Just because you are vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on delicious and healthy energy drinks!

For those that have made a pledge or commitment to not consume anything that comes from animals, look no further than the vegan energy drinks. Now, it is important to note that not all energy drinks are vegan. And we are going to explain why.

What makes an energy drink not vegan

1. Milk  

The main reason being that many energy drink formulas use cow’s milk to complement the caffeine portion of the recipe. Vegans have pledged to not drink anything that comes from an animal, and that includes milk! This is one of the most common ingredients found in most energy drinks and an easy determinate of whether or not the drink is truly vegan.

2. Honey

Another reason why an energy drink would not be considered vegan is that honey is used as a sweetener—and while healthier than sugar it is a bi-product of bees, making it off-limits for vegans! Bees are the key component to producing honey and despite how sweet and delicious it is in drinks, vegans avoid drinks with honey.

3. Gelatin

And of course, many energy drinks will also use animal-based products such as gelatin to bind all the ingredients. This is a more subtle ingredient that can make it challenging for vegans to determine if the drink can be consumed by them or not. Gelatin is actually a very common ingredient in many forms of food and beverages.

4. Artificial coloring

Most energy drinks get their cool colors from artificial coloring. And while the colors themselves do not come from animals, they are unfortunately tested on animals. That is why most vegans who pledge this commitment out of protest against animal cruelty avoid anything with a hint of artificial coloring.

5. Taurine

This one is highly tested amongst the vegan community as it is an amino acid the human body naturally produces and a key ingredient in many energy drinks. But animals are also capable of producing taurine and some studies are showing it is not an essential nutrient for the human body. So this ingredient is 50/50—with some vegans happy to consume products with it and others not so much.

How to know an energy drink is vegan

So how can you tell what energy drinks are actually vegan? Look for these key ingredients in the recipe.

1. Plant-based sweeteners

Agave syrup is one of the most common plant-based syrups used in energy drinks. It is similar to honey but completely plant-based, making it extremely vegan friendly! But other types of sweeteners that are also used for vegan energy drinks are maple syrup, date syrup, and stevia.

2. Do online research

If you are unsure if an energy drink is actually vegan, hold-off on purchasing and do some investigation online. The vegan community is very well connected and you should be able to get a quick answer as to whether or not the energy drink you want to buy is suitable for vegans.

3. Go for 100% plant-based energy drinks

Give yourself absolute certainty that what you are drinking is plant-based and suitable for vegans. There are energy drink shots that are super simple and jam-packed with nutritious and natural ingredients. A general rule of thumb is that the more ingredients you actually recognize and can pronounce, the higher likelihood it is both healthy and vegan friendly.

So, despite all the restrictions of what constitutes a vegan energy drink, they are, in fact, on the rise and we are confident you are going to absolutely love drinking them!