Here's a piece of trivia most energy drink fans don't know: Red Bull was inspired by a Thai drink called Kratingdaeng — "red bull" in Thai. The original is still sold across Asia in small glass bottles, and it tastes noticeably different from the silver-and-blue can you know. If you've ever wondered what the Asian energy drink shelf is all about, here's your guide.
Kratingdaeng: The Original Red Bull
In the 1980s, Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz tried Kratingdaeng on a business trip to Thailand, found it cured his jet lag, and partnered with its creator to launch Red Bull for Western markets. The Thai original never went away. Kratingdaeng is still Thailand's dominant energy drink, sold in a distinctive 150ml glass bottle with a gold cap.
How does it compare to Red Bull? Kratingdaeng is sweeter, syrup-ier, and uncarbonated — closer to a concentrated sweet tonic than a fizzy soda. Red Bull is carbonated, lighter, and more tart. Fans of the original describe it as richer and more "complete" tasting; Red Bull loyalists sometimes find it too sweet. There's no wrong answer — they're genuinely different drinks that happen to share a name and a logo.
At $1.99 for 150ml, Kratingdaeng is also one of the cheapest energy drinks per bottle you'll find anywhere, and it's the best-selling energy drink at Axia Station by a wide margin.
What About Regular Red Bull?
The Red Bull Energy Drink 250ml can ($3.19) needs little introduction — it's the global standard. Carbonated, crisp, with the familiar sweet-tart flavour. If you already know you like Red Bull, the interesting move is to try Kratingdaeng once for comparison. Most people end up with a preference they feel strongly about.
How Asian Energy Drinks Differ From Western Ones
Beyond the two Red Bulls, the Asian energy drink shelf has its own character:
- Smaller servings: The classic Asian format is 100–150ml — a quick shot rather than a 473ml tallboy. The idea is a concentrated boost, not a beverage to nurse for an hour.
- Less carbonation: Many Asian energy drinks are still or lightly carbonated, which makes them easier to drink quickly.
- Herbal and vitamin positioning: Brands like Kratingdaeng market themselves around B vitamins, taurine, and caffeine as a functional trio, closer to a tonic than a soft drink.
- Glass bottles: The small-bottle format is part of the ritual — crack the cap, drink it down, get on with your day.
When Do People Actually Drink Them?
In Thailand and across Southeast Asia, Kratingdaeng is a working person's drink — truck drivers, night-shift workers, and students pull the small bottle for the same reason North Americans reach for coffee. Common moments:
- Long drives — the classic use case, and the one Mateschitz himself discovered.
- Night shifts and early mornings — when coffee isn't cutting it.
- Pre-workout — a quick caffeine hit 20 minutes before training.
- Study sessions — the small format means no bathroom trips every hour.
A word of common sense: energy drinks contain significant caffeine. One small bottle is the intended serving — don't stack them, don't mix with alcohol, and if you're sensitive to caffeine, sensitive to sugar, pregnant, or under 18, skip them.
How to Choose
- Want the original experience? Kratingdaeng 150ml ($1.99) — sweeter, still, syrupy, historic.
- Want what you know? Red Bull 250ml ($3.19) — carbonated, crisp, familiar.
- Watching sugar? Check labels carefully — the classic Asian formats are full-sugar by tradition. Sugar-free versions exist in some brands but are less common on the Asian import shelf.
Taste Test: What to Expect
If you've only ever had Red Bull, your first sip of Kratingdaeng will surprise you. Expect something thicker and sweeter, almost like a medicinal syrup — because in a sense, that's what it is. Drink it chilled and in one go, the way it's meant to be consumed. The flavour makes much more sense as a quick shot than sipped slowly.
Going the other direction — Kratingdaeng fans trying Red Bull for the first time — expect fizz, lightness, and a sharper citrus-tart edge. It's the same family, but the Western version was reformulated for a soda-drinking audience.
Where to Find Them in Canada
Kratingdaeng in the original Thai glass bottle is an import item — you won't find it in mainstream Canadian convenience stores. Asian grocery stores and specialty shops are the places to look. Axia Station stocks both Kratingdaeng 150ml and Red Bull 250ml at its Ottawa store (147 Rideau St) and its Montreal store, as well as online at axiastation.ca with Canada-wide shipping. At $1.99, trying the original that started it all is one of the cheapest experiments in the store.
