Which One Tastes Best? I Tried 17 Energy Drinks Side by Side!

Energy drinks are something you can always find at convenience stores and supermarkets. The "boom" era of energy drinks may be over, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they will continue to line shelves as a standard product going forward. They feel more casual than nutrition tonics, and a lot of people drink them just because they taste good. There are all kinds of energy drinks on the market. This time, I bought 17 different energy drinks that were sold at the convenience stores, supermarkets, and drugstores near me, and I'm going to drink them side by side and share my personal impressions.

Energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine. Consuming a large amount in a short period of time can cause health problems. Please consult an expert about your own health and safety. This article was written over an extended period, with a self-imposed limit of one can per day.

Monster Energy

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 125mg, Ribose 125mg, Korean ginseng 82mg, Carnitine 29mg, Caffeine 40mg

The classic energy drink. A lot of people were probably hit by the punchy intensity the first time they tried it. Inside the sweet and tangy aroma there's a slightly medicinal note, and that's exactly what makes it addictive. With its rich sweetness and acidity, it's tasty when you sip it slowly and enjoy the aroma and flavor. The carbonation is just right and leaves a refreshing finish. Maybe because it's a flavor I'm used to from drinking it regularly, but of all the energy drinks introduced in this article, this one was the easiest to drink down. I also like that the volume is 355ml, more than many other energy drinks. My rating: would drink again ★★★★★

Monster Energy Ultra

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 125mg, Korean ginseng 85mg, Carnitine 29mg, Caffeine 40mg

The zero-calorie, lighter-style Monster Energy. The white can has a wintery design. The aroma is on the lighter side for a Monster Energy, with a citrus flavor. The sweetness is also light, and the carbonation and tartness both come through strongly. There's a slight artificial-sweetener note left on the finish, but since it's zero calorie, the guilt of drinking a lot of it fades.

My rating: would drink again ★★

Monster Energy Ultra Paradise

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 53mg, Korean ginseng 82mg, Carnitine 29mg, Caffeine 40mg

A summer Ultra is born. Ultra Paradise is part of the Monster Energy Ultra family mentioned above — a zero-calorie, lighter-style Monster Energy. The flavor profile is basically the same as Monster Energy Ultra, but a strong kiwi note with a green-apple-like flavor and a sharper acidity gives it a summery feel. It's zero calorie, and I noticed a slightly sticky sweetness on the finish. The Monster Energy character is faint, so rather than drinking it from the can, I thought it would be delicious poured over ice in a glass on a hot summer day.

My rating: would drink again ★★

Monster Energy Khaos

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 125mg, Ribose 125mg, Korean ginseng 85mg, Carnitine 3mg, Caffeine 40mg

Khaos, but with 30% juice for a softer feel. Its orange color makes you imagine tropical fruits like orange or mango. Drinking it confirms exactly that — a refreshing orange-style aroma and a sweet flavor. There's almost no acidity; sweetness dominates. The carbonation is subtle, just a touch. With 30% juice, it's astonishingly easy to drink and tastes almost like orange juice. Since the Monster Energy character is barely there, I'd recommend it to anyone.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

Monster Energy Pipeline Punch

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 53mg, Korean ginseng 82mg, Carnitine 29mg, Caffeine 40mg

A 16% juice fruity Monster Energy. Strong tropical aromas of orange, guava, and other tropical fruits. Carbonation is on the lighter side; there's some acidity but it's faint, and it's relentlessly sweet. The intense Monster Energy punch isn't there, but it's intensely fruity. The packaging is pink with tropical flower illustrations, which gave me a feminine impression. This may have been the sweetest of the bunch — recommended for anyone who wants a really sweet energy drink.

My rating: would drink again ★★★

Monster Energy Cuba Libre

Volume 355ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 53mg, Korean ginseng 82mg, Carnitine 29mg, Caffeine 40mg

Cola × Monster Energy. The red and black look feels aggressive. The moment you open it, you get a great aroma of lime and cola. You can clearly taste cola, but it's not as cola-forward as Coca-Cola Energy. The signature Monster Energy acidity and sweetness still come through, and overall it has a strong energy-drink character. There's not much aftertaste, the carbonation is light, and you can drink it down easily. I bet it would be delicious in summer poured over ice in a glass with some mint.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

Red Bull

Volume 250ml / Price 241 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 120mg, Caffeine 32mg

The classic energy drink. Even people who haven't tried it have probably heard the name — alongside Monster Energy, it's the standard. The flavor and aroma resemble a nutrition tonic, with sugar and carbonation added to make it easier to drink. Compared to other energy drinks, the punchy sweetness is more restrained, and it's cleaner with some acidity. At 241 yen the price is a bit high for the volume, but there's no rough edge to it — it gave me a high-quality, broadly appealing impression.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

Red Bull Summer Edition

Volume 180ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 120mg, Caffeine 43.2mg

Tropical Red Bull. From the moment you open it, there's a great summery, tropical passion-fruit aroma. Very easy to drink, with a pear flavor and a clean finish. The energy-drink character is light, with a Red Bull-like flavor that's approachable for anyone. The price is a bit high for the volume, but the flavor is high quality. As I write this in November, it makes me look forward to meeting it again next summer.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

Coca-Cola Energy

Volume 240ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Caffeine 32mg, Vitamin B6 0.15mg, Niacin 1.6mg

Coca-Cola goes energy drink! The king of carbonated soft drinks enters the energy-drink space. The aroma when you open it is exactly Coca-Cola itself! The taste is like a slightly stronger Coca-Cola, and it goes down easily. That said, there isn't quite the same refreshing bite as regular Coca-Cola, and there's a slightly sticky sweetness on the finish. There's almost no energy-drink character, so it's a Coca-Cola-style energy drink that anyone can enjoy.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

e3

Volume 240ml / Price 185 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Caffeine 17mg, Glucose 5.6g, Palatinose 2.1g

A grape-flavored gummy, in drink form. Light carbonation makes it easy to drink and it isn't cloying, so I drank the whole thing without getting tired of it and finished it quickly. It tastes like a grape-flavored gummy — a slightly different category from other energy drinks. It contains glucose, said to help with recovery from fatigue, so rather than drinking it before getting focused, it might be better as a break after finishing a task. The caffeine is comparatively low, so it's also reassuring for people who don't handle caffeine well. It was co-developed with esports players, so it could be a good drink to have alongside gaming.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

ZONe ver.1.0.0

Volume 500ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 500ml): Arginine 750mg, Palatinose 5.0g, Glucose 10.0–40.0g, Caffeine 75mg

A high-volume energy drink. The aroma when opened is sweet and close to Monster Energy — a classic energy-drink impression. The flavor also resembles Monster Energy, sweet with a slightly medicinal note, and a softer punch with grape underneath. Only a little sweetness lingers on the finish, with light carbonation and a touch of acidity making it easy and tasty to drink! The ZONe series comes in 500ml, so it's perfect for people who want to drink a lot.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

ZONe FIREWALL ver.1.0.0

Volume 500ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 500ml): Arginine 500mg, Palatinose 5.0g, Glucose 10.0–40.0g, Caffeine 75mg

Melon soda, turned into an energy drink. The aroma when opened isn't very strong, but as soon as you take a sip, the nostalgic flavor comes back. From the look of the red can you'd never imagine it, but it's surprisingly melon soda flavored. The taste isn't complex — just simple melon soda enjoyment. Even at 500ml it's not cloyingly sweet, so it's surprisingly easy to drink. Of all the energy drinks I've tried, this has the least energy-drink character, so I'd recommend it to beginners.

My rating: would drink again ★★★

ZONe DEEP DIVE ver.1.0.0

Volume 500ml / Price 190 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 500ml): Arginine 500mg, Palatinose 5.0g, Glucose 10.0–40.0g, Caffeine 75mg

An energy drink that tastes like something you drank as a kid. It's like Calpis with carbonation and energy-drink ingredients added. That's exactly right — it contains "fermented milk," making it a lactic-flavored drink. Sweet-tart, refreshing, and clean, with very restrained carbonation, it was easy to drink. There's almost no energy-drink character, so you can drink it like juice.

My rating: would drink again ★★★

REAL GOLD DRAGON BOOST (Real Gold)

Volume 250ml / Price 185 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Arginine 131mg, Caffeine 32mg

Chinese herbs × Real Gold. The lemon-and-berry-style sweet-and-tart flavor characteristic of Real Gold makes it easy to drink, and the carbonation is neither too much nor too little. However, there's a medicinal — or rather, herbal — aroma. That's because it contains extracts of Korean ginseng, red ginseng, Siberian ginseng, longan, goji berry, and reishi. People who can't handle the smell of herbal medicine probably won't like it, but if that doesn't bother you, you might enjoy a flavor unlike other energy drinks. After drinking it, I felt my body warm up the way it does after eating ginger. Maybe that's the effect of the extracts?

My rating: would drink again ★★★

IRON BOSS

Volume 250ml / Price 150 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 250ml): Arginine 1000mg, GABA 28mg, Caffeine 75mg

BOSS enters the arena. The BOSS series is famous for its canned coffee. The aroma when opened was nutrition-tonic-like, and I felt the flavor was similar to Red Bull. The sweetness is restrained and slightly bitter, with no aftertaste lingering after drinking. The carbonation is just right and refreshing, so the next sip comes easily and it's very easy to drink. It also includes GABA, said to have stress-reducing effects — that sets it apart from other energy drinks. The 150 yen price is also a bit cheaper, which is a plus. It might be a good one to drink when you need to take a breather but still have a lot of work left to do.

My rating: would drink again ★★★★

GO&FUN Green Energy Drink

Volume 250ml / Price 240 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 100ml): Caffeine 32mg

Probably the world's gentlest energy drink. The aroma is light, the punch is mild, and a soft citrus note comes through. The flavor is like a low-acid grapefruit juice and it's very easy to drink. Light carbonation, refreshing, with none of the distinctive aftertaste typical of energy drinks lingering on the tongue. It seems healthier than any other energy drink. There's still a solid amount of caffeine, so it might be good for days when you need just a little extra push.

My rating: would drink again ★★

ENERGY HUNTER

Volume 300ml / Price 138 yen (excl. tax) / Ingredients (per 300ml): Caffeine 195mg, Arginine 600mg

A Topvalu energy drink with 195mg of caffeine. Topvalu, of all places, has unexpectedly released an energy drink. With energy drinks generally going for around 190 yen, this one is on the cheaper side at 138 yen. I had a little anxiety because of the low price, but here we go — open! The aroma and flavor are in the Red Bull vein, fresh and clean, with solid energy-drink character. Contrary to my expectations, it's actually pretty good. If anything, this one has a stronger fruit note. The mouth of the can is narrowed so the aroma comes through better and you can enjoy the smell — another plus. 195mg of caffeine is quite a lot, so be careful not to drink too much.

My rating: would drink again ★★★

Conclusion

Looking back like this, the major makers like Red Bull and Monster Energy have a mysterious appeal that makes you want to drink them again. I also got a sense that newer makers are challenging the big names with their own original flavors. And I discovered that I personally like a punchy, classic-style energy drink.

This time I drank 17 energy drinks at a pace of one a day. As much as I love energy drinks, having to drink one every day started to wear on my body and mind around the one-week mark. Even pulling the tab on the can — usually a moment that lifts my mood — became less fun once it became routine. Thinking "drinking these back-to-back is honestly too much," I took a couple of days off, and when I drank one again my mood lifted right back up. When you drink energy drinks, please set aside non-drinking days and listen to your body. Wishing you a healthy and enjoyable energy-drink life.