Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Posted on December 31, 2021 | Last updated February 3, 2025

Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit
This is the Dragon Fruit flavor from the Red Bull Summer Edition series, released in the USA in 2021.

Several energy drinks with a dragon fruit flavor have been released before, but since dragon fruit itself has very little flavor, I feel that it’s best to approach it as an "image flavor" when it comes to juices or processed products. Now, let's try the Dragon Fruit flavor made by Red Bull.

Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Manufacturer	Red Bull
Country of Origin	USA
Price	3.59 USD
Flavor	Grape、Dragonfruit
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 Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Upon opening, a sweet and sour grape-like aroma bursts out. If you open it without knowing it's Dragon Fruit, you might think, "This is grape flavor." Let’s take a sip.

Flavor of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

As you take a sip, a light mouthfeel spreads with a sweet and sour grape flavor, along with a hint of kiwi-like taste. The sensation of the seeds in dragon fruit is somewhat similar to the flavor of kiwi, so perhaps this was intentionally replicated.

The fresh, sweet-and-sour taste of the grape flesh, along with the tartness of the skin and a faint bitterness, brings out the deliciousness of the sweet and sour flesh. This change in flavor and depth is a signature feature of Red Bull, even with a fruit flavor that contains no juice.

If we were to evaluate the level of Dragon Fruit flavor recreation, it’s off-mark, so I wouldn’t rate it highly. However, as a juice with no fruit juice content that offers a rich grape flavor, it’s very enjoyable.

The flavor itself is bound to appeal to the general public, so it has been decided to be sold as a regular item under the Green Edition after the summer of 2021.

Australia's Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit was also released in Australia in 2021.
Flavor of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Due to the global lockdown, I was able to visit Australia at the end of 2022. I thought it would be impossible to find the 2021 Summer Edition, but I was lucky enough to discover a store that still had some in stock! In Australia, it had already become the Green Edition as a regular product, so finding last year’s Summer Edition was truly a miraculous experience.

Energy Ingredients of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

It contains 114mg of caffeine and 1420mg of taurine. This is a standard amount, the same as in Red Bull Original, with the added bonus of enjoying a rich flavor in the Edition series.

Design of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

The matte green can feels off for a Dragon Fruit theme, and I’m left wondering why they chose this color for the first time in Red Bull’s history.
Design of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Perhaps they avoided using a vivid red-pink color, which would have been similar to existing Edition cans.

The matte green seems to reference not the fruit of the dragon fruit but the cactus plant itself where dragon fruit grows...
Design of Red Bull SUMMER EDITION 2021 Dragon Fruit

Typically, the vivid red-pink color of the fruit’s flesh is more iconic for dragon fruit, so I think this matte green is an odd choice.

There seems to be a limit to the extent that Red Bull can create flavor imagery through can colors alone, and this was apparent in the 2021 Summer Edition. The mismatch between the flavor image and the can color seems to have become more noticeable.

The 2021 Summer Edition was released worldwide, and just like the American version I reviewed, the “Dragon Fruit” or its alternate name “Pitaya” was sold, while in Europe, it was marketed as “Cactus” due to the fruit being part of a cactus. The matte green color might fit that cactus image better.