like this. Buy it and give it a try. All I can say is that I thought it was good. Not great but just good. Ex Pure Energy doesn't particularly have your basic energy drink ingredients. Strike that. The only difference is Kombucha Tea Extract. Ex has also given a little blurb about the ingredient. Kombucha is an ancient healthy food culture containing organic acids, probiotics, acids and enzymes that helps your body find its natural balance, which promotes overall well being. Ex Pure Energy has 300 milligrams of Kombucha Tea Extract. The second ingredient is Ginseng. Ginseng is an herb that helps to maintain both stamina and a healthy immune system. Ex Pure Energy contains 50 milligrams of Panax Ginseng Root Extract. The next ingredient is Guarana. Guarana aids mental and physical performance and helps and helps cleanse your body of lactic acid after exercise. It is also a natural source of caffeine. Ex Pure Energy contains 80 milligrams of natural caffeine. The last ingredient in Vitamins. Along with immune-defense titan Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins can help the body with a whole range of good things from breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to maintaining healthy organs. This drink contains 83 percent daily value of vitamin c, 74 percent daily value of vitamin b3, 83 percent daily value of vitamin b6, and 50 percent daily value of vitamin b5. Considering this is trying to be a healthy energy drink, I have to say I like the energy enhancing and body enhancing ingredients used in this. This is the first drink I have seen that uses Kombucha Tea as the flavor and as an energy ingredient. Pretty cool stuff. Alright, since this has 80 milligrams of caffeine, I knew I needed two cans. Two cans gave me 160 milligrams of natural caffeine, 600 milligrams of Kombucha, and 100 milligrams of Ginseng. The kick was similar to the big boys. It wasn't a huge rush by any means but more of a low to mid-level jitter free boost that lasted about 4 hours-ish. Overall I have to say that Ex Pure Energy is a pretty decent beverage.  7.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF SHOCK TRIPLE MOCHA

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 231 MILLIGRAMS PER 8.4 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 9.5 OUT OF 10


Yesterday I was absolutely stunned by the performance of Shock Coffee as it took the number 1 spot away from Wired X-344 in the Top 10 Highest Rated Energy Products List. Today I sucked down one of their canned beverages: the Shock Triple Mocha. Triple meaning triple espresso. The only difference in the can design is a black ring at the top of the can. Since the flavor is mocha, I expected a rich chocolate flavor along with the traditional iced coffee flavor. When I did take a sip, I got a nice mocha flavor playing along with a rich iced coffee. Of course the mocha does take a back seat behind the espresso coffee, but it's not too far back in the bus for me to not notice it. I slammed the can in no time because it tasted so great. I think I'll stop making trips to Starbucks for a Mocha and crack a can of Shock instead. I also like the products from Shock because they don't screw around with their drink by adding ginseng, guarana, or taurine. They do actually add caffeine (maybe about 25 to 35 milligrams) to their beverage. The first ingredient is of course brewed espresso coffee. The caffeine content is a mouthwatering 231 milligrams per 8.4 ounce can. It comparison, regular Shock Coffee comes in at about 223 milligrams per 8 ounce cup. Since this product has over 200 milligrams of caffeine in just 8 ounces. you would expect it to get me wired. Your assumption would be right. I slammed this down before going to church, of all places, and in 15 minutes I was definitely feeling it. I wasn't necessarily jittery (i.e my hands weren't shaking) but I had a very hard time sitting still. This drink will definitely give your old java a run for it's money. And it would be a run that Shock would win. The products of Shock continue to amaze me with this great coffee drink. I won't be drinking regular coffee before I go to school. I will be using every last drop and every last ground until I have no trace of Shock left in my house. I only have one more thing to say about this fabulous company: Shock Rocks! 9.5 out of 10!

REVIEW OF SHOCK COFFEE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: OVER 50 PERCENT MORE THAN REGULAR GOURMET COFFEE.

RATING: 10 OUT OF 10.


In the ever expanding world of coffee, some people, like me, are noticing that regular coffee just doesn't really cut it. Fortunately for caffeine junkies like myself, there is Shock Coffee. It contains no added caffeine, but they select the most potent beans available to give you over 50 percent more caffeine then regular coffee. This indicates that if you drink 12 ounces of this coffee using the drip method, the caffeine content could top out at over 300 milligrams. Obviously I had to try it, so I pulled out my Beaners thermos, set my Keurig Coffee Maker for a full 12 ounces and brewed away. After waiting about 45 minutes for my coffee to cool down, it was time to take a sip. I like my coffee black, but sometimes the flavor can be so overpowering it will make me shudder with disgust. That never happened with Shock. I'm no coffee aficionado, but I can tell you that it my opinion it appeared the drink had a fair amount of body and the coffee went down smoothly. I have nothing to complain about here. It's a darn good cup of joe. I suppose there is nothing to say about the energy blend since I already mentioned the amount of caffeine in the product. So let's get straight to the kick. Wherever they are getting their beans, they work. In about half an hour I felt a massive rush come over me. I had a huge grin welded to my face as I had never felt this type of kick in a very very long time. I had to do something so I went downstairs, fired up the treadmill, and blasted through the mile in 7 minutes and 29 seconds. My recovery time was lickety spilt and I went on to play some Guitar Hero. The kick just doesn't quit. It's just ridiculous. Thankfully I have 3 bags of the stuff because I will be using it a lot. Heck, screw the Monsters and Rockstars and Red Bulls. Shock is my drink of choice. Final Rating? 10!

REVIEW OF EX CHILL

CAFFEINE CONTENT: NONE.


RATING: 8.7 OUT OF 10.

Being a junior in high school can be a lot of hard work. ACTs, SATs, MMEs, XYZs. Fortunately, after my first week of school, I can unwind by drinking an Ex Chill Drink. So what do we have here? This chill drink? Well, it uses multiple roots and extracts to get you to just relax and let go. However, it does state "The Natural Alternative" smack dab on the front of the can. This is immediately a warning signal to any energy drink/product reviewer. Natural usually means it lacks in the ever important taste category. When I did crack the can and take a sip, I noticed the flavor was quite tolerable. The flavor is said to be apple-lemon which is true. Well, sort of. I definitely tasted the apple, there was no question about that. But, I really had to think about whether I tasted the lemon or not. It's there, it's just hard to notice. I also found out that it is much better over ice. So, overall despite it's natural statements, it's still a pretty good drink. Ex took the time to list and explain every relaxing ingredient they use, so here goes. The first ingredient is chamomile which is "valued throughout the ages for its soothing qualities". Next we have valerian which is "an herb used since Roman times that is well known for its ability to maintain a feeling of calmness. In 3rd, we have lemon balm, which has been "recognized since Greek times for its soothing smell, this fragrant herb can also help maintain healthy digestion. Next we have vitamins. "B-complex vitamins can help your body with the whole range of groovy things from breaking down carbs, fats and proteins to maintaining healthy organs. And then we have the sweetener: fruit up. "A natural fruit sweetener with a balanced ratio of fructose, glucose, and sucrose. The Glycemic Index is a very low 34." Immediately after I read that quote, I researched Glycemic Index. I found out that Stevia actually has a 0 glycemic index. Anyway, it's time for you to find out if this thing did its job. I drank this as fast as I could to get the best effect. In about 15 minutes I was already feeling tired. When I sat on my couch to play Madden 09, I was more interested in a power nap then a HB Power Toss. If your getting stressed at work or school or wherever, find these drinks. I don't know where you get them, but i'm sure you can buy them online. 8.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF SHOCK-A-LOTS

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 20 MILLIGRAMS PER BEAN.

RATING: 8.7 OUT OF 10.


Chocolate covered coffee beans have become a another part of the caffeine junkie lifestyles in recent years. Products such as Chargers, Crackheads, and especially Jitterbeans used ridiculous amounts of caffeine in their products as a marketing tool. Shock-A-Lots are one of the most popular candy-coated, chocolate-covered coffee bean. They come in small, maroon 1 ounce bags with roughly 12 to 16 beans inside. I popped on in my mouth and was absolutely delighted by the taste. I've always been a fan of coffee and chocolate-covered coffee beans, but this was amazing. The texture was that of a peanut M&M and the flavor was a rich coffee and chocolate flavor. Absolutely stunning, I could eat these like M&Ms. Shock doesn't bother on adding taurine or ginseng or anything. The caffeine content on the package seems to be a bit misleading. It says 1 bag has the same caffeine as 1 cup of coffee. Yet, on the reliable Energy Fiend Caffeine Database, it says they have 20 milligrams per bean. And since there are 12 to 16 beans in a bag, this equates to 240 to 320 milligrams of caffeine which is substantially higher than a typical 8 ounce cup of coffee. Despite this product having loads of caffeine, I must say I didn't feel much. I would put this about 1 notch below the big boys in energy drinks. The buzz lasted about 3 or 4 hours with a slight crash. I know it seems like I am saying that Shock-A-Lots aren't a great product, because they are. In fact, their amazing. It's just that the kick is arbitrary (240 to 320 milligrams of caffeine should have no problem wiring you). If you don't get a kick from 1 bag, eat 2. I know I was craving another bag of these things. But be careful with this one. They are extremely addictive and could have harmful effects if not taken responsibly. Try and limit 1 or 2 bags a day. Now go out and buy some Shock-A-Lots. 8.7 out of 10.

REVIEW OF MONSTER IMPORT

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 186 MILLIGRAMS PER 18.6 OUNCE CAN.

RATING: 8.4 OUT OF 10.


This is one of the latest products from Monster Energy. Apparently, Monster saw this can design in Europe and said they had to have it. It comes in a slim 18.6 ounce can with a unique resealable top. It's not a cap, but more of a sliding mechanism that I can't explain. I opened the can and took a gulp. The flavor is definitely traditional Monster, which, if you don't know what that tastes like, I don't know what to tell you. Monster has a very unique flavor to it, somewhat similar to a green apple flavored candy when it's at room temperature. It's much smoother when it's cold so I highly recommend not drinking this warm or room temperature. Moving on now to the energy enhancing ingredients list. Per can it has 230 percent daily values of vitamins b2, b3, b6, and b12. It also has 2,300 milligrams of taurine, 460 milligrams of panax ginseng, and a 5,750 milligrams energy blend consisting of l-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, and maltodextrin. I have to hand it to Monster, they really know how to make a great energy blend. In all, this can boasts an energy blend of over 8,564 milligrams. That's over 460 milligrams of energy blend for every ounce. It's over 15 milligrams for every milliliter. It's not as big as Monster Nitrous but it's still darn good. Ok, onto the kick. This Monster was a little bit bigger than an original Monster which means it has more caffeine. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to drink the whole thing, but I did manage to at least get 16 ounces down. Since my caffeine tolerance is pretty high, I felt that the kick was just average. Just a nice mid-level boost with no jitters or crash. I think the main question is would I recommend this drink over regular Monster? The answer is no, unless you want to pay extra for less than 3 more ounces of liquid and a sweet looking can. I say get the original. Before I rate the product, let me tell you about some products I will review in the future. I'm still waiting for EX drinks to arrive at my doorstep but it the meantime I will be reviewing the Arizona Fast Shot, Arizona Energy Low Carb, Arizona Rescue Water Energy, and if the samples get here their will be Shock Coffee, Pit Bull, and some new stuff from 5150. Until then, see you tomorrow. 8.4 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ARIZONA A.M. AWAKE

CAFFEINE CONTENT: UNKNOWN.


RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.

Along with the P.M. Relax shot I reviewed a few days ago, This A.M. Awake Shot is also developed by nutritionist Oz Garcia, PH.D. So, that's basically all the background I can give you so let's get right to the taste. Like normal shots, this comes in a 2 ounce resealable bottle. I unscrewed the top and slammed down the citrus green tea flavored shot. The flavor isn't what I would call great. I've never been a fan of tea shots, although Dragon Pearl did do a nice job. I would describe the flavor as simply being a citrus and green tea flavor with a bitter aftertaste. I felt that the overall flavor wasn't that bad but the aftertaste wasn't pleasant. Let's face it, no one likes bitterness. Upon looking at the label I was extremely impressed with Arizona's 2,060 milligrams Performance Blend. Here is the big list. glutamine, l-valine, l-leucine, l-isoleucine, wild green oat extract, rhodiola rosea, acetyl-l-carnitine, gingko biloba, pomegranate extract, taurine, kola nut extract, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine, guarana, bacopa monniera extract, resveratrol, dmae, choline bitartrate, phosphatidyl serine, and vinpocetine. It also has 10 percent daily value of riboflavin, 50 percent daily value of niacin, 10 percent daily value of vitamin b6, 125 percent daily value of folic acid, 5,000 percent daily value of vitamin b12, and 10 percent daily value of pantothenic acid. Where is the caffeine? Although caffeine isn't listed in either the Performance Blend or the ingredients list, this shot does contain caffeine, but how much? Arizona says the caffeine content is comparable to 2 cups of coffee, which is almost always a meaningless phrase since it varies on how you make your coffee. But we will make the best of it and say that this shot has around 200 milligrams of caffeine, although we cannot be sure of that amount. Alright, onto the kick. Arizona's latest energy shot gave me a decent kick. I got a medium low boost that lasted about 2 or 3 hours. For a "seasoned veteran" like me, that's pretty good. Nowadays, the only energy drinks that really give me a substantial boost are hardcore energy drinks like American Body Building, Spike, and others. I would recommend this shot for someone who wants to get a boost in the morning before they go to work. Final Rating? 8 out of 10.

REVIEW OF ARIZONA ENERGY

CAFFEINE CONTENT: 200 MILLIGRAMS PER 15 OUNCE CAN.


RATING: 8 OUT OF 10.

Almost everyone has heard of Arizona Iced Tea, especially Arizona Arnold Palmer. This is Arizona's latest run down the energy drink isle. It's called AZ Energy, but since I hate abbreviations we'll call it Arizona Energy. Arizona Energy comes in a black and white 15 ounce can with great artwork on it. This is a very nice can design, definitely one of the best I have seen. Since this drink is made by Arizona Beverage Company, I was expecting an iced tea flavor. Upon looking at the ingredients, it seemed this was more of a fruit based drink then a tea based drink. Either way the taste was outstanding. All of the natural fruit flavors were coming through (pear, apple, mango, and peach) and it was just amazing. Normally I can only taste the apple or grape or whatever but this time I could taste every single juice. The drink does contain a measly 10  percent juice. This is without any question one of the best tasting energy drinks I have tried. This drink does also has a great energy blend. It has 25.6 grams of glucose, 2 grams of taurine, 200 milligrams of caffeine, 200 milligrams of l-carnitine, 200 milligrams of panax ginseng extract, 200 milligrams of inositol, 200 milligrams of guarana seed extract, 200 milligrams of glucuronolactone, and 70 milligrams of milk thistle. If you leave out the glucose, you are left with a 3,270 milligrams energy blend. Add the glucose and you have a crazy 28,870 milligrams of energy blend. That equates to almost 2 grams of the energy blend for every once of liquid. That's insane except for the fact that I will have to take some points off because of the glucose. Glucose is basically just a simple sugar. Before I get to the kick, let me just say that I have a very high tolerance to caffeine. Now don't come barging in with comments saying that you can drink 5 pots of coffee or something. I only weigh about 103 pounds, I'm 5 foot 7 and I am 16 years old. I'm not exactly some 250 pound heavyweight that can suck down 10 Monsters without being phased. With that out of the way, I suppose you are guessing that there wasn't much of a kick. You would be right. The only energy drinks that truly work for me are the hardcore energy drinks such as American Body Building. However, don't shy away from this drink. I would drink this anytime. Why? Because the taste is phenomenal. I wouldn't even need an energy boost from it. It tastes that good. 8 out of 10.