Red Bull is one of the most popular drinks around the world, with 154 million cases sold in 2021 in the US alone! This drink originally started in Thailand and was responsible for kickstarting the energy drink niche. In this article, we will break down Red Bull’s flavor and explore how this drink became a worldwide hit!
What does Red Bull taste like? Red Bull has a unique and distinctive taste similar to a sour berry with a tangy aftertaste with hints of citrus. You may even detect tamarind/licorice notes! Red Bull is not overly sweet and has a medium amount of fizz.
What Is In Red Bull?
Have you ever wondered why Red Bull tastes so good and why it makes you feel so good? Then check out the ingredients list below:
Red Bull is a fizzy fruit energy drink that consists of:
- Carbonated Water
- Taurine
- Sucrose & Glucose
- Riboflavin
- Citric Acid
- Pantothenic Acid
- Caffeine
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Niacinamide
- B Vitamins (6 and 12)
This variety of ingredients ensures that Red Bull not only tastes amazing but gives you a rush of energy! Even though Redbull has the same amount of caffeine as a standard cup of coffee, the stimulant effects are more intense. This is thanks to the interaction of caffeine with taurine, B6, and B12.
Does Red Bull contain guarana? Red Bull does not contain guarana. Guarana is a stimulant that has been shown to aid weight loss, increase athletic performance, and alleviate fatigue. It is a common ingredient in energy drinks like V, but contrary to popular opinion, guarana is not found in Red Bull.
Does Red Bull contain creatine? Red Bull does not contain creatine! Red Bull does contain a number of water-soluble vitamins, including B6, B12, riboflavin, and niacinamide. If you want an energy drink with creatine, try a can of Bang!
Most energy drinks do not contain creatine. However, creatine is a common ingredient in pre-workout supplements such as C4 by Cellucor, a single serving contains 1 gram of creatine. Bang Energy drinks also contain creatine, a can of Bang contains 32 mg of creatine.
See also: What Does Dr Pepper Taste Like? Dr Pepper Ultimate Taste Guide
Does Red Bull Actually Taste Good?
Red Bull’s taste is definitely controversial! There are diehard Red Bull lovers who consume the beverage daily and view their Red Bull just like others view their morning coffee. While on the other hand, there are people who think that the legendary energy drink tastes like it is full of chemicals and should be sold in a pharmacy. With most things, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
Does Red Bull actually taste good? If you like sweet citrus and berry-like flavors with a bit of a sour kick and a tangy aftertaste, then you will like Red Bull. If you dislike caffeine and fizzy drinks, you should find another beverage.
People who dislike Red Bull claim the tangy taste is similar to tamarind and that the golden yellow drink tastes like fizzy cough syrup. We personally enjoy the sweet berry and sour citrus flavor and don’t understand comparisons to licorice or cough syrup.
Does Red Bull taste like beer? Red Bull does not taste like beer at all. Red Bull is a fizzy fruity drink with a sweet taste and light feeling. In contrast, beer is bitter with a heavy bready taste.
Red Bull and beer are two completely beverages! Red Bull tastes like tangy, sour lemonade with its own unique mystery fruity flavor. Beer, on the other hand, is bready and nutty with a powerful bitter flavor. Beer has a heavy taste and is not nearly as refreshing as a cold can of Red Bull.
A drink that falls in between beer and Red Bull is cider. A sour apple or sour berry cider is as if Red Bull and beer had a baby! Due to the distinct flavors, you could absolutely hate beer but love Red Bull and vice versa.
See also: Monster Energy Drink Taste Ultimate Guide
Red Bull was one of the first companies to create a beverage that offered something to everyone. The goal of Red Bull was to create a healthy beverage that can supercharge people by loading them up with vitamins and caffeine but still taste amazing so consumers could enjoy it like other sodas such as Coke. For some consumers, the vitamins and high caffeine content cause an unnatural and chemical taste, while others enjoy the unique flavor and find it more appealing than standard sodas.
Is Red Bull Alcoholic?
If you have ever seen any of Red Bull’s advertising, you know that the drink is meant to give you a high and boost your energy. According to the Red Bull ads, simply take a sip of Red Bull, and you will grow a set of wings and effortlessly overcome your daily challenges. But how does Red Bull get you high if it doesn’t contain alcohol?
Is Red Bull Alcoholic? Red Bull does not contain alcohol or any trace amounts. Red Bull instead contains natural stimulants such as caffeine, taurine, B6, and B12 which make you more energetic and boost your athletic performance.
While Red Bull contains zero alcohol, it is a popular mixer. Red Bull goes great with various alcohols, including vodka and Jagermeister. A legendary alcoholic drink featuring Red Bull and Jagermeister is known as a Jagerbomb. To create a Jagerbomb, simply drop a shot of Jagermeister into a glass of Red Bull.
Consuming Red Bull and alcohol is not advertised! It is not wise to mix a stimulant (Red Bull) with a depressant (Alcohol). You are essentially playing tug of war with your body. The odd Jagerbomb (why do they have to be so tasty!) won’t kill you, but we suggest drinking alcohol and Red Bull separately.
See also: Tasting Guide To Boba Tea! Is It Worth Sipping?
Is Red Bull Sweet?
Red Bull has an extremely distinct flavor and is loaded with its fair share of sugar or sweetener but can you taste it? Red Bull is sweet but not nearly as sweet as your average soda like Coke, Fanta, or Sprite. Red Bull’s sweetness is subdued by its sour, almost green apple taste and tangy citrus aftertaste.
Red Bull is loaded with sugar! A single can of Red Bull contains 26 grams of sugar. However, the drink is not overly sweet because it has a healthy dose of citric acid! Luckily, Red Bull has a sugar-free version!
Why is Red Bull sour? Red Bull is sour because it features a range of B vitamins, notably B6 and B12, and citric acid. The sourness is then subdued by sucrose and glucose to give it a smooth and fruity flavor, a bit like a sour green apple.
If you are looking for a medium-sweet fizzy beverage with a sour kick, then you will love Red Bull. If you don’t like a slightly sour fruity flavor, we recommend finding another drink! If you are concerned about the high sugar content, you can always pick up a sugar-free can of Red Bull!
What Flavor Is Red Bull?
If you have looked at a Red Bull can or bottle, you will notice that there is no listed flavor! Red Bull does not list its flavor or give it a name. The energy drink company simply leaves it up to its consumers to try and describe the flavor profile!
What flavor is Red Bull? Red Bull does not have a classic flavor like lemon, apple, or orange. Instead, Red Bull features a unique recipe that results in a distinct taste. Red Bull’s flavor is best described as a sweet fruity flavor with a sour kick and tangy aftertaste.
See also: What Does Kombucha Taste Like? Everything You Need to Know
What Does Red Bull Smell Like?
Red Bull smells citrusy! With a hint of berries and flowers. The smell is much gentler than the flavor, and it masks the somewhat bitter taste. It has a slight chemical and artificial nose but overall is fairly pleasant. Don’t worry, you won’t jump back in horror after having a sniff!
Red Bull smells fairly good by energy drink standards which is famous for its pungent smell. The most noticeable smells are fruit and flowers. You can also detect some strange chemical smells, but it is mostly masked by the citrus and berry aroma.
10 Interesting Facts About Red Bull
Red Bull is a slightly mysterious drink. To learn more about this top-selling energy drink, check out some of our favorite Red Bull facts below:
- Red Bull is based on a Thai energy drink called Krating Daeng.
- A woman claimed to go blind after drinking 28 cans of Red Bull in a single day.
- Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz found the original Thai Red Bull cured his jetlag and decided to partner with the original Thai founder, Chaleo Yoovidhya, and bring the drink to Europe.
- Red Bull has its very own formula 1 racing team, which allegedly costs $500 million.
- Red Bull contains the same amount of caffeine as a standard cup of coffee.
- Red Bull only uses 100% natural ingredients.
- German authorities once found cocaine traces in Red Bull from the cocoa leaves it uses in its production process.
- In 2020, 7.9 billion Red Bull cans were sold across the world!
- Austria is the biggest consumer of Red Bull per capita at 7.6 liters per person!
- The Thai heir to the Red Bull fortune Vorayuth Yoovidhya killed a Thai police officer back in 2012 in a hit-and-run accident in Bangkok involving his Ferrari and is still on the run.
Summing Up The Red Bull Taste Debate
Red Bull has an interesting flavor that features a medium sweet taste and a variety of fruit-like flavors such as kiwi, apple, pear, and pineapple. The sweetness of Red Bull is juxtaposed against the sourness of the B vitamins, which many consumers describe as a sour green apple flavor. The famous energy drink also features a slightly tangy aftertaste with a chemical-esque flavor, thanks to taurine and caffeine.
FAQ
Does Red Bull Taste Like Pineapple?
Red Bull tastes like a mixture of different fruits; You will taste hints of apple, pineapple, and citrus. However, the taste is synthetic and does not taste like a specific fruit, as Red Bull’s recipe is unique and filled with additives, including caffeine, taurine, and B vitamins.
Can You Drink 3 Red Bulls a Day?
You should not drink 3 Red Bull per day as this would lead to an overconsumption of caffeine. A safe amount of caffeine per day is 400mg, while 3 red bulls contain 450mg (150mg per drink).
Does Red Bull Make You High?
As Red Bull contains taurine and caffeine, it does give you a mild stimulant-induced high. After drinking Red Bull, you will experience a mild sense of euphoria, increased energy, be more social and even receive a boost to your confidence.
Does Red Bull Cause Acne?
There is no evidence to suggest that any of the ingredients in Red Bull, including caffeine, cause acne. Therefore, the fact that some people have acne and drink Red Bull is merely coincidental as the two factors are unrelated.
Is Red Bull Addictive?
The caffeine in Red Bull is physically addictive, and if you stop drinking Red Bull cold turkey, you may experience caffeine withdrawal, including headaches and fatigue. Red Bull is also psychologically addictive as some people believe they are incapable of performing tasks without consuming the beverage.