Caffiend: Guru

There are seemingly a gazillion energy drinks on the market, loaded with sugars and artificial flavors and colors. And while we're fans of the sweet stuff, sometimes we like to try and get a boost without all the artificial additives. Hence, the appeal of a product like Guru, a "100%...

By Niki D'Andrea

October 26, 2009

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There are seemingly a gazillion energy drinks on the market, loaded with sugars and artificial flavors and colors. And while we're fans of the sweet stuff, sometimes we like to try and get a boost without all the artificial additives. Hence, the appeal of a product like Guru, a "100% Natural Energy Drink."

The ingredients include sparkling water, white grape juice concentrate, cane juice concentrate, and lemon juice concentrate, along with a blend of herbs including things like ginseng, Echinacea, and Ginkgo biloba leaf. The caffeine comes from 125 mg of guarana. That description sounds more like a recipe for herbal tea than a carbonated energy drink, but Guru tastes surprisingly like a fruity berry soda.

As for the energy rush, it's decent enough if you're going to ride a bicycle for miles, play some basketball, or do some other healthy physical activity, but with only 22g of sugar, it's not a mighty mental stimulant at all. That's okay. The purpose of an energy drink is to provide energy, rather than just alertness, and Guru's a good choice for people who want to try an energy drink that's not loaded with carbs.

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Niki D'Andrea has covered subjects including drug culture, women's basketball, pirate radio stations, Scottsdale staycations, and fine wine. She has worked at both New Times and Phoenix Magazine, and is now a freelancer.

Contact: Niki D'Andrea