MONSTER ENERGY Rehab PROTEAN
This is the Rehab series PROTEAN, a tea energy drink with 15g of protein.
The first product to be discontinued in the Rehab series was this protein tea. Looking back, the combination of tea and protein was incredibly innovative. It could be seen as the prototype of the protein-infused Monster that later became the Muscle Monster series.
MONSTER ENERGY Rehab PROTEAN
Manufacturer | MONSTER ENERGY |
---|---|
Country of Origin | USA |
Price | 2 USD |
Flavor | Tea |
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.
Completely Unexpected Protein Tea
Upon opening, I was surprised by the tropical scent! It’s nothing like what I imagined; it smells like something actually delicious. Unlike the usual sweet milk, vanilla, or chocolate flavors of protein shakes, it has a refreshing, fruity scent. It was completely different from what I had imagined!
When poured into a glass, the drink has a cloudy orange color. It’s neither too bright nor dull, and it looks pleasantly appealing.
Since this Rehab Protein was manufactured in February 2012 (written in 2015), it's at the very edge of its shelf life, but it still looks and smells nothing like what you'd expect from a protein drink, and it actually looks really good.
Let’s give it a taste!
The typical heavy texture I imagined from a protein drink is completely absent, and it tastes like a tropical peach tea, which is very easy to drink. This is definitely tea, this is PROTEAN.
The fruity sweetness and freshness of peach tea stand out, and there’s no acidity. The fragrance is calm and very refreshing. You wouldn’t even realize there’s protein in it unless someone told you.
I’d love to drink this protein every day. There are now clear, light protein powders in Japan that are like sports drinks, and this feels exactly like one of those.
I really don’t understand why this was the first product in the Rehab series to be discontinued... It’s that delicious, and it’s so easy to drink that it could be a regular go-to for me.
MONSTER ENERGY Rehab PROTEAN Energy Ingredients
It contains 15g of protein. While it’s a bit less than regular protein shakes or the Muscle Monster series that came after the Rehab PROTEAN, it’s so delicious to drink that it doesn’t matter. The clarity and amazing taste are worth it.
The usual energy blend includes 158mg of caffeine, 2000mg of taurine, ginseng, carnitine, goji berries, acai, yerba mate, guarana, and more.
Additionally, it contains white tea, black tea, cactus extract, and coconut water.
Looking at these ingredients, it’s interesting to see many similarities with the 2005 release of the Steven Seagal Energy Drink. Products from around 2011, when this protein was released, had a lot of attention to detail, and the back of the cans were quite fun to read.
MONSTER ENERGY Rehab PROTEAN Design
The can has a black base with the distinctive blue-and-white Rehab series theme.
The blue can doesn’t quite match the fruity tea flavor, does it? I feel like the blue was chosen just to fit the overall color balance of the Rehab series.
The word "PROTEAN" combines protein and tea, and the "TEA" part is highlighted in blue. Until I tried this, I never imagined a protein drink could have a tea flavor!
A black top with a blue tab – it looks beautiful (*´艸`*)
Found a Lot of Rehab PROTEAN in 2016
In 2016, I went on an energy drink expedition to Los Angeles. I had a chance to visit a local shop on the outskirts of the county, and to my surprise, I found a large stock of Rehab PROTEAN!
Isn’t it amazing that they had this much stock? Two rows, filled to the back. I couldn’t resist buying a few bottles to take home (I already had a few in my stock, so I picked the ones in the best condition...).
By 2014, most stores had already run out, so finding this in a local shop is one of the joys of being an energy drink traveler. When you go to the actual locations, there are many experiences and surprises beyond just drinking the beverages, so I highly recommend giving it a try. (By the way, as of 2019, it’s almost impossible to find such old stock on store shelves...)
Energy Drink-kun's Personal Rating
- Flavor
- Aroma
- Weight
- Freshness
- Munchiness
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