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Energy drink based on strawberry and passion fruit pulp.

Sebastián Lainez Ramírez, Heidy Lugo Martínez and Alejandra Agudelo.

Energy drinks are soft drinks which diminish body fatigue levels. Photo: Taken from www.infobae.com

Taurine is one of the most common components of energy drinks. Photo: Taken from www.tododoping.com

Caffeine is also present in some energy drinks. Photo: Taken from www.interempresas.net

UNal-Medellín Faculty of Agrarian Sciences.

Thinking on the high consumption of energy drinks, three Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNal) Faculty of Agrarian Sciences students created a new drink based on the aforementioned fruits which blend great together. 

“During the project we assessed if the fruit physical-chemical and sensorial properties were affected by adding energy additives,” said Agrarian Sciences undergraduate, Heidy Lugo Martínez. 

For the preliminary tests, the research team prepared a drink with 14% fruit pulp, 0.1% preservative and a stabilizing agent and the necessary amounts of water and sugar to reach a solid soluble concentration. 

The tests continued by separating four samples and implementing several treatments with the purpose of observing the physical-chemical variations the fruit-based energy drink could endure. 

The first treatment consisted of adding 80 milligrams (mg.) of caffeine and the second, adding 1000 mg. of taurine to the same amount of the beverage. The third test was to add 40 mg. of caffeine and 500 mg. of taurine; for the fourth and last test they only added sodium benzoate as preservative. 

For each of the tests the students assessed the color variable, total soluble solids, luminosity, and pH, the main properties of the drinks. 

The results determined that all the physical properties of the drink were maintained through time despite the additions. This indicated that the fruit pulp energy drink was successful. 

The idea of the group was to analyze the taste of people to determine which would be the most viable drink for the market: for now they chose the one with caffeine and taurine as the best combination. 

“With these data we prepared 10 liters (2.6 gal.) of the drink using the following recipe: 1.4 kg of mixed pulp (50% of each), 7.5 liters (1.9 gal.) of water, 1 kg. of sugar, 10 grams of sodium benzoate and 10 grams of citrus pectin,” said Lugo. 

Energy drinks are soft drinks which diminish body fatigue levels and increase energy. They are typically comprised by sugars, amino acids, vitamins, guaraná, minerals, plants extracts, preservatives, taurine and caffeine. The latter two were used in the energy drink prepared by the UNal-Medellín students. 

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can remain in the body for up to six hours. It is later removed through the liver and kidneys; taurine is an amino acid which contributes to obtaining energy. 

With this beverage they hope to minimize chemical product levels which these products often have and provide an alternative for people which need a little shot of energy.