Ranking the top 5 energy drinks on the market

Energy drinks are sought after big time and it isn’t only athletes that are drinking these down by the gallon. They taste great and today we’ll be ranking the oftentimes controversial type of beverage based on taste and yes, quality.

Very much like Gatorade, energy drinks have increased in popularity over the last few decades, and as the generations become more go, go, go oriented in terms of daily schedule and when looking at the energy needed to complete daily endeavors, a whole other group of people who just like the taste of the drinks in question have come forth…people that aren’t vying to win a top prize in sports or to stay up to finish that paper.

Of course the stuff helps in the aforementioned departments, but really these have far exceeded the expectations that perhaps even the individual company owners expected. I mean people have been mixing energy drinks with alcohol for quite a few years now and you can’t get more of an oxymoron than that…an upper and a downer in the same glass! Yikes!

But the fact remains: Some of the energy drinks on the market taste like crushed pills in water, let’s face it, but there are those that taste extraordinarily good, and that’s why we’ve decided to come up with this list, dear readers.

What are some of the best energy drinks on the market and which energy drink takes the cake at that number one spot?

Dr. Enuf was the very first energy drink to hit the market, and believe it or not dear readers, that was way back in 1949, states National Institutes of Health! But of course the energy drink as a whole didn’t reach that higher level of success and popularity until the launch of Red Bull, which made the scene back in 1997.

Where does the energy in these drinks come from, though?

Well, loads of caffeine are indeed present in many of the energy drinks out there, but what gives them all that distinctive boost from say your regular cup of green tea or coffee are the other ingredients that take your energy levels over the top.

Included in many of these drinks are: guarana (a plant similar to the coffee bean), taurine (found in proteins and helps with cell activity), and a bunch of other sugars and natural and legal additives, according to cdc.gov.

However, many have stated that although each additive isn’t harmful, the additives encompassed together in one drink are what might present health risks when drinking these drinks.

Remember, they taste great, sure…especially the five we’re about to look at, but they do in many cases cause: High blood pressure, insomnia, heart palpitations and a plethora of other issues you might not want to encounter during your already hectic day.

"“Combining high-caffeine energy drinks with alcohol may give teenagers the perception that they aren’t as drunk as they really are. And when teens feel fewer effects from alcohol, they tend to drink more…This problem became apparent in 2010, when several young adults were hospitalized at Washington State due to overconsumption of alcoholic energy drinks.”-Via Stephanie Nguyen Lai – a pediatrician with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation / sutterhealth.org (transcription)"

But if you drink wisely, dear readers, enjoying one from time to time, or when that cup of coffee seems really hard to attain, think of enjoying these delicious brands that do the energy drink justice.

5. Joker Mad Energy

One of the cheaper brands out there but definitely one of the greater tasting energy drinks. They have a few flavors, but the fruit punch takes the cake. The company had ultimately disappeared for a time, or rather the drink was no longer available, but it’s back and with a force. Tastes great but don’t overdo it. The caffeine levels are through the roof.

4. Monster Energy

One of the bigger brands out there, with a plethora of flavors. They also have zero sugar and the drop in sugar sure as heck doesn’t drop the energy levels that can be garnered after drinking a can of this stuff.

It’s good for when you need to get the energy levels up for that tough day ahead and perhaps that cup of coffee just won’t do it. The original flavor is still the best sip of Monster though.

3. Full Throttle

Definitely one of the greater tasting sips of energy drinks for sure, but from my experience this one really gets the heart a racing. I remember sipping on copious amounts of this when working part-time in busy restaurants early on, and I can remember feeling my heart beat… actually feeling my heartbeat as I sautéed and worked the line into the wee hours of the night and early morning.

Tasted great but eventually I went the way of the espresso machine…and go figure that that was a lot less intense. Espresso!

2. Red Bull

The classic taste. Perhaps in the end, there’s nothing that beats a classic Red Bull, which really revolutionized the sports drinks game, giving even Gatorade some competition at the time; it’s still a great way to go.

It can taste a tad medicinal, but I don’t know, something about it hits home for me, and the zero sugar option is a great one. The company is still going strong after all these years, so maybe they’re doing something right.

1. Zoa

And talk about going strong. This company is going strong indeed; even recently it was announced by the founder himself that it’s coming to Canada finally.

And who is the founder? Well, it’s none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The great thing about Zoa Energy though, and apart from the spectacular taste, is that yes, it too comes in zero sugar, but the ingredients are all natural. And it is because of these natural ingredients that also perhaps make this sip of energy drink healthier than the rest.

The ingredient list, as specified from the official Zoa website are as follows: Camu Camu extract (a fruit rich in vitamin C and antioxidants), electrolytes (good to prevent dehydration), amino acids, and the caffeine within Zoa is natural. It’s taken from green tea and green coffee beans.

And how about you, dear readers? What are some of your favorite energy drinks?