How can you make your own sparkling energy drinks at home?
To make a sparkling energy drink at home, combine chilled sparkling water with fruit juice and a modest amount of brewed green or black tea or coffee for caffeine. Do not use pure caffeine products, which the FDA warns can have serious health consequences. Keep your total caffeine below the FDA's 400 mg daily guide for healthy adults.
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In this article
How do you make a sparkling energy drink at home?
The safe method is to build the drink from familiar caffeine sources, like brewed tea, instead of buying concentrated caffeine. A homemade version gives you control over sugar and caffeine, but it will not copy a store energy drink exactly.
Basic recipe (one glass)
- Brew strong green or black tea or coffee, and chill it. Use about 4 oz.
- Pour it over ice in a tall glass.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of fruit juice, such as cherry, orange, pineapple or lemon, or fresh citrus juice.
- Top with about 6 oz of cold sparkling water and stir gently.
- Sweeten lightly with honey or syrup, or leave it unsweetened.
The mix of tea, juice and sparkling water is a common home approach; amounts are starting points to taste.
Caffeine: keep it moderate
| Source (12 fl oz, FDA) | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Green tea | about 37 mg |
| Black tea | about 71 mg |
| Regular brewed coffee | about 113 to 247 mg |
| Energy drink | about 41 to 246 mg |
The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults. Add up everything you drink in a day. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a health condition, ask your health care provider about your limit.
Never use pure caffeine
The FDA says pure and highly concentrated caffeine products can have serious health consequences, including death. It estimates toxic effects such as seizures can occur with rapid consumption of about 1,200 mg, roughly half a teaspoon or less of pure caffeine, so it is easy to overdose when measuring at home. Do not use them in homemade drinks.
Ideas for flavor
- Cherry-lemon with green tea.
- Orange-ginger with black tea.
- Pineapple-lime with sparkling water and mint.
Know the limits
Homemade drinks do not contain the vitamins or added ingredients of commercial energy drinks, and you should not expect the same effect. Stop and get medical advice if you feel a racing heart, shaking or chest pain.
People also ask
What can I use instead of caffeine powder?
Brewed tea, coffee, or matcha, which are easier to measure safely. Avoid pure caffeine products.
How much caffeine is in a homemade energy drink?
It depends on the tea or coffee. A 12 oz green tea is about 37 mg and black tea about 71 mg in FDA figures.
Is a homemade energy drink healthier?
You control sugar and caffeine, which helps, but caffeine limits still apply and children should check with a doctor first.
Sources
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One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
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