What Is The Best Tasting Pre Workout – Because Taste Matters
What is the best tasting pre workout supplement is an important question for many of us. Some pre workouts are overwhelmingly sweet, and some are not sweet enough. Others are too fruity or don’t taste like the advertised flavor.
Why do some pre workouts taste like chemicals? Even more important is getting the most effective one to give the most energy and endurance. We are going to look further into taste and performance to find the pre workouts that are just right.
These “best of” selections come from reviews, Q&A’s, online research, and personal experience.
What to Look For in a Pre Workout
Before we discuss best tasting, there are a couple of other factors that are important when choosing a pre workout supplement. Some of these can affect flavor as well.
Quantity of Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the most prominent ingredients in a pre workout and the effects from it can be felt more than any other ingredient.
It is best to have a sufficient amount, but not too much. Pre workouts can contain anywhere between 100-400mg per serving. On top of this, there are other names disguised as Caffeine such as Anhydrous, Caffeine Citrate, and terms such as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine.
If you are tolerant of coffee or other caffeinated beverages, you will need a pre workout with a higher amount. A larger quantity of Caffeine can (but not always) affect the pre workout flavor in a negative way. To really get “amped up”, see “Pre Workout With The Most Caffeine“.
Many of us are slightly sensitive to this stimulant and will want to stay in the 150-250mg range per serving. If you happen to be Caffeine intolerant, there are some excellent Caffeine Free Pre Workouts to choose from.
Whether you are tolerant or not to Caffeine, it is important to start out with a smaller amount of pre workout at first, and work your way up. This could save you a headache and a case of the jitters.
Amino Acid Proteins
Another thing to look for is plenty of Amino Acids to boost your strength, endurance, and to fight muscle fatigue. Aminos are the building blocks of protein and are key to improved performance during your workout.
L-Citrulline is one of the most important ones. This Amino enhances the chemical process to create Nitric Oxide for endurance. Look for larger quantities of this, like 5000mg or more.
Nitric Oxide vascularizes your cardiovascular system so your muscle can get all of the proper nutrients to recover faster. This continuously recharges muscle tissue and keeps you stay strong throughout your workout.
Vitamin B
Lastly, plenty of B vitamins is recommended for natural energy. Many pre workouts are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, these healthy nutrients can impact pre workout taste.
Take a look at my ingredient breakdown for C4 Pre Workout.
Pre Workout Price
And of course, there is the matter of price. As with anything, you usually get what you pay for, so don’t purchase the brand with a rock bottom price.
Don’t worry about paying a little more for a quality product. Even the most expensive pre workout supplements are under $2.00 per serving.
If you have any questions or need any advice on choosing a pre workout supplement, please let me know in the comment box below.
Pre Workout Sweeteners
The kind of sweeteners contained in a particular pre workout will have a large effect on flavor. Pre workout sweeteners will be either natural or artificial. Many sugars are processed using real sugar but not many of them.
The most prominent sweetener across the boards is Sucralose, which is an artificial sugar manufactured from real sugars.
The reason it is so popular is that it is zero calorie, inexpensive to make, and tastes pretty good. However, some brands overdo it with too much of this sweetener. Unfortunately, the majority of the best tasting pre workouts use artificial sweeteners.
If you want to avoid these, there are a couple of categories to look for. All Natural Pre Workouts and Organic Pre Workouts. These are obviously the healthier choices, but it is possible that they may not be sweet enough.
Most of these “healthier” pre workouts use a naturally processed zero calorie sugar such as Stevia. It costs a little more to manufacture but boasts of being the healthiest sugar substitute.
Some pre workouts contain good old Pure Cane Sugar. This is my taste preference since I am not as concerned with a few calories but this can be more difficult to find.
Both Sucralose and Stevia sweeteners can be added to some pre workouts too heavily to overcompensate for real sugar. This is not preferred by me.
See the Best All Natural Pre Workouts
Pre Workout Flavorings
Another factor is the type of natural or artificial flavors they are made from. Of course, it all depends on what one’s personal preference is.
The majority of pre workouts are flavored with artificial flavoring. They duplicate flavors very closely to the ones that they are representing.
Some of these include Green Apple, Cherry and Watermelon flavors. Some companies tend to overdue this flavoring when trying to cover up the strong flavor of the key ingredients.
The naturally flavored pre workouts have come a long way. Just as the sweeteners, All Natural and Organic pre workout categories contain healthier and better quality flavoring.
These manufacturers have learned to use real concentrated fruit and even some vegetables to come up with some fairly decent pre workout flavors. Some of these flavors are Coconut, Watermelon, and Berries.
Natural flavors are usually not as potent, but strong enough to cover up the less tasteful Caffeine and Amino Acids contained in pre workouts.
Try all of the flavors that you like because nutritional supplements come with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Simply return it, and try another flavor.
What Is The Best Tasting Pre Workout
Product: C4 Extreme Energy Pre Workout
Flavors: Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Kiwi, Icy Blue Razz, Fruit Punch
Price Range: $$
Where to Purchase: Get the Best Price on C4 Extreme Energy
Container size: 30 servings
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Manufacturer: Cellucor at cellucor.com
Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Pros
- 300mg of Caffeine
- Loaded with essential Amino Acids
- Contains Creatine
- 0 Sugar, 0 Calories, and 0 Carbs Per Serving
Cons
- May be too much Caffeine for some
See my Review for C4 Original
Product: NO Xplode Pre Workout Igniter
Flavors: Blue Razz, Fruit Punch, Grape, Watermelon, Green Apple, Scorched Cherry
Price Range: $
Where to Purchase: Get the Best Price on NO Xplode
Container size: 36 servings
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Manufacturer: BSN at gobsn.com
Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Pros:
- Nitric Oxide booster
- Creatine for muscle growth
- 275mg of Caffeine
- Loaded with vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Proprietary blend is unclear
See my NO Xplode Pre Workout Review
Product: Alpha GX7 Pre Workout
Flavors: Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Cherry
Price Range: $$
Where to Purchase: Get the Best Price on Alpha GX7
Container size: 30 servings
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Manufacturer: Carnosyn at carnosyn.com
Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Pros
- 250mg of Caffeine
- Yohimbe for fat burn and energy
- 2000mg of Beta Alanine
- Sugar Free
Cons
- Doesn’t contain Creatine
Product: Beyond Raw LIT Pre Workout
Flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Gummy Worm, Icy Fireworks, Bubble Gum
Price Range: $$$
Where to Purchase:
Container size: 30 servings
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Manufacturer: GNC at gnc.com
Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Pros
- 250mg of Caffeine
- Plenty of L-Citrulline for muscle pump
- Sugar Free
- Top flavor in its category
Cons
- Cost slightly more, but still only $1.30 per serving.
The Best Tasting Conclusion
So if taste is an important quality in a pre workout, the powders in this review provide some great options.
There is Blueberry, Crazy Cherry, Gummy Work, Bubble Gum, and the list goes on.
Most negative reviews regarding flavor, seem to come from a bad batch made by the manufacturer. This problem can pop up any time with any brand.
Picking a pre workout with plenty of Caffeine (if you can handle it) and a potent amount of Amino Acids will make a huge difference. It will increase your strength, endurance, and athletic performance during your workouts.
There are choices available for sweeteners, both natural or artificial. Flavorings come from either a chemical based artificial product, or natural flavors from real fruit.
If you have any questions about what is the best tasting pre workout, please leave a comment below and I will respond.
Learn About the Best Supplements For Muscle Growth