Kuala Lumpur Energy Drink Trip 2018 (October)
I went to the always-summer Kuala Lumpur! Originally, this trip was scheduled for next year, but due to various circumstances, I moved up the reservation and had the chance to enjoy a weekend in Southeast Asia.
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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.
Mid-Summer Kuala Lumpur
The weather forecast predicted rain every day, so I even brought an umbrella with me... but for some reason, the sun was blazing with intense summer sunshine.
It might be the first time I've ever felt the UV rays so strongly. At the same time, the humidity was high, making it feel like a summer hell in Japan (ヽ´ω`).
2018’s Second Red Bull Limited Edition Can
Upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur, I headed straight to a 7-Eleven.
A familiar spot for energy drink travelers! (笑)
The new limited edition Red Bull cans are nicely lined up (*´ｪ`*). This time, they’re available in 355ml cans. The price is around 220 yen, which feels a bit expensive considering the local prices.
Since September, Malaysia has been selling a new limited edition Red Bull can featuring the Petronas Twin Towers and a racer design, which is quite fitting for Kuala Lumpur. Red Bull seems less popular here compared to Japan, but it's still surprising that they release two new designs a year.
Starting the Hunt at the Supermarket!
After lightening my load, it was time to head to the supermarket! In Kuala Lumpur, energy drink hunting usually involves visiting large supermarkets in malls first, then casually checking a few convenience stores afterward.
At the supermarket, energy drinks are displayed like this.
The Red Bull limited edition cans here are 2 ringgit cheaper than at 7-Eleven, so I bought a bunch. They’re about 170 yen per can, which is quite a deal considering they’re cheaper than Japan’s 185ml cans! (笑)
In Kuala Lumpur, supermarkets are often cheaper than convenience stores, so if you get the chance, make sure to follow this rule.
500ml Monster Energy is an Import
At this supermarket, they also have 500ml Monster Energy, but it’s not locally produced in Malaysia—it’s imported from the UK. As I reported during my first Kuala Lumpur trip this year, some supermarkets import and sell UK Monster Energy products.
About half a year later, they had more varieties, not just the original, which you wouldn't see in Japan. The price is about 280 yen per can, which seems like a steal for an import (*´艸｀*).
I bought just three cans of new SKUs that I don’t have yet, as there’s a large shipment of energy drinks from the UK scheduled to arrive later this year.
Exploring the Local Area but Finding Nothing New
Actually, the energy drink hunting ended after visiting just one supermarket (笑).
It seems like the energy drink market in Malaysia isn’t well-developed, with Monster offering only the original flavor. Red Bull also has just the original and sugar-free varieties left.
So, I decided to take a stroll through the local areas. I stopped by convenience stores I found along the way, but there was nothing special in terms of energy drinks. I thought I might find some leftover stock that locals had ignored, but...
Limited edition cans from various brands often come with campaigns, so it’s unlikely that there would be any lingering stock, as limited-edition items tend to have small production runs. Let’s hope Red Bull continues to release limited designs next year.
Malaysia may be a bit behind in the energy drink scene, so if you’re lucky, you can find imported products. But if not, you won’t have much to buy, which means you can focus on leisurely sightseeing instead of shopping, making it an enjoyable, low-stress trip (*´艸｀*).
Since 2001, Energy Drink Maniac has been drinking energy drinks and providing the most detailed reviews of global energy drinks based on firsthand research.
1533 flavors reviewed.
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The collection includes approximately 7,000 types of energy drinks from different countries, sizes, and designs.