While Red Bull might have been the drink which had kicked off the energy drink craze in the US, This little shiny can of Guru Lite was my start down the path of happy wiredness. It was this can, which before came only in those little 8 ounce wonders, to hook me forever on energy drinks. Sure, I had energy drinks many times before this – but this was the one that I really began noticing the difference in taste and texture from the normal 7-11 bought crap. You can actually taste these ingredients, the kick is fast and strong, and the package design really grabbed my eye. Even now with my sample fridge stocked with free drinks to sample, I still find myself picking up and buying these cans every time I see them.

Packaging: 9
something about this white on red can is one of the most appealing designs to me artistically. I feel like I am starring in a Bjork video while drinking out of this one. the logo is bright and crisp, printed twice so it does not have to be a chore for distributors to face the cans the right way. Also , it makes it easier to show off what drink you are drinking because the logo is wrapped around horizontally and vertically all over the can. The fonts and lettering are very clean, and they manage to get across their slogans without being unobtrusive. This is one of those drinks that you can be proud to hold in your had – from the “100% natural” stamped on the side to the ingredients listing the caffeine content. While this drink does not bend any rules and break new ground, you would be hard pressed to find a better designed can for a straight on energy drink anywhere.
Taste:9
This one tastes radically different that the original guru, but that does not mean it in any way inferior – quite the opposite. The flavor of all the natural ingredients really show through, from the citric bite of the lemon juice, to echinacea flower giving off a light tea taste. My favorite part of this drink however, was using stevia to help out the cane juice. This drink has only 10 calories, and still tastes sweet and full bodied. I think it may be the addition of a little salt to balance out the chalky sour flavor stevia usually has.
On the first drink, it might taste a little strange, especially if you were expecting another Red Bull clone. This tastes more like slightly sweet grape seed, which works onto a very rich botanical flavor, like a strong lightly sweetened tea. By the end of the can though, you wish you bought the 4 pack.

Nutrition:8
The nutrition in this drink is very very nice – only having 15 calories and 3g carbs per 12oz can. What I love is how they go about having a sweet drink without going the route of suralose/ ace K. Not only did they use organic cane juice, and then add stevia, but also luo han guo, which are little seed filled grape-like berries grown in China and Thailand. These little wonders are over 300 times sweeter than sugar, and also give the drink it’s unique grape seed berry flavor. You can sometimes find them dried at your local Asian market. On top of that, this drink also contains the usual energy drink ingredients of Echinacea, panax ginseng, and ginkgo biloba

In terms of buzz, for a nice boost I would definitely slam this can. Rather than sipping this one over time, this drink is best experienced the way you would drink bad cheap beer in college, or oyster shots. This drink has 145mg in the 12 ounce can, and the light carbonation makes this a very easy drink to gulp down – not because of the taste, but because it will keep you awake and refreshed with 145mg of caffeine. This is not that over the top, having the same caffeine content as a double shot of espresso, but enough to give you that late afternoon boost. Not to mention, you could have 2 of them and not feel guilty or awake the whole night.
I would be interested in a more intense drink from Guru, something packed with energy boosting ingredients and a higher caffeine content, something that would be strong enough to really kick this up a notch. In the meantime, I will just have to content myself to buying these in the 4 pack.