KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Posted on August 24, 2024 | Last updated January 28, 2025

KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON
This is the watermelon flavor from the zero-sugar series of KONG STRONG, the private label energy drink brand from the German supermarket chain "LIDL."

This zero-sugar watermelon flavor was sold in Slovakia, and I purchased it in 2024.

KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Manufacturer	LIDL
Country of Origin	Slovakia
Price	0.39 EUR
Flavor	Watermelon
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 KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Opening the can, I immediately notice the sweet smell of watermelon flesh, with a hint of grassy cucumber scent. It's clear that it's a watermelon flavor, though not quite the natural scent of watermelon flesh—it’s more of the sweet watermelon scent you’d find in energy drinks or ice cream. Now, let me take a sip.

Flavor of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Upon tasting, the flavor is sweet and refreshing with a sharp, tangy watermelon flavor.

Watermelon flavors are often tricky and can sometimes lean toward strawberry, but the KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON manages to stay true to watermelon, thanks to the restrained sweetness.

There’s almost no artificial sweetener taste, and it feels like they’ve deliberately removed any added sweetness or umami to give it a clean, sugar-free feel. While it definitely has the watermelon flavor, it lacks the richness or refreshing taste of actual watermelon flesh, making it a good option for those who are after a clean, sugar-free taste.

If they added more sweetness, it might risk leaning into strawberry territory, but as it is, the balance of tartness, a slight grassy note, and the restrained sweetness works well to create the watermelon flavor.

That said, personally, I wish it had a bit more depth to it...

Energy Ingredients of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Energy Ingredients of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON
It contains 80mg of caffeine and 1000mg of taurine. No other energy ingredients are included.

Design of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON

Design of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON
The vivid combination of pink and lime green is an unusual match for a watermelon flavor. It could easily be mistaken for a strawberry-lime or raspberry-lime flavor.

The "ZERO" label is prominently placed above the flavor name, but since the overall design doesn’t use pale or light colors, it’s not immediately obvious that it’s a zero-sugar product.

Design of KONG STRONG WILD POWER ZERO WATERMELON
Despite the design not clearly conveying that it's both a watermelon flavor and sugar-free, it stood out in stores, so when the new batch arrived, it was hard to miss.