Red Bull Summer Edition 2015 (Japan)

Posted on July 7, 2015 | Last updated March 2, 2025

Red Bull Summer Edition 2015 (Japan)
Finally, the Red Bull Summer Edition with a tropical fruit flavor has been released for the summer of 2015 in Japan!
Unlike in the U.S. and other countries, this version has a unique, original flavor that includes a hint of yuzu, making it exclusive to Japan.

Red Bull Summer Edition 2015 (Japan)

Manufacturer	Red Bull
Country of Origin	Switzerland
Price	190 JPY
Flavor	Tropical citrus
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 2015 (Japan)

First, I participated in the Tropicaru Party held at the Red Bull headquarters the day before the release of Red Bull Summer Edition, where I was given a can by a Red Bull Girl. I drank it there and then re-tasted it the following morning to give a comprehensive review. (I had already drunk 6 cans the previous day! (^_^;))

When I opened the can, a refreshing citrus-like orange scent spread. It wasn’t overpowering, but it had a fresh scent, unlike the strong tropical fruit aroma.

Red Bull Summer Edition (Japan Released Product)
The color is yellow, just like the overseas version, with a bright tropical yellow, distinct from the original Red Bull color.

When I tried the Japanese-exclusive Summer Edition, I was surprised to find it... ( ﾟдﾟ)ﾊｯ! It’s weak!! Compared to the Summer Edition I had in America, the taste is quite different. To put it simply, it tastes much milder overall. Although the American Summer Edition isn’t particularly intense, it has a punchy citrusy tropical fruit flavor, so this difference is noticeable.

The fruits used are primarily mandarin oranges, mixed with tropical fruits like papaya and passion fruit. It’s a much lighter citrus-based flavor, reflecting a more Japanese taste profile.
Red Bull Summer Edition (Japan Released Product)
While it doesn’t have a sharp intensity, the mild acidity makes it easy to drink. It’s quite refreshing, and I could drink it every morning during the summer (●´ω｀●).

At the Tropicaru Party the day before, I overheard some insider information: “The Japanese Summer Edition was designed to recreate the flavor of mandarin oranges and yuzu.” This was something only people who attended the party could hear (*´ｪ`*).

Indeed, the dominant flavor is not a tropical orange but the distinctive mandarin orange taste, and when I heard about yuzu, I could definitely understand how the refreshing flavor could resemble yuzu. It’s quite different from the rich, tropical pineapples and mangoes.

The Japanese flavor is distinctly created with “mandarin oranges and yuzu.” It’s a tropical fruit mix that doesn’t lean too much into the South Pacific fruits, but rather uses fruits from Japan, making it a unique take.

Some people might be disappointed that the flavor is altered for the Japanese market, but I think it was a good choice to make it more accessible and familiar to Japanese consumers, using mandarin oranges and yuzu.

Attended the Red Bull Japan Summer Edition Tropicaru Party

Energy Ingredients of Red Bull Summer Edition 2015 (Japan)

Like other Red Bull drinks, the Summer Edition contains 80mg of caffeine, 300mg of arginine, and more.

I definitely drank too much at the party the day before, and I can confirm that this tropical fruit flavor works really well as a cocktail base, so be careful when mixing it with alcohol (^_^;).

If you're at a party or enjoy alcohol, particularly with energy drink cocktails, it’s easy to go overboard. ⇒ Risks and Precautions About Energy Drink Cocktails

On the other hand, this flavor blends well in cocktails, which shows how delicious it is. Even though Red Bull doesn’t have an extremely high caffeine content, five cans will still exceed 300mg, so you need to be careful.

Design of Red Bull Summer Edition 2015 (Japan)

Red Bull Summer Edition (Japan Released Product)
The top of the can features blue stripes. While the Blue Edition had silver stripes, the Summer Edition has a bright, shiny blue. I really like this design (ｕ_ｕ*). The phrase “Tropical Energy Charge” feels a bit too typical of Japanese energy drinks, though…!

Red Bull Summer Edition (Japan Released Product)
The combination of yellow and blue is common in other Summer Editions, and even Sweden’s version has a similar blue theme. It’s nice that Japan also adds its own unique color to the mix.

Red Bull Summer Edition (Japan Released Product)
By the way, the pull tab is silver, which is consistent with the American and other international versions.

As the energy drink market continues to grow during the summer, I hope more people get to enjoy the deliciousness of Red Bull Summer Edition and the fun of energy drinks! ((o(´∀｀)o))