Potencia Bebida de Energia

A Fair & Honest Energy Drink Review

Potencia Bebida de Energia Retail Package Description

Potencia Energy Drink is a primarily metallic can, besides text, the only real decoration is what, at first, appeared to me to be either long turds or bull penes garnished with leaves. In retrospect, either of these ghastly ingredients sounds more appetizing than tamarind, which it turns out the phallic imagery was supposed to represent. Otherwise, the name is in faux "wanted poster" letters that are metalish (as they appear to depict rivets on the letters). The rim of the can (where most drinks carry on about Taurine, Ginseng, and the like) contains the following countries instead: Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia. The following is the motivational text that appears on the can, it also appears in Spanish, but I'm too lazy to type both version, "Potencia brings the flavors we grew up with and love very much. It is mixed with tasteful and energy ingredients to make a fantastic new energy drink beverage." In green, the can front reads, "With our Latin Flavor".

Caffeine Addict's Potencia Bebida de Energia Review

My experience with Potencia was somewhat drawn out, I consumed about 1/4 of the first one I opened. It tasted horrible, and I didn't want to finish it. While pouring it out, I realized the consistency changed as I reached the bottom. A light came on in my head that lead me to believe that this drink was not supposed to taste like blighted potatoes. So, despite the can not instructing me to shake (gently), I did just that with the next can, slowly turning it upside down/right side up. This changed the flavor, in my opinion, completely. The earthy flavor was almost completely gone, and now the drink tasted more like a lightly fruity ginger ale. I wouldn't drink it every day, but like Guarana flavored soda, I could see how it would grow on me, or be very pleasant to someone who is familiar with tamarind, and enjoys the taste. Interestingly, I actually like the taste more at room temperature than served iced cold.

As the caffeine content listed should indicate, this drink is energizing. It is tops amongst the 16oz. drinks I've had. Unfortunately, even though the taste is ok, it's not particularly to my liking (not to say that someone from Colombia or Mexico wouldn't prefer this to any other flavor on the market).

The price is reasonable, and right in line with other 16oz. drink offerings. As of the time we acquired this drink, it was not widely available, but if the taste is a hit with the Latin American community, I'd expect to see its popularity spread quickly.

Energy Junkie's Potencia Bebida de Energia Review

Firstly, I have no idea how prolific tamarind is in Central and South America. The can would lead me to believe it's as common an ingredient as saturated fat is in the US. My research indicates that the tree and its fruit are actually more common in Africa and Asia, usually used as a cooking spice, also an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce, and lastly to polish tarnished brass. The fruit is said to have a distinctively sour taste, I love sour, but that's not the flavor I get when drinking Potencia. In Potencia's defense, other popular drinks from Latin America contain other fruits that I don't like, but many Latin Americans love: Papaya, Mango, and Guava, for example. In all honesty, this was my first exposure to Tamarind (also apparently referred to as Tamarindo), so, unlike Latin Americans who may have grown up loving this, I found it unpalatable.

I think I can most accurately describe the taste as the leftover water from stewing radishes and potatoes, mixed with the naturally bitter taste of caffeine.

With more caffeine than $12 worth of Starbucks products, I can't argue with the ingredients. This drink looks solid, and I'd put it on par with any other drink that depends primarily on sugar and caffeine (which I believe should be the active ingredients in all energy drinks) to energize. I was never able to consume an entire Potencia Bebida de Energia. Not only did I not enjoy the taste, it made me feel sick to my stomach after about half a can. Since I never finished a Potencia, I didn't get to experience the profound affects of the copious amounts of caffeine.

At $1.99, it's not bad, particularly if the can is right, and tamarind is something Latin Americans love, and assuming this tastes like tamarind (since I've never otherwise tasted it, except apparently in Worcestershire sauce).