Natural energy drinks aren’t like spring water—there’s no secret natural energy drink tree whose sap can be bottled and sold. There’s no reservoir of caffeinated liquid. There’s no cloud raining down a Red Bull substitute. But there are energy drinks made with more naturally derived sources of caffeine—like tea energy drinks and energy drinks with caffeine from coffee beans, rather than synthetically produced caffeine.
And I tasted 14 of those natural energy drinks in order to find the best natural energy drink for you.
All I really wanted was a decent hit of caffeine and good flavor. Some energy drinks are an acquired taste. You cringe your way through the first few, and then, suddenly, you like the flavor of battery acid. But I don’t think it needs to be that way. I think energy drinks can (and should) taste good upon first sip. So, that’s what I was looking for in these natural caffeine energy drinks.
Here are the top five best natural energy drinks to buy—that actually taste good.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
- Maka Wheatgrass Superfood Beverage Hibiscus Passionfruit
-
If you’re one of those folks who actually likes the taste of Red Bull, then look no further for the best natural energy drink with which to replace it. It’s not as sweet as Red Bull, and it has a pleasant, tangy hibiscus flavor, as well. So, yes, it does taste like a traditional energy drink a bit—but it also tastes better than that. There’s 90 mg of caffeine from yerba mate and guayusa tea, along with wheatgrass powder. You can’t get that from Red Bull.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Odyssey Elixir Focus + Energy Passion Fruit Orange Guava
-
This isn’t just a natural energy drink (even though it does have 85 mg of green tea caffeine). It’s an adaptogenic drink. It’s a nootropic drink (nootropics are substances believed to boost brain performance). It’s made with ginseng and lion’s mane—that trendy fungus everyone’s talking about. Luckily, it doesn’t taste like a mushroom. Instead, it’s tangy and zesty. It has notes of tea and ginger, even though there’s no real tea or ginger in the ingredients. It tastes healthy—like something you might get from a juice bar. If you’re looking for a gentle boost of caffeine and a not-too-sweet sip, this is the best natural energy drink for you.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Georgie Sparkling Mango Burst
-
This natural energy drink made with green tea caffeine doesn’t taste like any other mango energy drink I’ve ever had before. It actually tastes like green mango—a little grassy and tart. But it still has some of that creaminess you get from fresh mango. It’s not crazy sweet at all, and it has just a touch of an energy drink aftertaste. Along with 150 mg of caffeine, this 5 calorie natural energy also includes B vitamins like Biotin, which is often taken to help strengthen hair and nails. The brand markets it as a “beauty-boosting” energy drink, but all you really need to know is that there’s natural caffeine and it tastes good.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Samabazon Acai Berry Passion Fruit Jungle Love
-
You might recognize this label from the frozen aisle. That’s because this brand is the maker of some of the best frozen acai bowls you can buy. But, apparently, you can do more with acai berries than make bowls. This natural energy drink is super, duper berry-rich. It’s tangy and juicy and very acai berry-forward. Yes, it’s more caloric than the other natural energy drinks on this list (120 cal per can), but the flavor makes those calories worth it. It contains 120 mg of caffeine derived from yerba mate, green tea, and guarana fruit juice—that’s about equivalent of 2.5 shots of espresso. Plus, it’s packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. If you love acai bowls and can handle some juice, this is the best natural energy drink to buy.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Riot Energy Cherry Watermelon
-
This natural energy drink is way more cherry than it is watermelon. It’s like actual sour cherry juice with just a touch of sweet watermelon. It’s really tart and fruity. And I’m shocked that there’s only 35 calories in a can—I barely taste any fake sugar flavor. It’s the most caffeinated natural energy drink on this list with 160 mg of caffeine from green tea and other plans. There’s also holy basil, an adaptogenic herb that purportedly aids in stress management, and B12. And it’s totally plant-based. This is also the most aggressive looking can on this list, so if you want a green tea energy drink that looks like it hangs out with Monster and Rockstar energy drinks, this is the one to grab.
Credit: Merc / Walmart

Best Red Bull-ish Flavor
Best Adaptogenic
Best Almost 0 Cal
Best Juicy
Best of the Best
Other natural energy drinks we tasted: Yerbae Yuzu Lime, Georgie Sparkling Peach Tea, Marquis Citrus Yuzu, Maka Wheatgrass Superfood Beverage Lemon, Yerbae Classic Lemonade, Yerbae Watermelon Strawberry, Georgie Sparkling Tropical Punch, Eboost Super Fuel Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade, Marquis Lemon Lavender