15+ Best Plant Based Energy Drinks for a Natural Caffeine Boost (Updated for 2024)
Looking for the best plant-based energy drinks for a natural caffeine boost? Below I’ve rounded up the best natural energy drinks that are currently on the market.
Sometimes in order to get through the day, a mid-afternoon boost is just what you need. So, ditch the monster energy drinks and the red bull and try one of the below alternatives instead.
As someone who used to be a bit addicted to energy drinks in college (5 hour energy may have been a frequent purchase of mine), trust me when I say natural alternatives are SO much better! Not only do you avoid the crash and adverse side effects, but they aren’t filled with synthetic caffeine, artificial sweeteners or chemicals.
BUT FIRST, WHAT IS AN ENERGY DRINK?
Energy drinks are drinks that are used to increase alertness and energy. In plant based energy drinks this is usually done through either caffeine or adaptogens.
WHAT MAKES AN ENERGY DRINK PLANT BASED?
What determines a plant based energy drink might be different from person to person. For this list I specifically looked for energy drinks that were dairy-free that avoided artificial sugars / ingredients (such as sucralose). The drinks below focus on natural ingredients such as adaptogens, as well as natural sources of caffeine (i.e. those coming from yerba mate, coffee, green tea, etc).
With that being said, make sure to look at the ingredients in an energy drink before purchasing to make sure it fits your personal preferences.
And now let’s get into the best natural energy drink brands!
15+ BEST PLANT BASED ENERGY DRINKS
1. Mantra Labs Go Natural Energy Drink Mix
We’re starting this list off with one of my personal favorite plant based energy drinks! Mantra Labs ‘Go’ powder is a plant-powered recovery blend that contains a vitamin boost to help energize you all day.
Caffeine Source: 100 mg of caffeine naturally derived from fermented tea leaves.
Flavor(s): Tropical Berry.
Why I Like It: I love that you can mix it with water, allowing you to dilute it if you don’t want too much caffeine. Plus, if I have this at 3-4 PM I find that it provides energy support, without making me jittery or causing me to stay up all night.
P.S. You can now use code “nourishedwithnatalie” for 15% off on their site.
2. Pep Rally
Another powdered mix, this blend contains a mix of matcha, B Vitamins, Ginseng, Ashwagandha, and Maca.
Caffeine Source: 80mg of natural caffeine from Guarana Seed Extract and Green Tea Leaf Extract.
Flavor(s): Green Tea lemonade.
Why I Like It: Personally, I am NOT a fan of matcha or green tea, like at all, with that being said, I actually don’t mind this flavor (although I do like to add a splash of fruit juice!). I love this powder because it helps provide a stable, long lasting energy without the crash and burn.
3. Clean Cause – Yerba Mate
Clean Cause uses Yerba Mate to provide it’s caffeine boost! Each can contains 2 servings of 80mg of caffeine. With a wide variety of flavors it’s perfect for busy days when you need a productivity boost.
Caffeine Source: 160mg of caffeine that is naturally sourced from Fair Trade Yerba Mate tea.
Flavor(s): Raspberry, Blackberry, Peach, Lemon Lime, Cherry Lime.
Why I Like It: Not only do they have great reviews on Amazon (4.7 out of 5 with 1,000+ reviews) but they are also certified organic energy drinks and donate 50% of their net profits to support addiction.
4. Sambazon Amazon Energy Drink
Packed with antioxidants and sustainably sourced, this energy drink is equivalent to two shots of caffeine!
Flavor(s): Original Acaí Berry, Pomegranate, and Blood Orange.
Caffeine Source: 120-150mg of naturally occurring caffeine from yerba mate extract, guarana extract and green tea extract.
Why I Like It: Not only does it taste delicious, but Sambazon offers two versions of their energy drink, one sweetened with cane sugar and one sweetened with erythritol and stevia. So, if you’re sensitive to alternative sweeteners, the original is a great option.
5. Riot Energy
Riot Energy is a plant powdered energy drink that is made with plant-based, organic ingredients for a burst of energy without the jitters and crash.
Flavor(s): Mango, Citrus Lime, Berry, Cherry Watermelon.
Caffeine Source: 160mg of naturally occurring caffeine from organic green tea and other plants.
Why I Like It: Riot includes adaptogens that not only helps increase energy, but also reduce stress. Plus, it’s USDA organic!
6. GT’s Alive Mushroom Elixir
This adaptogenic mushroom drink is a great natural pick-me-up! It contains Reishi mushrooms which helps naturally lessen fatigue, improve sleep, and reduce stress.
Flavor(s): Root beer, Cola, Yerba Mate, Ginger Turmeric, Cascara Cider, Matcha Vanilla.
Caffeine Source: 75-100 mg from black tea depending on flavor.
Why I Like It: With plant-based ingredients, these mushroom elixir’s taste great, provide energy, and are also a great replacement for soda with flavors such as cola and root beer. It’s another one of my favorite plant based energy drinks!
7. Mushroom Boost
This drink mix focuses solely on adaptogenic mushrooms, so it’s actually caffeine-free. If you’re looking for a completely natural energy drink – this is the one.
Flavor(s): No specific flavor.
Caffeine Source: Caffeine-Free.
Why I Like It: If you’re looking for a completely natural boost of energy and alertness, this mushroom boost from MUD/WTR is a great option! It’s completely caffeine-free and instead relies on organic mushrooms for energy.
8. FLOW Drink Mix
FLOW is a drink mix designed to boost energy, increase stamina, and support focus. It’s made with adaptogens and electrolytes to provide a steady sustained energy for the day.
Flavor(s): No specific flavor, but it contains cacao powder, so most likely chocolate-esque.
Caffeine Source: 60mg of caffeine from oragnic guayusa extract.
Why I Like It: Filled with adaptogens and electrolytes, FLOW is great natural energy drink that is gluten-free, non-gmo, and avoids artificial colors and sweeteners.
9. Green Blends Energy
Energizing powder that combines greens along with caffeine to both support nutrition and energy levels. Plus, it has pre and probiotics to help support your gut health!
Flavor(s): Lemon Lime, Watermelon.
Caffeine Source: 85mg of caffeine from yerba mate and green tea.
Why I Like It: This is a great option if you’re looking for added benefits beyond just energy. It also provides fiber, greens, and antioxidants to support immunity as well as energy levels.
10. PureLYFT
PureLyft’s caffeine sticks act as a natural energy boost designed to be taken with you wherever you go.
Flavor(s): Original, Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry, and Orange.
Caffeine Source: 125mg of caffeine extracted from green coffee beans.
Why I Like It: These caffeine sticks are great for traveling, as they’re easier to bring with you! Plus, you can get the original and add it into any of your favorite drinks if you’re not a fan of typical energy drink flavors.
11. Proper Wild Energy Shots
Proper Wild Energy Shots are great for those looking for something smaller to provide a boost of energy, despite the size they still provide long lasting energy with reduced jitters.
Flavor(s): Apple, Blackberry, Ginger, Strawberry Kiwi, and others.
Caffeine Source: 100mg of organic caffeine from green tea.
Why I Like It: It’s gluten free, soy free, dairy free, and doesn’t contain any preservatives. It’s also a great option if you don’t want to consume a whole energy drink.
12. Guayaki Yerba Mate
A non-carbonated blend of organic fruit and herbs, as well as yerba mate, this drink provides caffeine without the crash!
Flavor(s): Revel Berry, Lemon Elation, Enlighten Mint, and various others.
Caffeine Source: 80-150 mg of naturally occurring caffeine from yerba mate.
Why I Like It: Comes in a wide variety of flavors, plus it’s sweetened with cane sugar, so if you’re sensitive to sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit, this is a great option.
13. Laird Superfood Instafuel
Instafuel is actually a creamer paired with coffee in the form of a powder, which is super cool. The creamer is made of coconut milk powder so it is completely vegan! It’s basically a latte on the go.
Flavor(s): Tastes similar to a latte.
Caffeine Source: 104mg of naturally occurring caffeine per 12 fl oz from arabica coffee.
Why I Like It: It’s soy free, dairy free, has no artificial flavors, and is sweetened with coconut sugar. It’s a great option for those who like coffee.
14. OCA Energy Drink
OCA is a sparkling water based energy drink powered by cassava root (in the form of organic tapioca syrup) and green coffee extract that helps provide long-lasting energy without the crash.
Flavor(s): Sparkling Berry Acai, Sparkling Guava, Sparkling Mango, Sparkling Prickly Pear Lime.
Caffeine Source: 120mg of naturally occurring caffeine (equal to one cup of coffee) from green coffee extract.
Why I Like It: With no artificial sweeteners, added colors, or preservatives, it’s a great choice for an allergy friendly natural energy drink.
15. Sound Sparkling Water
A sparkling water combined with organic tea, Sound drinks are unsweetened and free from artificial ingredients. They’re perfect for a small, quick energy boost during the day.
Flavor(s): Blood Orange Vanilla and Tangerine are their caffeinated flavors.
Caffeine Source: 45 mg of caffeine from organic black and green tea.
Why I Like It: I love that they provide an unsweetened drink with a small caffeine level. They’re perfect if you’re sensitive to caffeine but looking for a subtle, natural boost!
P.S. You can use code ‘NOURISHED’ for 20% off your order!
15. Organifi Red Juice
A powdered supplement designed to be mixed with water, Organifi’s Red Juice is an all-natural, caffeine free drink designed to improve energy and endurance!
Flavor(s): Berry
Caffeine Source: No caffeine
Why I Like It: Despite being caffeine-free, Organifi’s red juice powder gives me a burst of energy – especially for workouts. Plus, since there’s no caffeine you don’t need to worry about it keeping you up. And, you can buy a smaller size here if you want to trial it first.
P.S. it does contain beets, so if you don’t like the taste of beets (there’s a slight beet aftertaste) this may not be the one for you! But if you’re looking for a caffeine-free pre-workout, it’s hard to find a better option.
16. EBOOST
EBOOST’s energy drinks are packed with vitamins, minerals, and natural caffeine. Plus, they’re non-GMO, soy free, gluten free and of course free from artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners.
Flavor(s): Orange Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Ginger Lime, Blue Raspberry (my favorite!).
Caffeine Source: 110mg from green coffee beans and green tea leaf extract.
Why I Like It: Taste-wise, EBOOST is one of my favorite drinks! I also like that it’s low in sugar and it has plenty of caffeine for those days where I really need a pick me up. Note – they do contain honey, so they are vegetarian but not vegan.
P.S. You can try a sample kit here!
And there you have it, 15 great healthy energy drinks that fit into a vegan diet. Let me know if you’ve tried any of the above options and/or if you have any plant based energy drinks you think are missing from this list!
Hi Natalie!
Loved this blog post! Super detailed and helpful.
We’ve just launched a plant based energy drink of our own known as muci (www.drinkmuci.com). We use this upcycled ingredient known as mucilago de cafe. It is a by product from the coffee making process, rich in vitamins and antioxidants. We pride ourself on long lasting, jitter free energy. Would love your feedback!
Thanks!
What about Reign Storm?
Hi Annette! I looked to see if Reign Storm would be a good fit for this list but unfortunately it contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener.
Ooo so interesting – I’m excited to try some of these brands out!
Yes! Let me know if you do 🙂