LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL
LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL is from a well-established energy drink brand in New Zealand.
The brand "LIFE PLUS," which was originally launched by Coca-Cola in 1999, was rebranded as "LIVE PLUS" after being acquired by Monster Energy and has continued to this day.
It is a unique New Zealand brand that is not well-known internationally. In fact, it has a longer history than brands like Monster Energy and Rockstar.
In 2024, I was finally able to visit New Zealand for the first time, and I had the chance to taste a flavor that has been beloved for many years.
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LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL
| Manufacturer | ENERGY BEVERAGES |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | New Zealand |
| Price | 2.19 NZD |
| Flavor | Lime、Lemon、Yuzu |
| Total rating | ★★★★☆ |
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 LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL
Upon opening the can, I immediately get a citrusy aroma with lemon and lime notes. The color of the drink looks like something you'd expect from a classic flavor. Now, let's take a sip.
The first taste is a strong lemon flavor, with the refreshing and juicy taste of lime blending in. It's a citrus fruit flavor, with a slight chemical bitterness spreading in the aftertaste, which is typical for energy drinks.
It has a strong impression of a citrus flavor with a distinct sourness, similar to the original flavor of V Energy Drink from its early days. While V Energy has since added apple elements to its flavor, this flavor still strongly resembles the early competition to V Energy, which Coca-Cola might have released as a rival at the time.
In the aftertaste, there's a bitterness that isn't present in V Energy Drinks. It's not a natural bitter fruit taste but rather a more chemical-like bitter flavor. This bitterness, which adds a medicinal-like element, blends seamlessly with the lemon-lime taste, giving it a balanced energy drink profile.
In sunny and dry regions like Oceania, citrus-lime flavors like this one might be particularly popular, as they are refreshing and quickly absorb into the body, similar to the appeal of V Energy Drink and LIVE PLUS.
Energy Ingredients of LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL
Contains 150mg of caffeine, 25mg of guarana, and 15mg of ginseng.
Design of LIVE PLUS ORIGINAL
The design is simple, with the main colors being yellow and black. However, this design doesn't convey much about the brand image.
The product name and flavor are only printed small on one side. The font used for "ENERGY DRINK" is also not very appealing... It's hard to say this can be called a design. It feels more like a supermarket's private brand energy drink.
Before becoming a part of Monster Energy, the product was known as "LIFT PLUS" and had been a beloved brand for many years.
The design from that time was even simpler, with only the yellow color of the flavor and the brand name on the can, maintaining a minimalist look.
This image shows the design when a campaign was held alongside another Coca-Cola energy drink brand, MOTHER ENERGY.
Which design do you prefer, the current LIVE PLUS or the past LIFT PLUS?
Energy Drink-kun's Personal Rating
- Flavor
- Aroma
- Weight
- Freshness
- Munchiness
Since 2001, Energy Drink Maniac has been drinking energy drinks and providing the most detailed reviews of global energy drinks based on firsthand research.
1531 flavors reviewed.
User reviews: 428 comments.
The collection includes approximately 7,000 types of energy drinks from different countries, sizes, and designs.