ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT

Posted on May 15, 2015 | Last updated February 13, 2025

This is a review of ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT, released in 2014.
It’s an energy drink made entirely from organic ingredients, and it remains a long-selling product, still available nearly 10 years after its release.

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT

Manufacturer	ROCKSTAR
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2 JPY
Flavor	Tropical sweet
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 ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT

Opening the can, a burst of citrusy and bitter fruit aroma fills the air. It’s a very refreshing and crisp scent, but it’s surprisingly strong!
ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
When poured into a glass, it’s a pale yellow, just as you’d expect from an organic product. The strong citrus aroma lingers even after it’s poured into the glass.

The taste is light, with grapefruit, passion fruit, lychee, and guava, giving you a tropical and refreshing fruit experience. The balance of the fresh fruit flavor with a subtle hint of bitterness afterwards is exquisitely done, creating a very high level of completeness.

With 46g of sugar, it’s sweet but still quite refreshing, with no lingering aftertaste.

While tropical fruit mixes tend to have a stronger flavor, Island Fruit perfectly captures the refreshing and natural taste. The flavor is so good, it’s hard to believe it’s made without fruit juice. It feels like the perfect fruit juice to enjoy in a tropical resort in the morning.

This photo was taken when I reviewed it in 2014, right after its release. It’s been nearly 10 years since then!
ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
One sip and you’ll understand why this has remained a long-selling product in the U.S. for over 10 years.

Energy Ingredients of ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
The caffeine comes from organic green coffee extract, with 160mg of organic caffeine. The sugar is from organic cane sugar.

Compared to the ingredients of typical sugary carbonated drinks, this is a very simple composition. This is likely due to the need to meet organic certification standards with minimal ingredients.

USDA ORGANIC

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
The can features the "USDA ORGANIC" logo. I looked it up, and this certification is given when a product contains at least 95% organic ingredients, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards. The standards for these organic ingredients are also very strictly defined.

Design of ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT

The overall design features a wood grain texture and light green colors, giving it a bright and organic image.
ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
After being acquired by PepsiCo and becoming a major brand in 2023, the design has been updated. However, the wood grain and green color from its original design remain unchanged, so for those who have known it as an organic product, the look still feels familiar.

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
When it was first released in 2014, Rockstar Organic came in a 444ml size, even though it was carbonated.

After being acquired by PepsiCo and rebranding with a new design, it was changed to the standard 473ml size, the same as other products.
ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
I wonder why Rockstar Organic was originally 444ml even though it had no fruit juice or sediment!?

Comparison of Organic Island Fruit in the U.S. and Germany

After being released in the U.S., Rockstar Organic was also launched only in Germany. Since the flavor name is the same, I wanted to compare the U.S. version of Island Fruit with the German one in a side-by-side review.

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
When placed side by side, the color differences are quite clear. The German version on the left is colorless and transparent, while the U.S. version on the right is yellow with a slight cloudiness. It’s interesting to see how the same product can be so different depending on the country.

Interestingly, the German version doesn’t even label itself as an energy drink. It’s fascinating!
(*´艸｀*)

When opened, the bitter and slightly sweet aroma is similar, but the German version is slightly more subdued, while the U.S. version has a stronger fragrance.

The taste also shows a similar citrus fruit bitterness, but the German version is noticeably less sweet and doesn't quite feel like the Island Fruit flavor. It’s almost as if the sweetness was removed from the U.S. version, leaving a more bitter taste. It almost feels like they prioritized "organic" over flavor. (；´∀｀)

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
The ingredients are simple, as expected from an organic product.

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
The U.S. version features the USDA Organic certification, while the German version carries the BiO certification. The organic nature and the certifications really highlight the product’s focus on being all-natural and safe. The unique taste of each version comes from the difference in their ingredient compositions, but I do think the German version's flavor is a little underwhelming. (^_^;)

ROCKSTAR ORGANIC ISLAND FRUIT
The tab on the German can is the same dark green tab used on other Rockstar products. The U.S. version, with its light green tab, seems to match its aesthetic better.

Incidentally, although the U.S. version is filled to 444ml in a 473ml can, the German version is filled to a full 500ml in a 500ml can. I wonder why this discrepancy exists. Σ(´∀｀；)