28 BLACK BAOBAB

Posted on July 12, 2018 | Last updated February 14, 2025

Review of 28 BLACK BAOBAB, which was released after the 2017 redesign of 28 BLACK.

The baobab fruit is known as a superfruit and is quite popular in certain circles. While it's unclear if this is the actual taste of the baobab fruit, I was surprised that it tasted exactly as I imagined it would! LOL

28 BLACK BAOBAB

Manufacturer	28BLACK
Country of Origin	Germany
Price	1.39 EUR
Flavor
Total rating	★★★☆☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of 28 BLACK BAOBAB

As soon as I opened it, the expected grassy scent wafted out. I had anticipated a grassy aroma, and my first impression of baobab was, "Ah, here it is!"

28 BLACK BAOBAB
When poured into a glass, it has a bright, beautiful green color. The color itself is lovely, but combined with the grassy aroma, the only image that comes to mind is the juice squeezed from grass.

Just getting close to the glass, the smell is quite strong, like the scent of "kusa mochi" (a Japanese sweet). People who are sensitive to this type of smell will likely reject it before even drinking, and even I, Drin-kun, am not fond of it (；´∀｀).

However, unlike the unique aroma, the taste is not bitter or unpleasant. It has a refreshing lime soda flavor with just the right amount of tartness, which is surprisingly pleasant. If you avoid breathing through your nose, you won’t taste the grassy flavor, but let’s enjoy the aroma along with the drink!

The aftertaste is minimal, and the grassy smell lingers after drinking. According to the description from 28BLACK, it’s supposed to be "Baobab Lime Flavor." Personally, it wasn’t terrible to the point of not being able to drink it. As I drank more, I actually started to appreciate the combination of the grassy taste and the refreshing lime flavor, and I don’t think my rating is low. However, if this were a 500ml can, I might not have been able to finish it Σ(´∀｀；).

By the way, in Africa, both the fruit and the leaves of the baobab tree are eaten.
28 BLACK BAOBAB
Even if it’s not the exact real taste, one of the joys of drinking energy drinks from around the world is experiencing different flavors and beverages. It also sparks curiosity and a desire to visit the places these drinks come from. The baobab tree, no matter how many times I see it, still fascinates me. It’s said that the trunk is hollow and that the fruit has a shape similar to that of a loofah.

Energy Ingredients of 28 BLACK BAOBAB

28 BLACK BAOBAB
It contains 80mg of caffeine, lemon, and baobab fruit extract. I’m not sure if this is the source of the baobab flavor, but it’s fun to drink knowing that at least some of the flavor’s ingredients are included, adding a sense of care and attention.

Design of 28 BLACK BAOBAB

28 BLACK BAOBAB
The combination of black and green is beautiful, and the fact that it’s a baobab-flavored drink—something unexpected—appeals to the enthusiast’s heart.

With the expansion of flavors, more unique ones like baobab can be released, and the colorful displays in stores are a great bonus. It’s all good!

28 BLACK BAOBAB
I hope Japanese manufacturers will understand the importance of creating a series instead of just releasing one-off products.

The tab is a silver tab.
28 BLACK BAOBAB
A combination of a black top with a green tab would look even better. If it’s produced in Germany, I think it’s possible, so I hope they’ll give it a try.