Red Bull is undoubtedly one of the most hyped energy drinks in the world, with the manufacturer running hilarious TV adverts that claim that the drink gives you wings. If you’ve never taken this drink, you may be wondering: What does Red Bull taste like, and does it really give you wings?
It’s important to have an idea of what the drink tastes like before you try it out to avoid disappointment. This article explains the taste of Red Bull to help you prepare your taste buds for the first sip.
Red Bull Introduction
Red Bull is a popular energy drink produced by an Austrian company, Red Bull GmbH. Since 2019, this energy drink enjoys 38 percent of the market share, making it the most popular energy drink brand in the world. The brand, which was established in 1987, has so far sold over 100 billion cans of its popular Red Bull drink, with 9.8 billion cans being sold in 2021 alone.
Initially, the drink was only available in a single non-descript taste and was sold in a tall, slender silver-blue can labeled Red Bull Energy Drink. Over time, the company has added more variants of the drink that are packed in different containers. One of the most memorable aspects of Red Bull is its signature marketing slogan, “Red Bull Gives You Wings”.
Its origin can be traced back to another popular drink known as Krating Daeng, discovered by Chaleo Yoovidhya – a pharmacist – in Thailand in 1976. Yoovidhya marketed the drink to laborers and students, touting it as the best way to boost their productivity. He also sponsored many sporting events in Thailand as a marketing strategy.
In the early 1980s, Dietrich Mateschitz bought a can of Krating Daeng in Thailand while on a business trip. The drink fascinated him so much that he approached Yoovidhya for a business partnership. The two produced a carbonated energy drink that targeted Westerners.
In 1984, the two businessmen founded Red Bull GmbH whose headquarters were based in Fuschi am See, Salzburg, Austria. They coined the name Red Bull using their own names. For instance, Daeng means Red, while Krating refers to a gaur or Indian bison – a species of wild bovine found in India.
The first can of Red Bull was sold in Europe in 1987. Close to ten years later, the company opened its first branch in the United States in 1996. Since then, the brand has been on an upward trajectory, selling billions of Red Bull cans every year. Although Red Bull and Kraeting Daeng cans have the red bull logo, they’re marketed individually in the Western and Thai markets.
To date, Yoovidhya’s heirs and Mateschitz own the majority shares of Red Bull GmbH. Unlike other energy drinks, which follow traditional marketing approaches, Red Bull has adopted a different tactic by creating a “brand myth” using proprietary extreme sporting events like Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Red Bull Crashed Ice, and Red Bull Air Race. It also sponsors standout stunts like the Stratos Space Diving Project.
Aside from sponsoring sports series, the brand has also included various sports team ownerships, music recording deals, and celebrity endorsements in its marketing strategy. All these advertising efforts have continued to boost its visibility and acceptance around the world.
What Does Red Bull Taste Like?
One thing that makes Red Bull different from other energy drinks is its unique taste. Most of the regular energy drinks are simply carbonated drinks with a sweet flavor, but it’s different for Red Bull. This energy drink comprises several ingredients, including taurine, glucose and sugar syrup, and caffeine. These ingredients give it a unique taste, which is one of its main selling points.
Red Bull has a slightly sour flavor that’s almost similar to that of tamarind or licorice. It’s also carbonated and sugary. Its flavor can also be described as citrus or tangy. The flavor is very strong when taking the first sip.
Although many people don’t have a problem with this flavor, some say it’s not appealing when they taste the drink for the first time. But even those who don’t find it appealing at first say the drink becomes tastier and more enjoyable as they continue to drink. This is just the original taste though.
Different Flavors of Red Bull
Previously, Red Bull was only available in the strong, classic citrus taste for conventional and sugar-free formulas. But in 2013, the brand started experimenting with other colored editions that featured various fruit flavors. These flavors were instantly accepted by the market, forcing the brand to include them in its product line. Here are the latest Red Bull flavors.
1. Tropical Fruits
This flavor comes in yellow and has an enjoyable taste of tropical fruits like mangoes and orange. But the yellow color of the mango flavor is heavier than that of the orange flavor. This flavor is usually sweetened with sucralose and sugar, which reduces the aftertaste.
2. Blueberry
The blueberry flavor can be a bit confusing because it hardly tastes like blueberries. So, you have to be a big fan of blueberries to enjoy this flavor. That’s why this flavor is the least popular.
3. Peach
The peach flavor was introduced in 2019 on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Since then, it has become a common sight at grocery stores and markets around the world. When you take the first sip, the flavor feels a bit light and enjoyable. But when you try harder, it feels like peach candies.
4. Kiwi Apple
This flavor was presented to the market in 2016. Since then, it has become an indispensable sight at stores and shops because it’s quite delicious. It’s lime green and its first taste feels like apple and kiwi.
5. Tangerine
This tangerine flavor belongs to the orange edition of 2016. It’s very refreshing and the orange taste isn’t overpowering.
Why Do People Like Red Bull?
People have different reasons why they like Red Bull. You have to taste it first to determine why you like it. Here are some of the main reasons why so many people love Red Bull.
1. The Brand Is Fairly New
As discussed above, Red Bull was established in 1987 ten years after other popular brands like Coca-Cola were established. Furthermore, Red Bull only arrived in the U.S. ten years after its establishment. Despite entering an already saturated market, the brand carved a niche for itself, creating a whole new product category.
2. Highly Prized
Since its introduction to the market, Red Bull has remained the most expensive non-alcoholic beverage in the world that’s readily available in any grocery store. Many people like to be associated with expensive products because they’re usually considered to be of the right quality and rare.
3. Fast-Moving
Red Bull drinks move very fast, ensuring that they don’t sit on the shelves for a long time. So, people are sure that whatever they’re drinking is fairly fresh.
4. A Variety of Flavors
Unlike other energy drinks, Red Bull has always had a unique flavor. Furthermore, it continues to introduce new flavors and expand its portfolio.
5. Giving Back to the Community
The brand sets aside some of its profits to support different community initiatives, including sponsoring sporting events and research. This inspires people to continue buying Red Bull drinks because they know some of their money will be used for useful causes.
For instance, Red Bull organizes extreme sports series like F1, skydiving, etc. It also runs a research foundation known as Wings For Life, which specifically researches the spinal cord to make spinal cord injuries curable.
6. Boosting Energy
Red Bull is a carbonated drink with caffeine as the main ingredient. Therefore, it’s a great source of energy, especially when you need more energy to perform an important task.
Is Red Bull Good For You?
As you go about your daily chores, your body needs extra energy to continue performing optimally. This is where a can of energy drink like Red Bull comes in handy. It will boost your energy, allowing you to remain productive throughout the day. However, some health experts have raised concerns over the link between the consumption of energy drinks and high blood pressure.
They argue that Red Bull and other brands of energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, glucose, artificial flavors, colors, and added stimulants that can easily cause your blood pressure to rise. They add that Red Bull and many other types of energy drinks contain high levels of acidity that can be harmful to your muscles, bones, and brain.
However, Red Bull maintains that its product is completely safe, insisting that a 250 ml can of Red Bull contains only 80 mg of caffeine, which is the same amount of caffeine contained in a single cup of coffee.
In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) tested Red Bull and concluded that its ingredients are of no concern. After further tests in 2015 and 2017, EFSA concluded that Red Bull is safe for human consumption.
