Review : Frisk Sparkling
The world's first beverage version of Frisk, "Frisk Sparkling," has often been treated as a bit of a joke, with many people assuming it tastes bad. For some reason, it contains a high amount of GABA and has become a functional food product with health claims.
As someone who has tried over 1,000 different energy drink flavors from around the world, how does the Energy Drink Mania enthusiast evaluate this one? Here’s a review where you can "taste it without drinking it" and check the answer after trying it yourself!
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 Frisk Sparkling
Opening the can, I was greeted with the refreshing scent of Ramune-like soda. It also reminded me of the fresh, non-offensive fragrance of Garigari-kun (Japanese ice pop). There’s no unpleasant vibe from the smell. Now, let’s take a sip.
When I took a sip, I first felt a slight sourness and bitterness. Right after, the intense stimulation from Frisk’s signature coolness rushed through my mouth, throat, and nose. There are other drinks with menthol’s cooling sensation, but Frisk Sparkling is on a different level—pretty strong.
After a few sips, I realized that the taste closely mimicked the strong flavor of the original solid Frisk, which was surprisingly well done. That said, many people might feel that Frisk Sparkling itself has almost no taste. You could say it has a flavorless quality.
Drinks like these often get labeled as "gross," but that’s not the case here. The intense coolness of Frisk is fully realized, making it a well-crafted drink to enjoy with all your senses.
From the planning stage, I think the goal was to create a buzz on social media with "drinking Frisk," but both the taste and smell aren’t bad or too out there. I don’t think they intended to make it a weird or unpalatable drink. If you like the strong menthol sensation and unique flavor of Frisk or similar products, you can enjoy it straight through Frisk Sparkling.
Despite the 250ml can, the "novelty" theme, and the design giving it an energy drink vibe, there’s absolutely none of that typical chemical taste. It’s simply the Frisk or similar products turned into a carbonated drink. The taste and fragrance stay true to Frisk’s image, so you can drink it without worries.
With ice, the refreshing sensation is boosted even more. The cold sensation of Frisk Sparkling flowing down my throat feels like it’s lowering my body temperature—it’s surprisingly soothing.
Japan’s summer heat already rivals that of Southeast Asia, and with ice in Frisk Sparkling, it feels like a perfect escape from the discomfort of summer. I recommend drinking it with ice.
Energy Ingredients of Frisk Sparkling
For some reason, it contains 28mg of GABA and is labeled as a functional food product. Given Frisk’s refreshing image, one might expect caffeine rather than GABA. I wonder why they chose GABA.
Personally, I was also happy that it’s sugar-free. I’d been trying to avoid unnecessary sugar intake, so discovering that it’s sugar-free, just like the original Frisk, was a pleasant surprise.
Design of Frisk Sparkling
The design is excellent, following the original Frisk branding with its logo, base colors, and the red and light blue color scheme. It also features bubbles to symbolize the carbonated refreshment of the drink.
The design is packed with information, making it quite text-heavy, but it doesn’t feel cluttered or uncomfortable. The familiar Frisk vibe is clearly conveyed, and the balance of the design effectively communicates the concept of a refreshing drink.
The mention of GABA and its functional food labeling combined with the "drinking Frisk" image creates a sense of "mysterious drink." If they had replaced GABA with caffeine and branded it as Frisk Energy, it might have gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
Since 2001, Energy Drink Maniac has been drinking energy drinks and providing the most detailed reviews of global energy drinks based on firsthand research.
1534 flavors reviewed.
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The collection includes approximately 7,000 types of energy drinks from different countries, sizes, and designs.