KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

Posted on September 27, 2014 | Last updated February 15, 2025

KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
This is a review of KICKSTART's Fruit Punch flavor.

Among the various fruit punch flavors available in the U.S., this one is quite mild, with a subtle fruit flavor that makes it a unique fruit punch.

Since I first reviewed it in 2014, the can design has changed several times, so I'll be updating the review with the latest design.

KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

Manufacturer	PEPSICO
Country of Origin	USA
Price	1 USD
Flavor	Punch
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 KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

When opening the can, the characteristic fruit punch aroma is immediately noticeable, with a hint of orange. The scent itself is not very strong and has a somewhat subtle impression.
Flavor of KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
When you take a sip, it has a light fruit punch flavor, with a refreshing taste of several fruits blended together. The aftertaste is clean, with no lingering fruity notes or residue from the fruit punch flavor.

Looking at the nutritional information, this is a low-calorie, half-sugar type. Most fruit punch flavors are typically sweet and tangy with lots of sugar, so this is quite rare.

If you're expecting a typical, strong, flavorful fruit punch with bold taste and fragrance, KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH might feel too light and lacking in the punchy characteristics of traditional fruit punch.

However, when you're drinking energy drinks daily, it's strangely refreshing to have something milder like this. Especially since the KICKSTART series was originally designed as a new way to wake up in the morning, possibly making this lighter flavor the ideal option.

By the way, KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH has been around for almost 10 years since its launch, and the formula hasn't changed at all. The existing flavors introduced at the time have continued to follow the original concept.

Energy Ingredients of KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

Energy Ingredients of KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
It contains 92mg of caffeine. The fact that it only contains caffeine aligns with the KICKSTART series, which was promoted as a morning wake-up drink. No additional energy ingredients are included.

The drink contains 5% white grape juice, which has remained unchanged since the launch. The smoothness of the fruit punch flavor may be due to the white grape juice.

Design of KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH

KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
This is a photo from the 2014 review. Since then, the design has changed several times and evolved into its current form.

KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
The earlier design mainly used red, with a green accent for some reason. Perhaps it was trying to mimic the Mountain Dew brand's color scheme?

In 2022, the design was revamped and now uses three shades of red. The placement of the Mountain Dew-like logo, KICKSTART logo, and flavor name remains similar to the original design, which is great for clarity.
KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
The initial design featured almost identical front and back sides, using both sides of the can. In contrast, the 2022 design places the logo prominently on one side, maximizing the front-facing space. While the pink color gives a strawberry-like vibe, which might seem a bit odd, overall, it is a nice update.

KICKSTART FRUIT PUNCH
The empty space has a vertically aligned brand logo, which makes the front design even more impactful.

Originally, it was available in convenience stores and supermarkets, but by around 2019, it became much harder to find, available only in a few select stores. In 2022 and 2023, its presence continued to shrink, and it seems like the KICKSTART brand has lost some of its former energy, with fewer flavors appearing on store shelves.