Nissin York RED ENERGY

Posted on May 23, 2019 | Last updated February 9, 2025

Nissin York RED ENERGY
A review of RED ENERGY, a non-carbonated, fruit juice-infused energy drink in a paper carton from Nissin York. This uniquely Japanese paper carton energy drink comes in a large 500ml size and is incredibly affordable at just 100 yen.

Nissin York RED ENERGY

Manufacturer	Nissin York
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	100 JPY
Flavor	Apple
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 Nissin York RED ENERGY

When poured into a glass, rather than a fruity aroma from the juice content, it gives off a distinctly artificial scent with a noticeable chemical feel. Surprisingly, the aroma is quite strong!

Nissin York RED ENERGY
Upon tasting, the smooth flavor of apple is complemented by a light acerola note, resulting in a non-carbonated fruit juice with a mild sweetness and acidity, primarily apple-based.

It's not a rich, thick high-fruit-content juice but rather a lighter version of Dole's apple juice. The aftertaste carries a slight bitterness, and a lingering artificial aroma remains, which doesn’t give off a particularly fresh or juicy fruit impression.

While it doesn’t exactly have a "chemical" odor, it seems like the bitterness and unusual scent were intentionally added to create that so-called "energy drink" feel. Honestly, they could have just made it a straightforward apple juice.

Energy Ingredients of RED ENERGY

Contains 60mg of caffeine, 300mg of arginine, and a full daily dose of multivitamins. With a generous 500ml volume, it’s quite filling, and at just 100 yen, it's a great deal.
Nissin York RED ENERGY
The juice content is less than 10%, featuring apple, blood orange, and acerola. Being in a paper carton, it is, of course, non-carbonated.

Paper Cartons Are a Uniquely Japanese Style

An energy drink in a paper carton is quite rare, isn’t it? It feels a bit too far removed from the typical image of an energy drink.

Since it's stocked in the dairy and juice section rather than the energy drink aisle, it’s likely to go unnoticed. The PET bottle release of Peaker Bitter Energy also seemed to struggle because it was placed in a different section. It seems like the minimum requirement for an energy drink to catch consumers' attention is to be in a can, preferably in a 250ml or 355ml size. In Japan, placement near store entrances or checkout counters is crucial.

Nissin York RED ENERGY
That said, I actually like the design—the ingredient icons and overall color scheme look quite appealing. If this had been released in a can, it might have come across as unexpectedly cool.

Nissin York’s official website no longer lists RED ENERGY, likely because it has been discontinued. It seems like they just released it on a whim... but at least the packaging was surprisingly nice! (*´艸｀*)