Archive for the ‘Product review’ Category

Energy Lifesaver from China? Raging Bull Energy Candy

Monday, May 17th, 2010

[Our new friend EDJunkie.com is starting to review some of our crazy products.  Right now KingofCaffeine.com is the only place you can get these energy candies. Check out the review and then pick a few up. Original review here.]

Raging Bull Energy candy

Raging Bull Energy Candy

Here we have an interesting energy product from China. I saw this and was really intrigued since the name was very similar to Red Bull and each piece of candy is supposed to contain 80 mg of caffeine. Then there was the price which is quite a bargain.

Packaging: Well first of it looks like a pack of smokes. To make matters worse the candies themselves are wrapped in foil packets that reminds me of a condom package (albeit one for someone with a really tiny member). Other than those things it is not too bad looking with its gold foil and band around the top featuring various sport images. They have put an English label on the side so you can tell the ingredients as well. Grade C for packaging. It is interesting and if your mom spots these in your nightstand drawer she will think you are either smoking Chinese athletic cigarettes or you have really tiny penis like Lady Gaga.

Slogan: “An energy drink in a candy” is on the box on the little English added on sticker. There might be something else as well but I don’t read Chinese. Grade C

Taste: So I tear open the little tiny foil pack to reveal a lifesaver shaped candy. It does not really have any scent. Popping one in my mouth it has a really interesting taste I can’t quite pin down. It is sweet but it is not candy like. Once I tried a second one it hit me though. It’s like instant hot chocolate. It is a fake chocolate candy flavor with just a tiny bit of bitterness. Really though it taste ok and they did a good job of covering up the energy ingredients taste. Totally unique in taste and I give it a grade of C for taste

Kick/Ingredients: I was feeling pretty tired so I ate 2. It took only 10 minutes to hit me. My mood was suddenly better, my eyes wide open, and I was generally pretty energized. It was not jittery or intense but it was a fairly good buzz. It lasted around 3 hours with no crash at the end. I’d put it on par with your typical 8 oz energy drink. I don’t think only eating 1 piece would cut it though so you need to eat 2. These little candies each contain 80 mg caffeine, 125 mg Taurine, 50 mg Inositol, 50 mg Lysine, and some B vitamins. You get that with unkown amouts of calories. It is sweetened with Xylitol. I’ll give it a grade of C as long as you eat two pieces.

Web Presence: There is a site at zhongtang.net.cn but since I don’t read Chinese I can’t really tell you much about it. Grade NA

Raging Bull Energy Candy

Recap:

  • Packaging  C
  • Slogan C
  • Taste C
  • Kick/Ingredients C
  • Web Presence NA
  • Ok so I had real high hopes for these candies. They were not really a let down but they did turn out to be just average.
    Pros are

    • They are a great value and super portable
    • They don’t taste bad at all
    • Great conversation starter
    • Decent kick

    Cons are

    • Mom thinking you have a tiny Lady Gaga penis
    • Mom Thinking you are an athletic smoker

    Truly though these are worth checking out though. They might be a curiosity but they do deliver energy. These can be bought at King Of Caffeine who was nice enough to provide me this sample and you can buy these from him.

    [You saw it here first! The Energy Lifesaver from China - get yours now and STAY UP!

    ~King]

    5150 Juice: Liquid Caffeine Review

    Sunday, May 16th, 2010

    [EnergyFiend.com has been reviewing some of KingofCaffeine.com's products. Here's one 5150 Juice - the first of the new Caffeine Booster category. Now turn anything into an energy drink! Original review here.

    5150_Bottle_8Let’s get right to it: 5150 Juice has landed and it’s no energy drink. It’s no energy shot. It’s the fabled bottle of piss and vinegar, and I’m here to review it for you. Movin’ on

    Taste

    5150 Juice is basically an eye dropper of liquefied caffeine, without any of those fru-fru flavor ingredients. I shouldn’t have to say much more here, because believe it or not, every one of you has tasted 501 Juice. Don’t remember? Think back to the last energy product you consumed that had a bitter after taste. That after taste? It was 5150 Juice.

    Now, 5150 Juice is not meant to be drunk on its own, but mixed with a beverage of choice. Power to the people! When mixing a recommended capful of 5150 Juice with your favorite vending machine product, you won’t have to concentrate hard to pick up on the 5150 aftertaste. It’s noticeable, but by no means does it destroy your drink.

    Ingredients

    Every cap of liquid gives you roughly 100mg of caffeine. Movin’ on

    Effect

    A capful of 5150 Juice will go to work with respectable intent, much to my delight. I never found out what more than one cap will do, because one was always enough! There’s not much to expect when it comes to crashing.

    Verdict

    This one’s got my thumbs up. I just love the idea of having a resealable, highly portable, bottle of concentrated caffeine. Keeping one in a jacket pocket is the epitome of being prepared for an energy lover.

    So, while you’re here, fun little story for you. I recently got a job, and drug testing was required. When I got to the drug testing lab, I remembered that I had just foolishly used the bathroom about 15 minutes before. This was a horrible situation, because I needed to get the test that day without choice, the lab was about to close, and I had nothing left for the pee cup.

    I panicked a little, and then got smart. The 5150 Juice in my jacket vest pocket had about 1/4 left, so I gulped it all down and followed that up with a greedy water fountain session. 25 minutes later, the caffeine worked its magic and I went through with the drug test! You see, it never hurts to have caffeine in your pocket. You’ll never know when it can come in handy.

    Reviewed by Dusty Smith

    You can get your own 5150 Juice from KingofCaffeine.com

    [This stuff has been flying out the door - people are caffeinating everything with it! Get yours now and STAY UP!

    ~King]

    Powerful Hijinks turn anything into an energy drink

    Thursday, May 13th, 2010

    [Big Red Boots has more reviews of our products.  This one is a new category - you can check it out here. The original article is here.]

    hijinksWe now officially have a new category of energy supplement, the energy drink mixer. These are things you add to your drinks to turn them caffeinated, without really affecting flavor or color, like Fein, Energy Catalyst and 5150 juice. These are sort of like an anti roofie. Rohypnol + Beer = Bad Bad Bad. Hijinks + Beer = good good good! These products are available on their site, or from my gracious friends at Kingofcaffeine.com, who sent me some samples to try out.

    Think of all the cool things you could do with this that you can’t with normal energy drinks. Is your Middle School not allowing energy drinks? Sneak some in your juice carton for a big lunchtime buzz your teachers will love you for! Girlfriend or boyfriend sleepy after a night out? Pop some in their favorite beverage and they will keep poppin it like it’s hot at 3A.M! When anything can become an energy drink, the possibilities for fun and mischief are everywhere!

    (note: anything stupid you do with this stuff is your responsibility. But I’d love to hear about it in the comments below)

    Buzz:10
    Here is the difference between Hijinks and the other mixers I have tried. This one actually makes an energy drink, rather than just add caffeine. And you can really feel the difference! While the 200mg of caffeine is some pretty serious stuff, it is definitely helped out with the old energy drink favorites, taurine, glucurolactone, l-carnatine and inositol. While I have certainly had more caffeinated mixtures – this stuff will easily kick anyone’s ass for hours.

    Taste:8
    While the taste disappears in strong -flavor-filled drinks, this is the most taste filled of the no-taste mixers I have had. Shooting it by itself is akin to slamming a shot of Everclear – down to the chalky “yeerrrrgh” face and shudder that inevitably follows. If you have never had Everclear before, imagine the flavor and texture of liquid chalk. Although Real Men like Clint, Bronson and Jon Wayne could knock this back without even squinting their eyebrows, my work friend made a mad dash for the soda on her desk and the back of my mouth felt curdled.
    Now, in a drink, this stuff is pretty damn good. It is a little noticeable in 6 ounces of soda, and too much to handle in unsweetened chamomile tea or breakfast blend coffee. But, in something more flavorful, like in Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Grape Juice and Vodka Tonics, this stuff was absolutely flavorless.
    So keep it in mind – coffee:no, Double mocha latte: yes. Light Pilsner: no, Strong IPA: yes. Sodas are always a good bet, and for hours of fun, try it inside your next Red Bull!

    Packaging:5
    Really, this one threw me. The name, the sanscript-y font, the medicinal labeling – who is this appealing to? The gold, black and white label on the clear non-recyclable medicine dropper-like bottle is also an odd choice. This does not really scream out energy, more like screams out Essential Oil or maybe lotion. Without stopping and closely reading the label I would have no idea it contained energy ingredients. I would expect this more in the natural foods store or herbal shop.

    Although the package sent to me initially did not have any shrink wrap, I was told by the CEO of Hijinks that ALL of the production line does, and the wrap has a UV coating on it, to keep the labeling white and the liquid crystal clear.

    [As this is a new product we're still waiting on it to get into the warehouse.  As soon as we have you can pick some up and kick start your favorite drink. Till then:

    STAY UP!

    ~King]

    Great Blitz Gum Review

    Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

    [Our friend PossessedbyCaffeine.com takes on Blitz gum. Check it out for a great reveiw. The original is here.

    Shiny Blitz gum a decent buzz for a decent value

    blitz_gumCaffeine seems to be coming in more and more unique methods of delivery. While I never would have believed there could be a caffeinated gum ten years ago, now the market seems absolutely flooded with them. The latest is Blitz Energy Gum, sent to me by the ever gracious Kingofcaffeine.com

    This comes in three very different flavors. There is cinnamon, peppermint, and spearmint. The big difference here is that they add caffeine to the entire gum, rather than just the coating. This means a more bitter flavor when you start off, and a mellowing out the more you chew. That is one of the things that I enjoy about this gum - that you can keep chewing on it for a good 10 minutes before it starts to lose flavor. While not as unassuming as Amp gum, it is not nearly as jolting an experience as when you pop a Go Fast in your mouth. These are selling at a very decent price for all the caffeine that is involved here - and works very well as a drink substitute.

    Taste: Spearmint:8 Peppermint:6 Cinnamon:4
    The spearmint Reminds me more of a inexpensive stick of Trident than anything else. It is a light an unassuming flavor, and definitely the one closest to uncaffeinated gum. If you are unused to the bitter flavor of caffeine in your foods, I would start of with this one. It is easily the most pleasant of the lot

    The peppermint is a bit spicier, but mellows out after the first 2 minutes or so. While the caffeine flavor is not noticeable, they used a whole lot of spice to mask it out. It does not taste fantastic, but I can eat a couple of them before it gets too much. This is a hot one - so it would do well as a breath freshener as well. It also lasts the longest - at keast a good 10 minutes before the flavor runs out

    The cinnamon still needs work. It is a bitter and harsh mess that does not taste horrid as much as unfinished. The sweet they use to mask the bitterness of the caffeine just does not work, and there is a chalky taste in your mouth when you finish up. The food scientists need to spend another couple weeks making these right.

    BUZZ:8
    Each piece of gum contains 55 milligrams of caffeine as well as taurine, and vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12. Like most gum, you will feel this much faster, as it is absorbed sub-lingually, rather than having to be digested ( your mouth absorbs caffeine into your bloodstream much faster than your stomach). They advertise the buzz hitting you in about 10 minutes, but I felt it much faster. a pack lasts a good half hour - and you can get quite a buzz after chewing on three or four of them in a row!

    Packaging:9
    packaging is really cool - in a design scheme of a 50s diner. The whole package is in a bright shiny aluminum, looking like the outside of an old diner. This is helped by the font choice of the logo, straight out of a 1950s scene. The blister pack is normal, and they helpfully list the caffeine on back as well. It's hard to turn down chewing a piece when it looks as hip as this one does.

    [Thanks Big Red Boots! Get your Blitz Energy Gum now!]

    KickBrix Energy Gummies

    Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

    kickbrix

    [Our friends at PossessedbyCaffeine.com are telling us like it is again.  Here is the latest review on one of the latest products. Get your energy in a nice candy wrapping - energy gummies.]

    Kickbricks might have started off with something commonplace – a slightly sour chew, but have abandoned them for something seriously interesting. Caffeinated energy gummie bricks! These little fantastic chewy squares are a nice kick in the ass when you need it, and give the candy freak in you the sticky toothed glack your sugar taste buds are craving. While I would not put this flavor up to a gourmet gummie bear, I would say that you get quite a bang for the buck.

    Taste:10
    I am a big fan of gummie bears by and large, and these are pretty fantastic. Now these really are not bears, but the bricks are the same chewy gelatinous texture. The flavor is pretty intense, sharp and sour – but sweet in the back of the tongue and very flavorful. This is not the crappy flavorless gummies you find in cellophane bags – but a real candy treat!

    What I did not find in this is any bitterness of the caffeine, and a nice aftertaste that was not fake sugared or medicinal. The move away from chews to these bricks is a fantastic thing.

    Buzz:8
    Three of these equal one energy drink. What does that mean, I don’t exactly know. I can tell you that the 25-30mg of caffeine provides quite a nice boost – especially because it is hard to stop at three. I suggest you just give in and plan on finishing all six in the pack. There was also a generous helping of Taurine and Vitamin B to help kick it too.

    Nutritionally, there is exactly what you would expect from a gooey gummie brick, except for the artificial colors or flavors. Instead, they use black carrot juice concentrate for color and all natural flavors.IF you are looking for a nice bouncy pick me up, I would rip open a bag in a heartbeat.

    Packaging:7
    This came in an easy to shred open plastic bag, which looked great! In terms of the layout and design, this works really well. My only issue with this is that they really should label the bag as 1 serving, or find a way to reseal it when it is closed so it can save. It also seems dumb to have 3 sad little gummies in the bottom of one of these bags. A big thanks goes out to kingofcaffeine for providing me the samples

    [Well get your Energy Gummies now at your friendly KingofCaffeine.com]

    ~King

    Crazy Koru Energy Strips give fast burning instant energy

    Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

    [Big Red Boots reviews the Koru Energy strips and they are good for more than just your energy level! His original post is here his blog is here]

    Crazy Koru Energy Strips give fast burning instant energy

    koruYou know those times when an energy drink won’t do? When a coffee just does not give you the energy you need right at that second? I have found a solution providing almost instant energy – and in the perfect dosage too!

    Kingofcaffeine.com has provided me with some samples of Koru Energy Strips, these little tabs you slip under your tongue and absorb the caffeine quickly in your system. This ups the ante from Diablo strips, giving you more power than you could imagine from only 40mg of energy.
    While the effect is short lived, for a quick and tasty pick-me-up, Koru really does the trick.

    Buzz:9
    I really did not expect much from this, being only 40mg of caffeine. Surprise, Surprise, I felt a definite and marked improvement of my concentration levels, my energy and my focus. Within 15 seconds or so, I was very alert, and able to get down to business, even after a rough weekend including sick children, bad movies, and $2.00 bottles of wine.

    Mind you, because the 40mg hits you quick, it also leaves you quick. Within a couple hours, I was ready for more. I spread the 4 doses out during the day, giving myself enough energy to last the whole day,and still get enough sleep at night. You can even take a hit of Koru after work without fear of being kept awake all night! While the 40mg might seem tame, in actuality it is a great way to control your energy throughout the day

    Taste:9
    I have dissolved quite a few things on my tongue, and none of them have been this tasty! This is like a small mint that quickly turns into a lovely minty aftertaste. Within 10 seconds, it is no longer in your mouth leaving you with fresh breath. I enjoyed the flavor quite a lot, better than any other breath strips on the market today. My only issue is that they used aspartame as one of their sweeteners, and you can really taste it. With all those other sugars out there, why not pick one without that bitterness? While I don’t mind the flavor all that much, I know of some who would get pretty turned off.

    Packaging:9
    Well? Just look at it! The big tribal design just screams at you the directions of what to do with the product – and looks scary and cool in the process. The whole delivery method of the foil pack is easy to get at, and a brilliant design. Everything about this is unique and stellar, from the color choices to functionality. The only thing I found that was lacking was the caffeine information – only presenting the user with a “High Caffeine Content” warning. I really would have preferred to know this straight out – as opposed to hunting around on the internet to find out.

    [Get them here]

    Stay up

    ~King

    Energy Starbursts?

    Monday, April 5th, 2010

    Our friend Big Red Boots is at it again. This time he’s taking on Energy Starbursts…? Well you’ll just have to read it and see.

    Livewire Chews have 1st rate energy, but taste like 3rd world Starbursts

    Livewire_Energy__4ae378fb52ae5 (1)The problem with Caffeinated candies is you can not help but compare them to the original thing. It can’t be helped. When I unwrap a piece of Laffy Taffy or Now and Later, I expect it to taste like yummy processed fake flavored sugar. Starbursts are not supposed to be healthy or nutritious, and your mouth already has planned for the Constancy of a chew. That is why when you get an old piece of a chewy taffy and it crumbles in your mouth it gets spit out. You already know what you expect. 

    That makes it hard for new energy treats using that same formula. Gum should taste and act like Gum. Skittles should taste and act like skittles. And bright orange and purple chews should taste like gooey sugar and melt in your mouth and get stuck in your teeth, just like the candy does.

    Livewire energy chews come in three flavors, not counting the chocolates. I managed to get hold of Pomaberry and Citrus Mango from kingofcaffeine.com (A Big Thanks). Truthfully, I was a little trepidatious trying these out, as they have about double the caffeine content of the reigning Chew Champ, Hydrive. As yummy as Hydrive is, however, they might have some real competition from the deliciousness of Livewire Citrus Mango.

    Taste:5
    That is not to say there were no problems with these chews, as they tasted a bit like 3rd world Starbursts. They were reminiscent of those candies you find in pre-stuffed Pinatas – where your senses tell you something is not quite right but you can’t put your finger on it. That is not to say that either flavor was disappointing – quite the opposite! For a full 90mg of caffeine, this chew was pretty astounding. They do just melt in your mouth, and act like a candy chew should, except for a whole lot of harshness from the Pomaberry candy, and a little too much health from the Citrus Mango.

    Buzz:8
    Of course, these have 90mg per chew, which is one heck of a lot for a tiny candy. Masking all that caffeine bitterness was quite hard, I am sure, but the buzz these give off is worth it! Taking one is good if you just need a little pick me up, but to actually feel something, pop them consecutively in your mouth ( 2 at a time is a bit too much). You will feel the rush almost immediately, and it is a nice one at that. Although it does not last very long, it is a nice ride while it’s there.  One of the people I work with summed it up best by saying it tastes like 3rd world Starbursts. not bad, but not quite right on the taste buds.

    Packaging:9
    The box it comes in is very pretty and full of starbursts and shiny futuristic fonts. Inside, you have some cute logos showing you when is the best time to take or not to take their chews. I really enjoyed the layout, and they did a great job making the foil wrapper not only have their branding, but also keep these sticky suckers from melting and glopping on the inside of your pockets, but no get so sticky that you are left chewing on the foil wrap. Compared to my last Chew review, this one was light years better.

    [Thanks Big Red Boots - check out the original article here. Get your Livewire chews here]

    STAY UP!

    ~King

    Fein Crystals energize soda, milk, fruit, even caffeinated marijuana brownies

    Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

    [Our friend over at PossessedbyCaffeine.com and the Caffeine Examiner had this to say about a great new product that we are carrying - Fein Energy Crystals, read on]

    Fein03multisticksWhat if you had the ability to caffeinate anything? Not in the wrong and bad way of crushing No-Doz tablets and adding the vile powder into stuff and ruining you dish, but to be able to sprinkle some magic powder on top of your food or drinks and instantly turn it into a caffeinated treat?

    Fein crystals do just that. These are tiny packages of caffeine citrate, a form of caffeine not usually used in energy drinks or other caffeinated goodies. Fein is just caffeine, without any other energy ingredients, sweeteners, any artificial colors or flavors – and this is a good thing. And because this is a pure form of caffeine, it works better at a lower dosage than coffee or guarana based caffeine too. From my own experiences, mixed with a can of Diet Mountain Dew this becomes a powerhouse of energy, and manages to stave off the afternoon sleepies when baked in an afternoon cookie. It turns out, when baked or put into a real food, the caffeine effect takes longer and is more spread out. In sodas and dairy foods, you get the effect much faster.But never, ever put it in a heavy dinner meal, or you won’t be sleeping that night.

    While Fein is not exactly tasteless, it certainly has a very mild flavor when compared to anything else on the market, and is easily added to just about any spiced food or drink and not affect flavor or color! The possibilities are endless.

    Upon receiving the box of Fein, the experimentation began. I started to look at what around me could be caffeinated and yield the best results. Soda became instant energy drinks without affecting flavor at all! Juice? Check. coffee? Check. White Wine? Check. Titan Pale Ale? Check. Chocolate Milk?? Check!!

    Since this worked so well in just about every drink I tried it in (chamomile tea proved too light a taste and ended up a little sour), I decided to move Fein into more unconventional areas. I started looking for foods to use with it.
    I am very pleased to say that Fein did great in salsa, Cherry Pie filling, Cupcake frosting, pancake syrup and yes, even caffeinated catchup!

    Then the real test began. I started cooking with Fein. It works in Egg Omelets, It works in cookies and lime sherbet too. For a real wake up, try adding a little fein to a tropical Friut salad or smoothie. When I tried baking with Fein, an idea struck me when I started adding it to a packaged brownie mix.

    I live in Denver, which actually has more Marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks (Over 300 stores in Denver proper). Between my work and home, there are over 22 different places serving out medical Pot to the needy – and some were about to get energized. Through a chef who prepares caffeinated baked goods to dispensaries, a Ganja baker added some to the dark chocolate truffles made for a dispensary as an unofficial test to the effectiveness and flavor, as pot has the effect to make some users sluggish and lethargic. Although there was a noticeable light flavor difference (it made the chocolate more tart, the Fein gave a light boost to the brave souls who ate it, reporting much higher levels of energy and focus.

    My only issue is that these packages are not so easy to open up. While they certainly can stand the effects of water, freezing temperatures and shoved into pockets all day, they get to be a pain to rip open if you are using more than one in something. I would love to see this in an easier to dispense package too, so it can be used as a food additive more than just as as a dietary supplement.

    Fein’s next stop should be appearing next to the packages of Splenda at a Denny’s near you. But for now, you can find them at… kingofcaffeine.com.

    [Thanks Big Red Boots for the review. Get your Fein now and STAY UP!]

    ~King

    Fresh Powder

    Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

    HelixWhat?! It is Winter – but we’re not talking that kind of powder. We have a bunch of new powdered energy products in stock and some great new innovations.

    The classics

    One of the leaders in this unique caffeinated industry is Zipfizz a powdered energy drink mix that took the energy world by storm about 5 years ago.

    Phix is packed with vitamins and has some great tea based flavors. Get a great daily vitamin packed with a Yerbe Mate boost.

    The new guy on the scene has a ton of flavor and a ton of caffeine.  Zizzazz has 200mg’s of caffeine and great sweet choices.

    Another lesser known powdered drink is Helix. It only comes in Orange now, but it has a nice boost and good flavor as well.

    Also we’re still trying to get a hold of some Blow.  No, not that kind of blow, but the energy drink mix that was forced out of the country due to its choice of name and marketing techniques.  We’ll keep you updated.

    The Pixie sticks

    Powders have also gone another way that we can almost all relate to – the Pixie Stick approach.  There are several new products on the market that are pioneering the straight to mouth approach to caffeine.  With these you pour it in and start to fly, no water needed.

    Diesel Stix started by going after the body-building market but after realizing how much people loved their product they are launching for the world.

    Then our friends over at EnergyFiend.com turned us on to the new caffeine-packed powder out of the UK called Firestar. With 200mg of caffeine this is another power packed one. We are the only ones outside of the UK that carry this – so get it here, get it now!Firestar

    The darling of the category might end up being the Encaff Energy Stix.  Partnered with a well known food scientist they have included their soon to be famous “tasteless” caffeine. These really do remind you of Pixie Sticks, candy-like flavor with a kick.

    Get your powder for the winter and STAY UP!

    ~King