Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL

Posted on August 18, 2021 | Last updated February 4, 2025

Hansen’s Energy ORIGINAL, the first energy drink series released by Hansen Natural in 1997, which later became known for Monster Energy. It's likely that not many people know that Monster Energy was originally released by Hansen Natural.

Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL

Manufacturer	Hansen's Natural
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2 USD
Flavor	Citrus、Lime、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 Citrus Bitter Taste

Upon opening, you can smell the citrus fruits like bitter orange and grapefruit. The drink itself has a cloudy yellow color, so it doesn't quite give off the usual bright yellow vibe you might expect from a classic flavor. Can you sense the difference?
Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL
When you take a sip, the taste is a sweet lemon-lime flavor with a subdued acidity. While the flavor itself is sweet, there’s a noticeable bitter scent from orange peel and grapefruit, which balances out the sweetness and gives it an overall fruity profile.

Being from a company that originally produced natural sodas and fruit-based drinks, it’s interesting to see that Hansen’s energy doesn’t just mimic the taste of Red Bull, but rather retains the natural essence of Hansen Natural, making it a unique energy drink.

Hansen’s energy series was occasionally spotted in stores until around 2015. The product I reviewed here is the final variant of the series. It’s unclear exactly when the Hansen Energy line ended, but it likely happened around the time of the company’s name change in 2012 or their partnership with Coca-Cola in 2014.

Energy Ingredients of Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL

Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL
With 75mg of caffeine, taurine, and ginseng, I initially thought it might contain fruit juice because of the pleasant bitter citrus flavor, but it turns out it has no fruit juice at all.

For its size, the drink seems to contain a bit more sugar than expected. The fresh aroma and well-balanced flavor didn’t make the sugar content stand out, but this is the type of energy drink you’d want to be careful not to overconsume.

Design of Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL

Despite undergoing several design changes over time, the base green color of Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL remained unchanged until its discontinuation.

The final design of this variant is a bit unclear—while you can vaguely make out some buildings, it's hard to tell what’s being depicted.

Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL
On the back, there’s a poetic-style encouragement message, similar to what you'd find on Monster Energy, a brand under the same company. It’s a charming touch, evoking a classic vibe that feels nostalgic.

About Hansen’s energy

The Hansen’s energy series was first launched in 1997 by Hansen Natural, during the first energy drink boom in the U.S. In 2002, they introduced Monster Energy. They also sold many other energy drink brands, such as LOST ENERGY and JOKER MAD ENERGY. Of all these, Monster Energy became their flagship product, and in 2012, the company changed its name to Monster Beverage.

Hansen’s energy ORIGINAL
Hansen’s energy was occasionally seen in stores until around 2015, and I was fortunate to purchase it just before it disappeared. This might have been my last chance to get it. (This photo shows a different flavor.)

After Coca-Cola’s partnership with Monster Energy, Hansen stopped selling energy drinks, but it remains an important company in the history of American energy drinks. It played a key role in the success of Monster Energy and in launching many other energy drink brands. As an energy drink enthusiast, I feel fortunate to be able to preserve and share these reviews and records.