BAWLS Guarana was first introduced in 1996 in their trademark cobalt blue glass bottles, making it one of the first beverages in the United States to incorporate a natural energy boost using herbal blends.
BAWLS Guarana began as a class project to give a tasty alternative to coffee for college students. Keep in mind that this was before the name “energy drink” was coined. It incorporates the inherent power of Guarana to fuel the drink besides using caffeine.
BAWL aims to provide a significant energy boost, enhanced body function, and focus without crashes or jitters. So, if you’re planning to try it, read my detailed review of BAWLS energy.
Let’s get started!
Contents
Ingredients Used in BAWLS Energy
BAWLS uses the following ingredients to make their drinks deliver a quick boost of energy:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Natural Guarana Extract
- Sodium Benzoate (as a Preservative)
- Caffeine
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
Bawls Energy is a highly caffeinated energy drink designed as a premium soda to boost energy and concentration without jitters or usual crashes, as other energy drinks do.
Natural Guarana Extract
For thousands of years, the Guarana plant was used by the indigenous people of Brazil. The fruit of the plant was crushed, and its juice squeezed out to be used as a natural sweetener.
Today, it is still used in many beverages to add a distinct flavor. Guarana is also used as an ingredient in health supplements because it has many benefits.
Guarana is a herb that so many in the health-conscious community rave about. It’s no wonder why, after all, it is packed with antioxidants and can aid in weight loss, among other benefits:
- Reduces fatigue
- Reduces the risk of heart diseases
- Antibacterial properties
- Improves skin
- Contains a good amount of antioxidants
However, over-consuming Guarana can cause serious side effects. According to PubMed, these side effects are similar to the ones you experience when you take excess caffeine:
- Anxiety
- Jitters
- Reduced sleep
- Headache
- Increased heart rate
- Stomach problems
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a corn syrup-derived sweetener. It’s added to processed products to make them sweeter. Corn syrup is obtained from the starch present in the corn.
It’s the main ingredient in high fructose corn syrup, along with dextrose, another form of sugar. HFCS has a similar composition to normal table sugar, but it’s not metabolized the same way by the body.
Research has shown that ingesting too much HFCS may play a role in causing obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases.
The following are the disadvantages of consuming too much high fructose corn syrup:
BAWLS Energy Nutrition Facts
| Nutritional Value | Amount per serving | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 120 (502 kJ) | – |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 35 mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32 g | 11% |
| Sugars | 32 g | – |
| Protein | 0 g | 0% |
All these calories come from carbs in the drink. By looking at the label, you can tell that there are no micronutrients or B vitamins that can be good for your health.
All the claims of natural healthy energy drinks are solely based on the presence of guarana in them. BAWLS needs more healthy ingredients in their energy drink.
BAWLS surely lives up to its claims in terms of taste, but that won’t suffice the need for more healthy ingredients.
How Much Caffeine is in BAWLS Energy Drink?
BAWLS contains 102 mg of caffeine in a 16 fl. oz can, which shows it is a moderately caffeinated energy drink.
According to the creators of Bawls energy drinks, each ounce of Bawls has 6.38 mg of caffeine, for 21.56 mg per 100 ml. It does, however, come in two sizes: a 16 fl. oz can and a 10 oz. glass bottle.
The above-mentioned caffeine is within the daily intake limit declared by FDA as 400 mg per day. This much caffeine is alright for anyone, but only if you have a good caffeine tolerance. It can be a good pick me up for a lazy day at work.
Is There Sugar in BAWLS Energy Drink?
Yes, BAWLS contains 28 g of sugar. This comes mainly from the HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) used as an ingredient.
According to the NHS, adults should limit their sugar intake to 30 grams per day. BAWLS has a high amount of sugar that is not favorable for individuals looking for diet-friendly and sugar-free energy drinks.
So, it is recommended to drink only one can of BAWLS energy drink per day. Because of high sugar content, overconsumption can cause adverse health effects including:
Is BAWLS an Alcoholic Drink?
No, BAWLS Guarana is not an alcoholic energy drink.
BAWLS Guarana is a carbonated, fruit drink made from guarana berry. The berry grows in the Amazon basin and is part of the same family as cocoa leaves and coffee beans.
Its caffeine-laden leaves and berries were consumed by the natives for hundreds of years to ward off fatigue, enhance stamina and act as a medicinal aid.
Like many other nootropic beverages on the market, BAWLS Guarana provides an energy boost, but with the addition of fruit juice and natural flavoring.
The energy boost produced by guarana occurs quickly over a few minutes and then tapers off to a mellow caffeine high that lasts several hours.
Flavors of BAWLS Energy Drink
BAWLS offers the following refreshing flavors:
- Original
- Cherry
- Root Beer
- Mandarin Orange
What Does BAWLS Energy Drink Taste Like?
When I started drinking it, I discovered that it didn’t taste like an energy drink but more like a soda. It has a delicately sweet taste with a lemony flavor in each bottle.
It also contains Guarana, which provides you even more of an energy kick than typical energy drinks.
It has a delicious, delicate taste (compared to other energy drinks). Unlike rockstar and monster, which taste like syrup, this is more akin to 7UP.
How Does BAWLS Work?
BAWLS gives you a long-lasting charge that you need to go by your day. The caffeine will take about 10 minutes to kick in, and caffeine’s effect gets to its peak between 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion.
This is the most probable period for you to feel caffeine’s “jittery” effects. Caffeine sensitivity can cause symptoms to last for many hours or even a few days the following use.
According to Healthline, Guarana berries have more caffeine than coffee. Because caffeine tolerance may cause consumers to require more caffeine to feel the stimulating benefits, this means that habitual coffee consumers might grow resistant to the effects of coffee.
According to a study published on NCBI, Guarana provides extra stimulation than coffee, which means no lingering tiredness after its consumption.
I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re passing out behind the wheel with eight hours to go, but if you’re feeling a little run down and just need one small push to get you functioning again, Bawls Guarana in a bottle is unrivaled.
If you are curious to learn how Guarana differs from Caffeine, you can it here.
Pros of BAWLS Energy Drink
- Makes use of common and conventional components found in most energy drinks and sodas.
- Natural Guarana extract is used, which has been shown to enhance energy and focus.
- It contains a moderate 64 mg per 10 oz dose, making it excellent for people looking for a lower-caffeine energy drink.
Cons of BAWLS Energy Drink
- It is not accessible in all stores.
- More pricey than standard energy drinks.
- For the price, the caffeine concentration is moderate.
- High-fructose syrup consumption has been linked to an increase in obesity rates.
Other Alternatives to BAWLS Energy Drink
Red Bull
Red Bull energy drink contains 80mg of caffeine which is lower than the amount Bawls Energy has. It’s also famous because it has taurine and B vitamins that are not present in Bawls. Moreover, it has 27g of sugar, that’s a bit lower than Bawls’.
Even though it lacks artificial sweeteners, it has sucrose and glucose, making the beverage taste exciting and sweet. It may taste like a soda for many, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to treat it as one.
AMP Energy
AMP energy is publicized under the Mountain Dew brand. For a short outline, a 16 fl oz can of AMP Energy has 220 calories, 58g of sugar, and 142mg of caffeine, alongside different supplements like B-vitamins. Additionally, it has substances that incorporate ginseng and guarana extricates.
This energy drink is only for people with an active lifestyle. As you can see, its ingredients are loaded with a power boost enhancer you can get from its calories, sugar, and caffeine. It’s an excellent pre-workout drink that could get you working for hours, so don’t take it casually.
However, make sure you can handle it. I suggest you assess your tolerance first by taking only half of the can and letting the effects settle for hours. If you’re still okay, then you can finish the rest.
Conclusion
I would give BAWLS a 6/10. For me, the overall taste was good, and no extra sweetness was the best part. But BAWLS lacks some good nutrients that could actually give you some nourishment.
Just caffeine is not enough to charge you, some B Vitamins and minerals would be a good addition to this drink.
Other than this, Bawls energy drink is a well-executed energy drink in terms of both design and flavor. So, if you’re seeking a tasty and carbonated energy drink to replace your boring coffee and tea habit, Bawls Energy could be the beverage for you.
It is great for anyone searching for a standard energy drink with a sweet and refreshing flavor.
Even if it isn’t as strong as one may expect, the result is still acceptable. It provides a respectable level of alertness for an early morning trip.
However, I would recommend something stronger if you’re on the verge of falling asleep behind the wheel.