Today, we are stepping into the world of Panera Energy Drink – a drink that’s been raising eyebrows and creating a buzz on social media. This isn’t your typical ordinary beverage; it is a fusion of flavors, lots of caffeine, sugar, and even more controversy on the go!
What is Panera Energy Drink?
Or you must be wondering what is Charged Drinks at Panera. Panera Bread, a bakery-cafe chain owns the Panera Energy Drink. In April 2022, Panera launched Charged Lemonades, as their new energy drinks on the menu. Fueled by natural caffeine sourced from guarana and green coffee extract, these lemonades offer a refreshing twist with flavors like mango, cranberry, and strawberry mint. Chilled and overflowing with caffeine, they are meant to be sipped and enjoyed in the summer.
Panera Bread Origin
Panera Bread is a chain of bakery-café restaurants in the United States and Canada. It’s known for offering a variety of freshly baked goods, sandwiches, soups, salads, and drinks. Panera Bread was founded in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company in Kirkwood, Missouri. It later expanded and changed its name to Panera Bread in 1999.
Panera Charged Lemonade Caffeine
Let’s look into the Panera Caffeine Lemonade energy drink. The Mango Yuzu Citrus and Strawberry Lemon Mint varieties of Charged Lemonade pack a hefty punch of 260 milligrams of caffeine in a 20-ounce serving. On the other hand, the Fuji Apple Cranberry flavor holds a slightly lower but equally crazy 259 mg of caffeine. Here is a further detail on Charged Lemonade Panera caffeine content:
- Fuji Apple Cranberry – 259mg caffeine in 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Fuji Apple Cranberry – 389mg caffeine in 30 fl oz (887 ml)
- Strawberry Lemon Mint – 260mg caffeine in 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Strawberry Lemon Mint – 390mg caffeine in 30 fl oz (887 ml)
- Mango Yuzu Citrus – 260mg caffeine in 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Mango Yuzu Citrus – 390mg caffeine in 30 fl oz (887 ml)
Let’s put this into perspective. Your regular 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 100 mg of caffeine, and an 8.4-ounce Red Bull has roughly about 80 mg. But the Panera Caffeine Lemonade? It’s stepping up the caffeine game. In fact, it’s soaring past the caffeine content found in typical energy drinks, which often reach up to 250 mg per serving. Basically, it has more caffeine than 4 espressos drinks roughly.
For most healthy adults, the health authority recommends not to consume more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day to avoid adverse health effects like anxiety, restlessness, rapid heart rate, digestive issues, and insomnia.
Energy Drink Caffeine Chart
Charged Lemonade Controversy and TikTok
Amid the TikTok frenzy, content creator Sarah Baus posted a video on December 8th that set the internet humming. She recounted her experiences with the Mango Yuzu Citrus flavor of Panera’s Charged Lemonade. It turns out, Baus used to work for Panera thanks to its complimentary drink refills, a perk she heartily indulged in while working. But she was shocked when she discovered the astonishing truth about the Charged Lemonade’s ingredients. In her video, she exclaimed, “This should be illegal!”
Charged Lemonade Panera Sugar Content
But wait, there’s more. The Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade contains a whopping 82 grams of sugar. Its counterparts, Strawberry Lemon Mint, and Fuji Apple Cranberry, follow closely with 65 grams each.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) per day for women and no more than 36 grams (about 9 teaspoons) per day for men. These recommendations help reduce the risk of chronic health issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.
Panera Charged Lemonade Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Lemon Mint Charged Lemonade 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Energy content: 280 calories
- Sodium: 10 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 69 grams
- Sugars: 65 grams
Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Energy content: 350 calories
- Sodium: 10 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 85 grams
- Sugars: 82 grams
Fuji Apple Cranberry Charged Lemonade 20 fl oz (591 ml)
- Energy content: 290 calories
- Sodium: 10 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 70 grams
- Sugars: 65 grams
Panera Charged Lemonade Calories
Strawberry Lemon Mint:
- 20 fl oz (591 ml): 280 calories
- 30 fl oz (887 ml): 430 calories
Mango Yuzu Citrus:
- 20 fl oz (591 ml): 350 calories
- 30 fl oz (887 ml): 530 calories
Fuji Apple Cranberry:
- 20 fl oz (591 ml): 290 calories
- 30 fl oz (887 ml): 430 calories
Panera Charged Lemonade Flavors
It is available in three charged flavors.
- Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade: This tropical flavor is infused with mango and zesty yuzu citrus blend for a refreshing summer beverage companion.
- Strawberry Lemon Mint Flavor: It is a classic combo with a minty twist—sweet, tart, and cool in every sip.
- Apple Cranberry Charged Lemonade: The Fuji apple-cranberry mix for a balanced sweet-tart refreshment.
Source: Panera Bread
Panera Charged Lemonade Ingredients
Panera Caffeine Lemonade contains water, signature craft agave lemonade, caffeine, green coffee extract, and guarana extract. It also has strawberry, mint, lemon, fuji apple, cranberry, mango, yuzu, and citrus flavors.
Panera Caffeine Lemonade contains:
- Water
- Signature craft agave lemonade
- Caffeine
- Green coffee extract
- Guarana extract
Depending on the drink, it may also include flavors such as:
- Strawberry
- Mint
- Lemon
- Fuji apple
- Cranberry
- Mango
- Yuzu
- Citrus
Panera Charged Lemonade Review
Please check out the Panera Charged Lemonade customer reviews here.
Panera’s Charged Lemonade has ignited quite the debate. While there’s no denying its potential to pack an energy punch, it’s crucial to ponder over the implications of consuming such hefty amounts of caffeine and sugar. As the drink’s popularity skyrockets on social media, so does the conversation about its composition and potential health effects.
Whether you’re enticed by the promise of an energetic boost or you’re genuinely concerned about the aftermath, it’s undeniable that Panera’s Charged Lemonade has sparked curiosity and discussion across the internet.
If you are interested further in reading, here are my detailed reviews of other popular energy drinks.