Every energy collection is different; every collector has their own opinion on what counts as energy
and what doesn't. I've always found it difficult when comparing myself to other collectors, because they
might count a drink that I don't, and I might count drinks that they don't. I have an even more
pronounced version of this issue because I collect energy products, not just drinks, as well. Almost no one
does that. So, for reference, comparison, and curiosity, here are my criteria which I use to decide what
counts and what doesn't count in my collection. Distinction Between Drinks and Products
In my efforts to amass the world's largest energy collection, I find that I am unable to compare
myself directly to my only competition; Energy Drink Museum.
They only collect drinks; while I collect drinks as well as any products intended to give energy.
While attempting to compare myself to them by drinks alone, I found a further difference between
our two collections; the definition of a drink. Here are my definitions of energy items, and an explanation of
how I compare to their definitions.
Drinks
An item is deemed to be an energy drink if it is in any sort of liquid form (gels and sprays excluded);
the packaging does not matter. Cans, bottles, shooters, vials, packets, or otherwise; if it's
liquid, it's a drink.
*Energy Drink Museum counts gels and sprays as drinks; therefore, when comparing my collection to theirs,
I do as well.
Products
In the context of my collection, an energy product is anything that is not a drink.
Gums, mints, candies, chews, gummies, chocolates, powders, tabs, mixes, snacks, sprays, gels, pills,
capsules, tablets, strips, patches, and beauty products are all energy products that I have
in my collection.
*Energy Drink Museum counts gels, sprays, and mixes as drinks; therefore, when comparing my collection to theirs,
I do as well.
Ingredients
Ingredients are the most important attribute of an energy product. The most common ingredients that qualify
an item as an energy product are:
B Vitamins
Caffeine
Ginseng
Guarana
Taurine
Ingredients Explained: B Vitamins
B Vitamins, while purported to provide energy, are only one step above protein "energy" and carb "energy."
Therefore, they must be coupled with an obvious intent to energize.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an integral part of almost all energy drinks and products; so one would assume it would immediately qualify something
as an energy item. But think; soda and other beverages contain it too. Chocolate has small amounts of it. Faced with this dilemma,
it becomes obvious that the qualification is not in presence, but in amount and context. Non-drink items that contain caffeine
almost instantly count, because well, there isn't any NON-energy candy or gum that has caffeine in it. Drinks that contain caffeine
are almost always obviously portrayed as energy drinks; and ambiguous items are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
For example, Mountain Dew contains caffeine normally. It's a soda, not an energy drink. However, Mountain Dew Game Fuel contains
MORE caffeine (plus an intent to energize; it claims to "fuel" gamers), and counts. For all intents and purposes,
caffeine qualifies an item when it is paired with an intent to energize.
Ginseng
Ginseng, an adaptogen, has been used for thousands of years. While myriad claims are made about its effects,
no real proof has been shown of any benefits. Its inclusion is almost ubiquitous in energy products; and,
if coupled with an intent to energize, it can qualify an item, or even stand alone as an extract for energy.
Guarana
Guarana is just caffeine. It's a South American bean similar to a coffee bean, but with a higher caffeine concentration.
It is bolded in the list because, while many non-energy products contain caffeine, guarana is only used
in energy products (presumably due to the higher concentration), and therefore is a perfect qualifier, with
no need for other qualifications.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid, that our bodies produce naturally in the liver. Among other things, it helps
metabolize B Vitamins (which help metabolize sugars...interesting chain, eh?). Like ginseng, it is found
in almost all energy products, and is also a perfect qualifier. If a product contains taurine, it counts.
Intent to Energize
Energy products almost always display an obvious intent to energize, meaning they are marketed as an
energy product. This "intent to energize" can qualify an item as an energy product, even if lack of
ingredients would have ruled it out.
Appendix A - Coffee
Coffee is the most widely known source of caffeine. Coffee, however, has been integrated into society so
much that the coffee begets the caffeine, not the other way around. People drink coffee for the sake of
drinking coffee, not being energized, so most coffee does not count. Exception
Coffee that is canned, and sold alongside and in the same spirit as energy drinks, such as in a convenience store, counts.
This is because coffee in this context is intended for the same purposes as the energy drinks next to it.
Appendix B - Tea
Although tea contains no true caffeine, it does contain two similar substances: theobromine, and theophylline.
While it contains these caffeine analogues, tea is culturally viewed as a relaxing, soothing beverage, and
therefore the antithesis of an energy drink. Therefore, no tea shall count unless an obvious intent to energize is shown AND
ingredients are added or increased to facilitate this.
Read more on tea at http://www.wikipedia.org/Tea
Appendix C - Weight Loss Products
Weight loss products, most often in pill form, often contain the same ingredients as energy drinks, such as caffeine, taurine, and others.
They also often include energy as one of their purposes, although weight loss is their primary purpose.
Therefore, only weight loss/energy products that are made by companies which also make a product that is purely for the purposes of energy
shall count. The purpose of that is to show that the company has an overall intent to energize, and weight loss is simply another aspect of their
intentions.
Appendix D - Sexual Enhancement Products
Some sexual enhancement products contain the same ingredients as energy products; after all, sexual
energy is still energy. Examples include VPX Black Pearl, Extenze shot and drinks, etc.. These items
shall be included in my collection, while pure aphrodisiacs which do not contain energy ingredients
shall not.
Appendix E - Beauty Products
Some beauty products and cosmetics contain caffeine; some popular examples are the caffeinated
soaps and body wash available at ThinkGeek. Beauty products
will only be counted if they display a direct 'intent to energize,' and are not just including the caffeine
or energy ingredients to be trendy or "energize your folicles" or something stupid.