When it comes to making loaded teas, there are many different products that can be used as the caffeine component in addition to the instant tea and guarana powder. The closest comparable to Herbalife's Liftoff is the 4C Energy Rush drink mix. It checks all the boxes and is by far the most affordable option, which is why we use it in our loaded tea recipes.

Let's Talk Energy!

Many of our followers have had a difficult time finding the 4C Energy Rush and some simply do not like it. So, we decided to taste, analyze and compare some of the most popular energy mixes on the market. 

It went a little something like this..... 

Review: Don't do it. Save your money!

Pure Boost: This was definitely the "cleanest" product we tried in terms of ingredients. It has no sugar, no sucralose, no artificial flavors, and no preservatives.

Best for: Anyone concerned about artificial ingredients. 

What we liked: Not too many positive things we can say about this product, but it is a clean alternative to most others.  It has the best sweetener combo of erythritol and stevia if that's something you're looking for. Discounts regularly run on Amazon to get the price down. 

What we didn't like: Honestly, we heard this product was bad, but it's worse than we expected. It's now referred to as "Pure Boo-Boo" in hour house. I would describe the taste as drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. After the first couple rounds of tasting, we never even made it to the grape.  Also, each packet is a lot of powder, and you need the whole pack to get the full caffeine.

SLL's Take: If you come across their ad on Facebook, be sure to read the comments!

Review: Best non-carbonated option.

Celsius: Another product marketed as a "clean" energy source, but with the addition of sucralose. These definitely feel more like a pre-workout powder and are loaded with caffeine. 

Best for: taste and caffeine

What we liked: This product tastes great and is a good option for those who are worried about ingredients. This would be our first choice outside of the 4C Energy Rush if it were carbonated. These are jacked with caffeine, with the highest content of all products we tested. This is an easy-to-find product that tastes great without all the additives. If you like more of a lemonade flavor, these might be more aligned with your taste.

What we didn't like: These should probably just be used as a standalone drink powder. There is a lack of "basic" flavors, and most will be hard to incorporate into recipes. The lack of carbonation leaves a lot to be desired and pretty much all of your color profiles will be off. One thing we also noticed is the prices seemed all over the place online and in-store. 

SLL's Take: At 200mg of caffeine, a half pack should suffice while also giving you more bang for your buck.

Review: Good Variety. Too much carbonation.​

Zipfizz: This was the most similar product to the 4C Energy Rush of any we tested. Although not as "clean" as the previous two, they are a carbonated powder loaded with caffeine, vitamins and electrolytes. 

Best for: Flavor variety 

What we liked: Flavors! So many flavors. Some were definitely better than others, but our favorite was the Orange Cream. We ordered the variety pack to try them all and didn't find one flavor we particularly disliked. The snap closure is also convenient if you just want a half serving or on-the-go.  

What we didn't like: The carbonation. Even using just half a tube, they are extremely carbonated and produce a lot of foam.  The price and availability are the major drawbacks to this product. I've only seen them on Amazon, but others have found them at Costco.  You'll need a whole tube to get that caffeine up, so it can get a little pricey in the long run. 

SLL's Take: If you like a wide range of flavor and don't mind spending a little more, this might be a good option. 

Nuun Sport: All the vitamins and energy in a dissolvable tablet. We reviewed the sport version primarily for the flavors. They are in tablet form, similar to the Herbalife Liftoff. The original variety have a higher caffeine content, but the flavors are unappealing.

Best for: A low caffeine option

What we liked: Price and availability. I don't think I have ever been in Target and not seen these fully stocked. They have good variety of flavor combinations that work well as the base for most recipes. Cherry limeade was our favorite from the sport variety. The packaging is also convenient and are great for on-the-go.

What we didn't like: We had higher hopes for this product and expected it to be the best option. Ultimately, the tablets don't dissolve well, and the flavor isn't strong enough. You're going to need two tablets if you want to boost your caffeine content. Adding the second tablet started to give our teas too much of an "electrolyte" taste. 

SLL's Take: Probably the best option for those who don't want a lot of caffeine and don't mind working a little extra to dissolve the tablets.

Review: Well, at least it's not Pure Boost. 

​ENER-G FIZZ: VitaminHydrate's entrance into the carbonated energy market.  The most expensive product per serving we tested. 

Best for: When you're at Wal-Mart and the 4C Energy Rush is sold out.

What we liked: Availability! We were able to find these at Walmart. They are low calorie and have a good amount of caffeine.

What we didn't like: The price is a little too high on these and the flavors are limited. Fruit punch and grape are really overpowering when used in recipes. They also had a grittier texture and left a lingering vitamin taste. I don't see how these could work in any recipes with that flavor profile.

SLL's Take: If you just really like a strong vitamin aftertaste, this may be for you.  At the end of day, at least it's not Pure Boost.

WRAP IT UP!

​In summary, we still believe the 4C Energy Rush drink mix is the closest dupe of Herbalife’s Liftoff. You can read our earlier research and comparison of these two products here!