Energy Safari South Africa

Name: Switch Raspberry Liquorice Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 510kJ  (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Acesulphame K, Sodium Cyclamates, Sodium Saccharin, Aspartame Other chemicals of interest: Azorubine Flavour: The two contrasting flavours: raspberry & liquorice; are both easily discerned and well realised. They play surprisingly well together. The only downside is lingering bitter aftertaste. Rating: 8/10

Name:  Monster Mucho Loco Manufacturer: Monster Can size: 500ml Energy: 954kJ  (VERY HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Glucose, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: "Tropical" fruit punch taste with only mild fizz. Rating: 8/10  

Name: Switch Evolve Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 340kJ  (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Aspartame, Sodium Cyclamate, Acesulphame K Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: Somewhat weak diet cola taste. You might not realise it's meant to be a cola thanks to the packaging! Rating: 6/10

  Name:  Predator Purple Rain Manufacturer: Energy Beverages Can size: 500ml Energy: 400kJ  (HIGH) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Maltodextrin, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: Vaguely Sparberry taste, but very insipid with a hint of rusty nail. Rating: 3/10

Name:  Monster Original Manufacturer: Monster Can size: 500ml Energy: 1006kJ/500ml  (VERY HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Glucose, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: Incredibly sweet, with a hint of tartness to take the edge off. Very refreshing initially, but sweetness can take its toll. Not sure where the idea of saltiness comes from; salt is in the ingredient list, but its not really part of the flavour. Rating: 8/10

Name:  Carabao Original Manufacturer: Carabao Tawandang Can size: 330ml Energy: 403kJ/500ml  (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Aspartame, Stevia Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: A well-balanced, if typical, acid-tasting original energy drink. Good aftertaste and mouthfeel Rating: 8/10

Name:  Predator Gold Strike Manufacturer: Energy Beverages Can size: 500ml Energy: 400kJ  (HIGH) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Erythritol, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: A typically acid "original" flavour marred by strong insipidity probably from the non-nutrative sweetener mix. Rating: 5/10

Name:  Play Passion Fruit Manufacturer: Energy Beverages Can size: 440ml Energy: 498kJ/500ml  (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg/500ml Sweeteners: Sucrose, Erythritol, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: A zesty, sharply acidic flavour. Quite distinctive. The bitter taste of the sweeteners is quite prominent Rating: 8/10

Name: 7 Stars Berry Energy Manufacturer: 7Stars Energy Can size: 500ml Energy: 299kJ  (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Sodium Cyclamate, Sodium Saccharin, Acesulphame K, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Carmoisine Flavour: A pleasant, quite sweet, generic berry flavour Rating: 7/10

Name:  Move Guarana Manufacturer: Shoprite/Checkers Can size: 500ml Energy: 406kJ  (HIGH) Caffeine: 158mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Aspartame, Acesulphame K Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Brilliant Blue Flavour: Has an uncomplicated acidic flavour. Rating: 7/10

Name:  Dragon Xtreme Banana Manufacturer: Kingsley Can size: 500ml Energy: 330kJ  (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Acesulphame K, Sodium cyclamate, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Brilliant Blue Flavour: The basic flavour is surprisingly acidic, but cut with a prominent banana ester taste. Rating: 8/10

Name: Switch Jelly Babies Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 320 kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sodium Cyclamate, Acesulphame K, Sodium Saccharin Other chemicals of interest: Carmoisine Flavour: Quite a grandiose name for what tastes basically like Sparberry - a strawberry like fruity taste, with a bitter after taste. Rating: 6/10

Name:  Reboost Original Manufacturer: The Beverage Company Can size: 500ml Energy: 370 kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Sodium cyclamate, Aspartame, Acesulphame K Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: A lot less boldly flavoured than other "original" energy drinks, and actually slightly insipid. Rating: 6/10

   Name: White Rhino Manufacturer: PSM Can size: 500ml Energy: 385mg (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Sodium cyclamate, Aspartame, Acesulphame K Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: A pretty standard "original" energy drink with a strongly acidic flavour. Rating: 7/10

  Name: Dragon Xtreme Dry Lemon Manufacturer: Kingsley Can size: 500ml Energy: 330kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Acesulfame-K, Sodium cyclamate, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow Flavour: Extremely dry, extremely bitter lemon flavour. Surprisingly pleasant! Rating: 8/10

  Name: Switch Lemon Meringue Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 320mg (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Sodium cyclamate, Acesulphame K, Sodium Saccharin Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: The initial sensation is very creamy. As it goes down, the lemon flavour asserts itself more. Would probably be a ten, but there is a strong bitter aftertaste from the non-nutrative sweeteners. Rating: 8/10

Name: Red Bull Original Manufacturer: Red Bull Can size: 355ml (also 250 and 473ml) Energy: 975 kJ/500ml (VERY HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucrose, Glucose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: Beautifully clean, acidic flavour. Rating: 8/10

Name: Score Crush Manufacturer: Chillbeverages Can size: 500ml Energy: 400kJ  (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Acesulphame K, Cyclamates, Saccharins Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow Flavour: A bold, heavily fruity acidic pineapple taste. The coconut is more muted, but serves to soften the impact of the pineapple. Rating: 10/10

Name: Dragon Xtreme Berry Manufacturer: Kingsley Can size: 500ml Energy: 330 kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Acesulphame K, Sodium Cyclamate, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Carmoisine, Sunset Yellow, Brilliant Blue Flavour: Very acerbic, with a strong fruity taste. Not exactly clear which berry the target was, but extremely appealing flavour! Rating: 10/10

Name: Burn Original Manufacturer: Energy Beverages Can size: 500ml Energy: 400 kJ (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: Similar to a lot of the other "red" energy drink flavours, though not nearly as sweet-tasting as most, and also more mildly acidic. It also has a noticeable astringency to its overall mouth-feel. Rating: 6/10

Name: Score Original Manufacturer: Chillbeverages Can size: 500ml Energy: 565 kJ (HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar,  Aceplsulphame K, Cyclamates, Saccharin Other chemicals of interest:  Flavour: The basic flavour is what I think of as "red energy" - strongly acidic and sweet. In this case that counts double; it is among the sweetest tasting energy drinks available. All in all, boldly flavoured, about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the head. Rating: 7/10

Name: Dragon Iced Fruit Bubblegum Manufacturer: Kingsley Can size: 500ml Energy: 330 kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Acesulfame K, Aspartame, Sodium Cyclamate, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Carmoisine, Poinceau 4R, Sunset Yellow, Quinolene Yellow Flavour: The basic favour is strongly acidic and non-specifically fruity. However, there is another sensation, almost like when sucking strong mint sweets, that hits you at the back of your throat. It gives a quite long lasting cooling sensation, which is difficult to describe. Rating: 9/10

Name: Switch Choc Mint Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 3 45kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sodium Cyclamate, Aspartame, Aceplsulphame K Other chemicals of interest: Brilliant Blue Flavour: The mint flavour is quite prominent with the chocolate just a hint in the background. Alas, neither is able to mask the strong bitter aftertaste from all the aspartame. Rating: 5/10

Name: Switch Milktart  Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 360kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sodium Cyclamate, Aspartame, Aceplsulphame K Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow Flavour: Mostly, I taste cinnamon. There is also nothing much to mask the very strong bitter aspartame aftertaste. Rating: 4/10

Name: Go Blueberry Manufacturer: Spar Can size: 500ml Energy: 346kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sodium Cyclamate, Sodium Saccharin Flavour: Tart berry flavour, not subtle; quite a strong bitter aftertaste. Rating: 6/10

  Name: Monster Pipeline Punch Manufacturer: Monster Can size: 500ml Energy: 767kJ (VERY HIGH) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Maltodextrin, Sucralose, Inositol Flavour: Slightly acid, but strongly fruity taste. Quite difficult to pick out individual fruits, although overall the guava is the most prominent. Also contains orange, apple, pineapple and passion fruit per the tin. Rating: 10/10

Name: Switch Dry Lemon  Manufacturer: Switch Can size: 500ml Energy: 355kJ (MEDIUM) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sodium Cyclamate, Acesulphame K, Aspartame Other chemicals of interest: Quinoline Yellow, Brilliant Blue Flavour: A very balanced lemon soda taste - not too tart or sweet. Rating: 9/10

Name: Monster Mule Manufacturer: Monster Can Size: 500ml Energy: 30kJ (NEGLIGIBLE) Caffeine: 160mg Sweeteners: Sucralose, Acesulfame Flavour: Not marketed as such, but sugar-free. Intended to mimic a Moscow mule, it has a fairly mild ginger taste with a hint of lemon/lime. The sweeteners give it a prominent bitter aftertaste. Better sipped than gulped. Rating: 6/10

Name: Mofaya Orange Ting Manufacturer: Mofaya Can size: 500ml Energy: 171kJ (LOW) Caffeine: 150mg Sweeteners: Sugar, Sucralose Other chemicals of interest: Sunset Yellow Flavour: A no-frills Fanta orange taste, but a little tarter. Rating: 7/10