Energy drink

Energy drinks are beverages which contain legal stimulants, vitamins (especially B vitamins and minerals, including caffeine, guarana (caffeine from the Guarana plant), taurine, various forms of ginseng, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone and ginkgo biloba. Some may contain high levels of sugar, or glucose. These drinks are typically marketed towards young people, students, people 'on the go' and those who play sports. Many such beverages are flavored and/or colored to resemble other soft drinks.

Related Topics:
Beverage - Stimulant - Vitamin - B vitamins - Mineral - Caffeine - Guarana - Taurine - Ginseng - Maltodextrin - Inositol - Carnitine - Creatine - Glucuronolactone - Ginkgo biloba - Sugar - Glucose - Student - Sport - Soft drink

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jolt Cola was one of the first energy drinks available in North America, being originally released in the 1980s. It was essentially just an extremely high caffeine, high sugar brand of cola. It pioneered the marketing strategy still widely in use by energy drinks today, targeting a generally younger audience, mostly students and professionals, important 'on the go' people, and billing itself as something that was not necessarily healthy but which would allow them to cram more hours into their day. Later, marketing turned further and further toward people involved in the technology industry, and consequently, energy drinks today are commonly associated with the image of a hacker or IT professional, sitting up late at his computer trying to stay awake. This is not an entirely inaccurate picture.

Related Topics:
Jolt Cola - 1980s - Hacker - IT

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Japan, the energy drink phenomenon dates at least as far back as the early 1960s, with the release of the Lipovitan D drink from Taisho Pharmaceuticals. Most such products in Japan bear little resemblence to soft drinks, and are sold instead in small brown glass medicine bottles (or cans styled to resemble such containers). These "genki drinks" are marketed primarily to the salaryman set, to help them work long hours, or to stay awake on the late commute home.

Related Topics:
1960s - Lipovitan D - Salaryman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the beginning of the 21st century, the addition of energy components into alcoholic berverages made an impact on the market. Many malt beverages such as Sparks, 3SUM, and Max capitalized on the effects of caffeine while drinking alcohol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Energy drinks are different from sports drinks. Most energy drinks simply provide lots of sugar and/or caffeine. Sports drinks are intended to replenish electrolytes, sugars, water, and other nutrients, and are usually isotonic (containing the same proportions as found in the human body).

Related Topics:
Sports drink - Electrolyte - Water - Isotonic - Human

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~