CC Lemon Energy

Posted on April 29, 2015 | Last updated February 13, 2025

On April 28, 2015, CC Lemon finally released its energy drink, named simply "CC Lemon Energy." It was sold exclusively at Circle K Sunkus stores.

CC Lemon Energy

Manufacturer	Suntory foods
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	167 JPY
Flavor	Lemon
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 CC Lemon Energy

Upon opening, a strong sweet scent of lemon candy mixed with a refreshing lemon fruit fragrance fills the air. It seems that the scent has been enhanced to suit the energy drink style, giving it a somewhat richer, more intense fragrance.

CC Lemon Energy
The color is a pale, bright yellow, reminiscent of a typical lemon soda that most Japanese people would envision. I think this is the best choice. Since it’s CC Lemon, a big brand, there’s no need for any extravagant changes like what other energy drinks sometimes do. It’s perfect as it is (●´ω｀●). In contrast, a drink like the Calpis Energy has a really striking color (Σ(´∀｀；)).

The taste is refreshing, just like CC Lemon’s signature lemon flavor with the sweet and sour tang of lemon concentrate candy. At the same time, a strong fragrance spreads immediately, leaving a crisp finish with the CC Lemon flavor slowly fading out.

While the scent is intense, it doesn’t linger unpleasantly. However, this fragrance is quite strong, so it might divide opinions (^_^;). It reminds me of the old citrus deodorant sprays or summer-type bath salts, with a very refreshing sensation that you have to experience firsthand. To describe it, it’s like the RAIZIN COOL lemon version.

On the other hand, Japan’s juice industry has a lot of unique developments, so it’s interesting to see these various flavors and fragrances in energy drinks, something you wouldn’t find overseas.

Energy Ingredients of CC Lemon Energy

It contains 25mg of caffeine, 300mg of arginine, and 1000mg of vitamin C, which is a signature feature of CC Lemon. Looking at the ingredients, it doesn’t really come off as a typical energy drink.

The strong fragrance and slightly richer taste seem to contribute to the energy drink vibe, making it feel more refreshing than regular CC Lemon.

Design of CC Lemon Energy

The target demographic for CC Lemon Energy is likely not people who are into cool, hardcore energy drinks, but rather a lighter crowd. The logo on the front has an image of the CC Lemon switch being clicked to “on.” The phrase "Yaruki On" (Motivation On) is written, but it feels somewhat overly obvious, as if it’s trying too hard. The switch being turned on might refer to the color of the signal for the listed ingredients below.

CC Lemon Energy
On the back, there aren’t any product feature descriptions, just ingredient information. So, looking at this can alone, the main image is simply “turning the motivation switch on.” This represents a typical image of energy drinks in Japan, but it feels a bit too plain and not particularly cool, almost a bit uncool. It’s a bit of a missed opportunity, I think.

The drink has a very strong, refreshing fragrance that makes you feel revitalized, so I feel like the design could have conveyed a more refreshing image. Shifting from the idea of “when you’re feeling unmotivated” to a more positive, energetic image could have made it more appealing.

That said, there is a promotion called the “Genki Ouen Project” featuring Shuzo Matsuoka, linked to the CC Lemon series on the official website. So, as part of that, CC Lemon Energy makes sense. However, as an energy drink on its own, I feel it could benefit from a bit more edge to complement its great taste and make it even more appealing.