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HEMP
Z Co/Unique Drinks, Auckland NZ
The Word:
"Serious Gear Stimulation"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná, Taurine, Vitamins B6 & B12
Stats: (per 100mL)
Guaraná: 32mg, Caffeine: 32mg, Taurine: 400mg, Energy: 188kJ, Sugar: 11g, Inositol: 2mg
What I Reckon:
Featuring a marijuana leaf prominently on your product is a great way to get attention. I'm sure there are loads of kids who'd buy it just for the misplaced thrill of drinking something illicit. For the the more mature people, you may feel like a bit of an arseclown drinking a HEMP. But let us move away from image and towards something more substantial. The drink is much like V, and I'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Maybe a little mellower - less bubbles and sugar.
Rating:
5/10 - They tried very hard to make that acronym work. The subtitle is: "Highly Enjoyable Magic Potion"
Hype Classic
Hype
The Word:
"You're ready and feeling good! All you need is that extra boost. You need a Hype!"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná, Taurine, Ginseng, Vitamins
Stats: (per 100mL)
Calories: 45
What I Reckon:
This one is a lot like Coca-Cola's Burn (a berry-flavoured affair), but done better. The flavour is fuller, and there is a lot more power. This flavour category seems to be the most popular in the energy drink arena, (which is strange because there aren't many mainstream berry-flavoured soft drinks) of which Hype is the pick of the crop.
Rating:
7/10 - Berries done right.
High Voltage
The Word:
"Don't Live In The Shadows"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná, Caffeine
Stats:
What I Reckon:
Has a watered-down lemonade taste, with a hint of lemon. There is a dominant after-taste in this drink, although not altogether unpleasant. Pretty average drink, compared to other higher-quality products. Doesn't do the lemonade part right, or the energy part. I guess it should get credit for being the only gurana-powered lemonade drink.
Rating:
3/10 - Ack! No taste, no kick!
iKon Harmonize
The Word:
"Sparkling berry drink"
Good Stuff:
Kava, Chamomile, Vitamins (A, C & E), St John's Wart, L-Tyrosine.
Stats: (per 100mL)
Energy: 200kJ
What I Reckon:
Okay, it's not a giver of energy, more a 'relax and calmer', but I reckon it fits right in with the rest of these energy drinks. It is probably the most healthiest drink in this list, containing no caffeine or gurana etc. The taste is nice, a kind of watered down berry soft drink, and not particularly sweet. This is a good drink to pop when you are thirsty and are about to go to bed or something, coz drinking Red-Eye is crazy talk when you need to sleep! All and all, considering the amount of healthy stuff in the little blue can, it tastes most excellent, and would recommend it.
Rating:
6/10 - It's a `let me down' drink, tastes good and appears to be pretty healthy
iKon Energize
The Word:
"Sparkling energy drink"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná, Taurine, Ginseng, Vitamins (A,C & E), Ginkgo Biloba, Co-enzyme Q10
Stats: (per 100mL)
Energy: 200kJ
What I Reckon:
Those wacky people behind these iKon series (2001 Health Beverages) have another drink. This one is the evil twin of Harmonize, and really gets you going. It's got the usual slew of good stuff like gurana and caffeine, but they go the extra mile by adding lots of healthy things, which will no doubt be good for you. Taste is nice, still that watered-down flavour the Harmonize has, but overall pretty ordinary.
Rating:
6/10 - Needs more flavour! Pretty good kick
Java Jive
The Word:
"Sparkling Coffee Boost"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná
Stats:
What I Reckon:
Pretty ordinary Jolt rip off. Nothing too see here, move along people. Little gurana content.
Rating:
2/10 - Why bother?
Jolt Cola
Jolt Company Inc., USA
The Word:
"Twice The Caffeine"
Good Stuff:
Caffeine!
Stats: (per 100mL)
Caffeine: 20.1mg (71.5mg/12oz)
What I Reckon:
Ahhh. The classic. Any self-respecting computer user who does not know of this drink should be beaten into a fine pulp. What can we say? Tastes great, better than Coke or Pepsi and has less calories (for those who care about things like that). If only the people behind Jolt had the insight to add a pinch of guraná, we would have the perfect drink. I can't speak too badly against Jolt - it's available everywhere, comes in cans, bottles (plastic and glass) - even 1.25 litres!. Mmmm Jolt...
Rating:
9/10 - Old-school!
Jolt Creaming Soda
Jolt Company Inc., USA
The Word:
"Twice The Caffeine"
Good Stuff:
Caffeine
Stats: (per 100mL)
Caffeine: 20.1mg (71.5mg/12oz)
What I Reckon:
A spin-off of the classic Jolt brand, this is a 'American vanilla' creaming soda, which is pretty good. Like the original Jolt, it only uses caffeine, so if you really want a hit you may want to try the Dirty Dog Creaming Soda. That said, it is a nice drink, but nothing out of the ordianary.
Rating:
5/10 - A twist on the Jolt formula
Jolt Black Cherry
Jolt Company Inc., USA
The Word:
"Twice The Caffeine"
Good Stuff:
Caffeine
Stats: (per 100mL)
Caffeine: 20.1mg (71.5mg/12oz)
What I Reckon:
If someone ripped off the label of this drink and whacked on the Jolt Cola label, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. It really does just taste like plain 'ol Jolt with a couple of cherries squeezed into it. If you're after something different, look elsewhere.
Rating:
3/10 - Weak.
Lift Plus
The Word:
"Lift Plus - Mind Plus Body"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná, B1 Vitamin, Gingseng, Niacin.
Stats:
What I Reckon:
Well, this is the first time a major drink company has hit the energy drink scene - The Coca Cola Company has taken their normally sedate Lift drink and supercharged it by throwing in all sorts of goodies. I guess they figure they are losing money with this latest fad in drinks so came up with this drink - and they're leveraging the brand recognition of Lift. It tastes pretty good, very different to the rest of the energy drinks out there by going for a lemon flavour. Very little after taste, overall quite enjoyable - this is probably due to the pretty average gurana content. Give it a go.
Rating:
6/10 - Different flavour, average strength.
Lipovitan
The Word:
"Energy & Well Being"
Good Stuff:
Taurine, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Vitamins B1, B2 and B6, Riboflavin, Gingseng
Stats: (per 100mL)
Taurine: 400mg, Caffeine: 20mg, Ginseng: 8mg
What I Reckon:
You gotta fear it when a drink is made under license of a pharmaceutical company! This drink doesn't have gurana in it, and tastes kinda like Red Bull. It's doesn't taste overly bad but it's not something I would enjoy drinking on a regular basis. Not as powerful as some other drinks, due to it not containing any gurana. Huge taurine amount.
Rating:
6/10 - Something different
Magic Man
The Word:
"Invigorating"
Good Stuff:
Taurine, Vitamins
Stats: (per 100mL)
Energy: 191.4kJ
What I Reckon:
Quite a harsh drink, my first gulp gave a bit of a wince-and-recoil, but after that it seemed OK. Definately not very smooth, Magic Man is very sweet and quite bubbly - would make a great mixer. Sort of generic Red Bullish flavour that seems so popular with manufacturers, it is a drink lacking in creativity (da Vinci-inspired can graphic aside)
Rating:
3/10 - Too sweet
Magic Power-Kick
The Word:
"Magic!"
Good Stuff:
Guaraná
Stats:
What I Reckon:
A lot like the Blue Jeans Powerdrink - probably worse. Not a favourite.
If I were on the brink of death-from-dehydration and a magic genie offered me an ice-cold Power-Kick or week old
re-warmed urine, I'd take the urine.
Rating:
1/10 - Rather bad.
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