KIIVA STRONG

Posted on June 17, 2019 | Last updated February 9, 2025

The KIIVA STRONG was renewed in 2019. With 160mg of caffeine, it comes in two sizes: 350ml and 500ml. Be sure to check out the comparison review with the previous KIIVA STRONG as well!

KIIVA STRONG

Manufacturer	KiiVA
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	190 JPY
Flavor	Perfumes & Air Fresheners
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 KIIVA STRONG

The new KIIVA STRONG retains the same pink color as the previous version. When poured into a glass, a sweet, perfume-like aroma spreads instantly. This scent isn't exactly thick or overpowering, yet it lingers strongly—even after drinking, the fragrance remains in the room.

The initial taste is a combination of refreshing sweetness and acidity, accompanied by a slight chemical note similar to vitamin drinks. Meanwhile, the sweet, perfume-like aroma continues to linger. It’s not your typical classic energy drink flavor but rather a chemical perfume-like flavor, which might give you a better idea of what to expect. KIIVA’s flavor has always been difficult to describe (；´∀｀).

That said, the chemical sensation in KIIVA is not as strong as in Rockstar or Japan's Survivor energy drinks. Instead, the dominant flavor is a sweet, perfume-like taste. It’s an artificial blend of the stereotypical "energy drink flavor" combined with sweetness and a fragrant, synthetic aroma.

Energy Ingredients of KIIVA STRONG

Energy Ingredients of KIIVA STRONG
It contains 160mg of caffeine, 625mg of arginine, and 200mg of guarana. The 350ml can has the same caffeine content of 160mg, but the other ingredients are proportionally reduced based on volume.

In Japan, this qualifies as a high-caffeine product. If you're drinking the 500ml can, you likely won’t be consuming too much caffeine at once, but it's always best to be mindful of your overall caffeine intake, including coffee and other caffeinated beverages.

Comparison Review: New KIIVA STRONG vs. Old KIIVA STRONG

By chance, I had an old KIIVA STRONG on hand, so I compared it with the newly released 2019 version!

Both drinks are pink, but the new KIIVA STRONG on the left has a deeper shade of pink.

The base flavor is almost the same, but the sweetness level differs. The new KIIVA STRONG has a smoother, milder sweetness, whereas the old KIIVA STRONG is slightly less sweet and has a stronger acidity, along with a more pronounced vitamin and medicinal taste. With the reduced chemical notes, the new KIIVA STRONG is arguably easier to drink.

The ingredient composition remains the same. Along with this renewal, KIIVA STRONG is now available in a 500ml long can in addition to the conventional 350ml size. The 500ml size stands out noticeably in convenience stores. That being said, 500ml might be a bit too much to finish in one go (；´∀｀).

KIIVA STRONG
The red fangs are more prominently featured compared to the previous design.

The can has a silver tab. With the KIIVA STRONG renewal, the KIIVA EXTREME was also introduced. It would be great to see colored tabs added and an expansion in the flavor lineup in the future.