WITH the clocks going forward this morning due to the start of British Summer Time, we have all lost an hour of sleep.
So we’ll need all the energy we can muster this week.
We put three energy drinks on the market to the test
There are all kinds of energy drinks on the market – some are packed with chemicals but others can be categorised under the health tag.
Today Jane Atkinson puts some to the test . . .
JUST THE TONIC
BILLED as the “world’s first energy tonic water”, Buzzed has just been launched.
It is made up of carbonated spring water, bossom honey, citric acid, natural flavourings, natural caffeine and the plant-based stevia.
SUPPLIEDThe drink tastes like, well, tonic water but it does give you a kick[/caption]
Each can contains 18kcals and 48mg of caffeine – so slightly more than the 40mg found in your average coffee.
The caffeine in Buzzed apparently comes from tea grown in the UK.
The drink tastes like, well, tonic water. No different to the normal stuff, at all. But it does give you a kick. A bit more of an immediate up spike and then down though.
From 63p a can at https://buzzedenergy.co.uk.
GIVE GREEN A GO
PERFECT Ted, named after one of the owners, is a green matcha drink.
Matcha is a type of green tea that contains about three times more antioxidants than high-quality regular green tea.
SUPPLIEDIt has a fresh, slightly dry taste with a fantastic ginger kick and is a great pick-me-up[/caption]
It also has a naturally high slow-release caffeine that has benefits for four to six hours, versus one to two hours from coffee.
I tried the pear and ginger flavour which contains pear, ginger and lemon juice plus green tea extract and organic, ceremonial-grade matcha.
It claims to reduce anxiety, promote focus and support brain health.
I don’t like green tea but I loved this. It has a fresh, slightly dry taste with a fantastic ginger kick. I felt more alert after it. A great pick-me-up.
It has 80mg of caffeine and 37kcal per 250ml can. From £1.50 at perfectted.com.
FRUIT BOOST
Purdey’s Natural Energy Refocus Dark Fruits is most certainly a health drink.
It contains vitamins B2, B3, B6 and B12, which contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
SUPPLIEDIt tasted delicious and gives you the same kind of energy as a coffee[/caption]
It also has vitamin C to support the functioning of the immune system, and extracts from guarana, which has among the highest concentrations of caffeine in any plant, plus ginseng and damiana to provide energy.
Each 330ml bottle has 43mg of natural caffeine.
This one contains carbonated water and grape, apple, blackberry and sloe fruit juices.
It tasted delicious and gives you the same kind of energy as a coffee.
£1.65 per bottle at hollandandbarrett.com.