ZONe Utopia

Posted on February 16, 2021 | Last updated February 5, 2025

Suntory's "Digital Performance Energy" energy drink, ZONe, released its 5th flavor, "ZONe Utopia," on February 16, 2021, aimed at the otaku scene. This time, it’s a juice energy drink with 17% fruit juice content.

In 2022, it was upgraded from version 1.0.0 to version 1.1.8, increasing the fruit juice content to 18%. I’ve also added a review of that version, so feel free to check it out.

ZONe Utopia

Manufacturer	Suntory foods
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	185 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.

Sweet Tropical Fruit Flavor

Upon opening, fruity scents such as peach, pineapple, and orange spread through the air. The liquid itself is a dull pink color, reminiscent of tropical fruit juice. Ah, this is definitely going to taste great…

ZONe Utopia
When I take a sip, it's a refreshing and sweet tropical fruit flavor, and wow, this is amazing! The vibrant tropical mix of pineapple, guava, apple, peach, banana, and papaya creates an unexpectedly delicious fruity taste that’s hard to beat.

The faint fruitiness that lingers in my mouth and the light, lingering fragrance are well done, offering a refreshing tropical fruit flavor that’s a delight.

Clearly, the Monster Energy Pipeline Punch is the inspiration for this tropical fruit flavor, and it’s impressive in many ways. Honestly, both are equally delicious, so if you love tropical fruit flavors or have been a fan of Pipeline Punch, you’ll be amazed by the high quality of ZONe Utopia.

Now, let’s compare ZONe Utopia with Pipeline Punch.

ZONe Utopia vs Pipeline Punch

On the left is ZONe Utopia, and on the right is Monster Energy Pipeline Punch. I’m excited to see how they compare in terms of taste and fragrance ((o(´∀｀)o))

ZONe Utopia
Both drinks are high-quality tropical fruit mix flavors, but Pipeline Punch has a richer fruitiness, sweetness, and fragrance that lingers longer. As expected from the king of juice-based energy drinks.

ZONe Utopia also has a noticeable fruity flavor, but when compared, it’s lighter and smoother with less aftertaste than Pipeline Punch.

While ZONe Utopia contains slightly more fruit juice, Pipeline Punch is about 1.5 times stronger, offering a more substantial and smooth fruit texture. In contrast, ZONe Utopia provides a satisfying fruitiness without lingering too long, making it easier to drink for many people.

That said, if you didn’t do a side-by-side comparison, most people might think they taste quite similar.

ZONe Utopia seems to be directly competing with the hugely popular Pipeline Punch. With its higher juice content of 17% and 500ml size at the same price point, it looks like ZONe is shaking things up with Monster Energy. The only downside is that the can’s color makes it hard to imagine a tropical fruit flavor.

Energy Ingredients of ZONe Utopia

ZONe Utopia contains 75mg of caffeine and 500mg of arginine. The caffeine content is quite low (even lower than a 250ml can of Red Bull), so it’s unlikely to cause caffeine addiction by just drinking ZONe Utopia. On the flip side, this means you probably won’t feel a typical energy drink effect from it.

ZONe Utopia
The fruit juice content of 17% includes apple, peach, and orange.

What’s more surprising is the 78g of sugar. While ZONe energy drinks generally contain about 65g of sugar, ZONe Utopia exceeds that amount by a fair bit. I’m more concerned about the sugar content than the caffeine in this case. ZONe Utopia is one of those energy drinks where you need to be careful about over-consuming sugar.

By the way, there’s a more powerful, high-sugar energy drink series overseas called STING. The STING Energy Drink GOLD, which was once available in Japan as a vending machine exclusive by Suntory, contains a shocking 96g of sugar when converted to a 500ml can. This is a real weapon.

Personally, I think the danger in energy drinks lies more in the sugar content than the caffeine, so even though ZONe Utopia has low caffeine, you should still be cautious about its sugar.

ZONe Utopia Design

ZONe Utopia
The can design, with its pink-to-light-blue gradient, has a bright color scheme that gives off a somewhat odd vibe. The product name is “Utopia,” so it creates a mysterious impression, and this 500ml can stands out on the shelves with its bold color.

The official ZONe website also depicts ZONe Utopia alongside imagery of an ideal world, which somehow reflects the pink and light-blue gradient. On its own, the can’s color might not make much sense, but it’s effective in sparking curiosity, like, “What flavor is this?”

ZONe has a high popularity online, especially on Twitter, so the name “Utopia” and its quirky can design are likely to make it a viral hit.

ZONe Utopia
The equation featured on the previous ZONe Unlimited ZERO can is gone, and the QR code area now has a more flashy decoration. Even the barcode near the nutritional information has similar decor.

The signature black top of ZONe cans remains.

ZONe Utopia
Despite the colorful can, the black top feels out of place here. A pink top or pink tab would have matched the design better, giving it a more natural look.

ZONe has been steadily expanding its presence, releasing staple products instead of limited editions, unlike Suntory, which tended to discontinue its energy drinks within a year. I never expected ZONe to last this long. I’m excited to see what they release next.

ZONe Utopia Ver.1.1.8 – Juice Content Increased to 18%

In February 2022, ZONe Utopia Ver.1.1.8 upgraded from the original Ver.1.0.0 with 17% juice content to 18%. ZONe seems to be constantly upgrading its products, so I’ll skip the side-by-side comparison this time (^_^;)

ZONe Utopia Ver.1.1.8 Taste

ZONe Utopia
The faintly cloudy pink color made me briefly think it might be pink grapefruit. However, upon smelling it, the sweet, Pipeline Punch-like flavor immediately comes to mind.

The taste is a sweet mix of pineapple, peach, and other fruits—absolutely delicious. It’s not too strong and doesn’t linger too long, which is great. Even with the juice increased to 18%, the flavor remains unchanged.

ZONe Utopia
The juice content was increased, but the base flavor hasn’t changed, so those who liked the original Ver.1.0.0 can enjoy this new version without worry. If the flavor had changed too much, fans might have been disappointed.

ZONe Utopia Ver.1.1.8 Ingredients

ZONe Utopia
The only change in Ver.1.1.8 seems to be the juice content. There are no changes in the energy ingredients or other components.

ZONe Utopia
The increase in juice appears to have added 0.5g more carbohydrates, so I’ve updated the ingredient list accordingly. This drink has one of the highest sugar contents in the country, so be careful not to overconsume.

ZONe Utopia Ver.1.1.8 Design

ZONe Utopia
With Ver.1.1.8, the design has changed slightly, giving it more of an “Utopia” feel.

ZONe Utopia
ZONe has shifted from its previous "Digital Performance Energy" to a broader approach with "Unlimited Performance Energy," which is worth noting.

ZONe Utopia Launch Image
Here’s an image from the launch of ZONe Utopia. The design of Ver.1.0.0 didn’t quite convey the “Utopia” theme, but now, with the new design, it makes more sense.

The ZONe Utopia is also available as an energy jelly in the same flavor, called ZONe ENERGY GEAR Utopia, and with this recent upgrade, I can imagine it is one of the most popular items in the series.