X-ZONE

Posted on June 8, 2015 | Last updated February 13, 2025

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
An energy shot called X-ZONE has been released by Explosion. When I asked Mr. Otani, the representative, he confirmed that it was released as an energy shot. Both the ingredients and flavor are rich and intense.

X-ZONE

Manufacturer	Explosion
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	300 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 X-ZONE

As soon as you open it, a very strong apple-like fragrance and a Red Bull-like scent immediately spread. This is quite intense... It might be the most potent aroma I've encountered so far.

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
When poured into a glass, it has a cloudy gold color. There’s no carbonation, and it has a thick, syrupy texture. Looking at it this way, 100ml seems like quite a small amount. It’s more of a shot that you gulp down in one go, rather than something to savor.

When you actually drink it, you might think, "Did they put too many thickeners in this!? ( ﾟдﾟ)ﾊｯ!" It’s incredibly rich and syrupy.

The flavor is characterized by a strong chemical taste similar to Rockstar, combined with an intense sweetness that hits the back of the throat. It’s thick, sweet, and nearly impossible to gulp down due to the syrupy texture. This is probably due to the large amount of sugar and amino acids packed into the 100ml. I’ll talk more about the ingredients later, but it’s impressive how much they’ve managed to fit into such a small amount.

The syrupy, dense feeling is hard to imagine, but it’s beyond the "Mogu-Mogu texture" level!

Before drinking X-ZONE, I thought it was something you’d quickly drink in one go, but I realize now that might not be the case (^_^;) The syrupy texture, combined with the strong sweet-and-spicy flavor, makes you want to take a breath in between.

Energy Ingredients of X-ZONE

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
With 170mg of caffeine, it ranks at the top among domestic energy drinks. Comparing it to others feels almost unfair.

In addition to caffeine, it contains 5000mg of D-ribose, 800mg of citrulline, 800mg of arginine, 150mg of ornithine, 100mg of α-GPC, 50mg of alpha-lipoic acid, 10000mg of palatinose, 8000mg of glucose, 6200mg of beet granulated sugar, 1000mg of citric acid, and 30mg of inositol (taken directly from the can). The detailed ingredient list like this is rare.

What’s astonishing is that all of this is packed into just 100ml.
It gives an energy boost to raise blood sugar rapidly with glucose, while palatinose and beet granulated sugar provide a slow and steady energy supply afterward. You can feel the functionality of an energy shot that provides nutrients without needing to drink a lot of fluids.

Although it’s difficult to consume all the necessary nutrients for sports in just one shot, athletes who drink X-ZONE before a match probably already take the supplements they need to adjust their condition. When you consider it as a quick, on-the-go energy shot, it seems to meet the needs of athletes.

Design of X-ZONE

The color scheme, similar to Explosion’s cans, has a calm tone with a taste of Japanese influence, which I really like (*´ｪ`*)

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
The MADE IN JAPAN mark with the Japanese flag stands out. Energy drink brands like Rockstar, Full Throttle, and XYIENCE from the U.S. often include the American flag in a cool design, so I think this is a nice touch. While it’s difficult to make the design as flashy as the U.S. flag, a cool, flag-inspired design could have been interesting, like with gradients or sparkles.

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
The front features Explosion’s face logo, and it fits perfectly with the round shape of the cap, making it simple and cohesive.

Since the energy shot is small and the ingredients are listed in detail, it can appear a bit cluttered. However, it’s clear that those buying X-ZONE will prioritize the content, so the detailed ingredient list is necessary to highlight the product’s features.

Considering the small size, I don’t think it could have been made simpler, given the required ingredient list and other essential information.

X-ZONE (X-Zone)
Personally, I think both Explosion and X-ZONE have a unified color scheme and impactful logo, so I’d love to see a wider range of flavors for the 250ml energy drink line. It could be fun to change the colors based on ingredients and themes, like AMP does with its energy drinks.