Non carbonated energy drinks aren’t as easy to come by as I thought they’d be. You can’t swing a stick in a gas station, grocery store, or pharmacy without hitting dozens of fizzy energy drinks, but what if bubbles bother your stomach? Or you’re just in the mood for something you can chug without unleashing the mother of all burps afterward?
The best non carbonated energy drinks are out there if you look hard enough. We sourced sips from brands like Bang, Monster, and Rockstar and ranked them based on flavor (you’ll have to judge their efficacy for yourself). Here are four non carbonated energy drinks you should have in the fridge.
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- Bang Original Sweet Ice Tea
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This is the best non carbonated energy drink for people who gravitate toward those big ol’ cans of super sweet iced tea when they make a pit stop at the convenience store. Bang’s non carbonated Sweet Tea line includes a bunch of flavors, from lemon to peach to “Wyldin’ Watermelon,” but of the varieties we tried, plain sweet tea was preferable. It’s a little bitter, almost like over-steeped tea. As for its bona fides as an energy drink, there are words and acronyms on the can that are meaningless to me (ULTRA COQ10??), but the big draw seems to be that Bang teas pack 300 milligrams of caffeine (that’s more than two cups of coffee), and contain zero sugar and zero calories, as well as zero bubbles. Southerners might balk at what passes for sweet tea in energy-drink world, but this is the best non carbonated energy drink if you’re cool with Arizona and Lipton canned tea.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Monster Hydro Purple Passion
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I’m a loud and proud fan of Monster energy drinks (our Monster flavors taste test made a convert of me). And while most Monsters come in a can and are fizzy, the Hydro line is great if you’re avoiding carbonation. Purple Passion is one of the best flavors I tried during our taste test. Monster’s site says the flavor profile is concord grape, but I think “grapeade” or “grape punch” is a little more accurate. It’s tasty, refreshing, plus, unlike carbonated Monster drinks, it comes in a bottle with a cap, so you don’t have to commit to drinking the whole thing in one sitting. (TBH, I’d probably drink even more Monster if the cans didn’t feel like such a huge commitment.)
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Rockstar Recovery Orangeade
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I recently tried Rockstar for another taste test and didn’t love it (that medicinal taurine taste will never appeal to me), but the brand’s Recovery line is a lot better—and these big ol’ cans are carbonation free! Rockstar Recovery Orangeade actually contains OJ concentrate, but the flavor is way more orange drink than orange juice. If you’re into the Hi-C Orange Lavaburst they have in the soda fountain at McDonalds, this is the best non carbonated energy drink you can buy. Along with 160 milligrams of caffeine per can, Rockstar Recovery contains B vitamins and electrolytes. This goes down way smoother than other Rockstar drinks.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Monster Hydro Killer Kiwi
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From its branding to its flavors, Monster is all about aggression. I love that. Give me agro bevs. Give me agro foods. I’m gonna go punch a hole in something just for the hell of it. Killer Kiwi Monster Hydro will murder you—with delicious kiwi flavor! This ranked high on our list of the best Monster drinks and it was the best non carbonated energy drink we tried in this taste test, too. As I wrote, “It’s fruity, a little tangy, and not salty like other hydration drinks.” If you want a Monster but don’t want to belch for the day, pick up Killer Kiwi (and then go punch a hole in something).
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Tea
Best Sports Drink
Best Rockstar
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: Monster Hydro Blue Ice, Monster Hydro Red Dawg, Monster Hydro Tropical Thunder, Monster Hydro Blue Streak, Bang Sweet Tea Georgia Peach, Bang Sweet Tea Lemon Drop, Rockstar Recovery Lemonade
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Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!