BARK X

Posted on August 2, 2023 | Last updated January 31, 2025

BARK X
The fourth installment of the BARK series from the private brand of the German supermarket, BELL, is the black "BARK X." When the BARK series first launched, I never imagined it would extend to four flavors.

With its unique can design and mysterious product name, what kind of flavor could this be? Let's try it and find out.

BARK X

Manufacturer	Belc
Country of Origin	JJapan
Price	99 JPY
Flavor	Chemicals
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 BARK X

When I opened the can, I was immediately greeted with the distinctive aroma of a classic flavor. There is already a classic flavor in the BARK Original, but what could this one be...? Let's drink and find out.
Flavor of BARK X
As I took a sip, a sharp, strong acidity, a stimulating bitterness, and a chemical-like aftertaste spread across my palate. Unlike the sweet classic flavor of BARK Original, this BARK X is finished with a not-so-sweet chemical flavor.

The tangy, sour taste maintains a nice balance with the bitter, medicinal notes, and both the bitterness and the chemical smell linger after drinking.

On the other hand, there is little residue left in the mouth, and the overall flavor isn't heavy, so you can still enjoy a refreshing chemical flavor even when chilled.

In Japan, where Rockstar, the king of chemical flavors, is unavailable, drinking BARK X can be satisfying enough. It's a level of purity with no off-flavors, going straight down the path of the classic chemical flavor energy drink.

For those who like a sharp, not-so-sweet chemical taste, I’d say it’s worth making a trip to a nearby Bellku just for BARK X, even if you don’t have one in your neighborhood.

Energy Ingredients of BARK X

Energy Ingredients of BARK X
BARK X contains 200mg of caffeine and 1000mg of arginine. This is double the amount found in previous BARK drinks, with a high caffeine content of 200mg per 250ml can.

The same 200mg of caffeine can be found in the brightly designed coffee-flavored Boss Caffeine, which sparked a controversy, but lately, there are also 250ml energy drinks in Japan with 200mg of caffeine, such as Surf Energy Drink. It seems that the caffeine content in PB products is on the rise.
⇒ Japan's Energy Drink Caffeine Ranking

It's quite impressive that a supermarket PB product has such a high dose. By the way, the recommended daily caffeine intake limit is 400mg. When drinking BARK X, it's important to be mindful of your total daily caffeine intake, including from coffee or tea.
⇒ Caffeine Addiction and Lethal Dosage from Energy Drinks

Design of BARK X

The can has a cyber-style color, with the BARK logo and the overlapping "XXX." I initially thought the product was called "BARK XXX" because of the "XXX" written on top of the can, but apparently, the product is called "BARK X."
Design of BARK X
It's a little hard to read, but underneath the "BARK" logo, there's a single "X," which is the product name. The back of the can also has "BARK X" written on it.

For some reason, the back also features the server error code "504: Gateway Timeout," giving it a cringe-worthy vibe.
Design of BARK X
A "504" error occurs when a server fails to respond. Why is it here?

Speaking of server-related things, "XXX" is also used as a domain for adult websites (◯◯.xxx). I don't think BARK X has any such intentions, though Σ(´∀｀；).

Could it be that "BARK X was born as a result of some kind of error in the original BARK"? The taste was good, but I didn't quite understand the design and product concept.

On the in-store pop, it says "The extent of its craziness is unknown" and "Beyond this unknown, XXX awaits."
Design of BARK X
For those who want to enjoy a high-quality chemical flavor, if you have a Bellku nearby, definitely give it a try. You’ll surely be satisfied.