Two days ago, Monster Energy announced that they were to launch a new zero-sugar energy drink to their line-up.

This comes after mass pressure from the food industry changing their ways and opting for low-sugar varieties of almost all products in their ranges. These aren’t necessarily lowering the sales of the full-sugar varieties, but what marketers have found is that people are buying one full-sugar and one zero-sugar variety in order to somehow neutralise their bad habits and feel at least a little bit virtuous.

For soda companies, this is the ultimate cash cow – meaning they can do well for the customer as well as profiting from it. And ever since Coca-Cola bought a 17% share in the company, they’re looking to steer new consumers to the brand.

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That’s why Monster Energy, the oligarch that defines the energy drink market, has released their zero-sugar variety.

Monster Energy Zero Ultra Energy Drinks Review

So what’s new?

The Zero Ultra variety has slightly less caffeine per serving than the original. Zero Ultra contains 140mg caffeine (about a third of what’s in an espresso), whilst an original 500ml can contains 160mg caffeine.

There is no sugar in the Zero Ultra (as the name suggests). Instead, artificial sweeteners like Erythritol and Sucralose are added to make it taste like more than just fizzy water. The same natural flavours are added to the Zero variety too so you get the same Monster Energy flavour.

Ooh – and what’s best is that it doesn’t do anything nasty to your digestion like sugar might (see here about the differences between sugars and sweeteners in the digestive system) – in fact, 90% of the sweeteners in these drinks don’t linger in the body and come straight out in your urine.

Full Ingredients List

Carbonated water, citric acid, erythritol, natural flavours, taurine, sodium citrate, panax ginseng root extract, colour added, l-carnitine, l-tartrate, caffeine, sorbic acid, sucralose, benzoic acid, niacinamide, acesulfame potassium, sodium chloride, glucuronolactone, inositol, guarana seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, maltodextrin, cyanocobalamin.

So whilst you might not be able to pronounce around 99% of the ingredients list, turns out there’s not a whole lot bad about the Zero Ultra from Monster.

Obviously a bunch of chemicals are no good for you, but as this contains sweeteners which a lot of the time pass straight through, as well as the fact there are zero calories, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better zero sugar energy drinks which give you that caffeine kick without any unhelpful side effects.

You can see all the different Monster Energy Zero Ultra flavours here.