Thinq Energy drink

I have read where this comes, or came, in a  really slick tapered bottle.  However, the samples they sent me had this in the very normal - and probably a whole lot cheaper - slim 12 ounce cans.  They are not bad in this form either - coming in very shiny black on red or orange.  They double face and have everything nice and readable.

Still, I really think it is obnoxious that they hide their caffeine content.  For a drink that is supposed to give you energy and improve your mood, a l ittle more information as to the ingredients you plan on doing that with would be helpful.  

I got sent quite a few of both flavors they have now - a citrus blend and a berry blend.  While they both definitely have some similarities, I would not really say either are particularly good.  They both share the flavor of lip balm and perfume, something while might smell good - but not anything I want to be savoring.  

The citrus one is not that bad - although way too aromatic.  The taste reminds me of a tangerine or a blood orange, but there is an underlying medicinal quality that makes the whole experience unpalatable. I am not sure if it is all the other ingredients in this that they can not disguise or if there is a deeper problem.  

But the problem only gets worse when you switch to the berry flavor. It is not just me either - I must have given a half dozen of these away, and the general consensus is this really is not a yummy drink.  Not a single person who tried it liked the berry flavor, and only 2 of 7 would try the citrus again.  If you like the buzz enough to have this - I would recommend slamming it down fast with a chaser. 

This is not supposed to be just an energy drink - but a drink to help your body get more energy and better mood over the long run.  They do this by addign gionseng, acai Ginko Biloba, SAMe, Gaba and Coenzyme Q10.  This is a beautiful mix of ingredients - many of which I approve heartily of.  Coenzyme q10 is one of those miracle health foods - used to treat heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS - although, like Acai, the word is out on whether eating them actually does anything to you.  Same goes for the ginseng and SAMe, where they are supposed to be good for you if you take it for a long time - but the results are still debated.  A nice addition is the potassium, so it helps after a day of working out too.

What is the clincher for me (of course) is the caffeine - which is unlisted and most likely an afterthought. I did not feel even a little more happy or a touch more caffeinated from drinking down a bottle.  My mood did not really improve after a week of drinking it, which probably has to do with frustrations of cubicle life more than a factor of the drink.  Still, you would think that a stressful week would be a good test for if this help me cope - and the only thing which really helped me get through the days are a good wife and a good amount of alcohol.  It took a full three cans for me to feel any caffeine at all from this - so I am guessing there is around 45-55mg of caffeine per 12 ounce can - about as much as a Diet Mountain Dew.

For a healthy functional drink this has a lot going for it - but for any sort of energy - I would Thinq of a different beverage to drink.