Huxley Energy Drinks Are Tasty and Minnesota-Made

I haven’t had much luck with energy drinks in the past. No matter which one I try, I hate the artificial taste. Plus, I get unbelievably shaky afterward. As a result, I have always grouped all energy drinks into the same category.

So when the brand Huxley reached out about their energy drinks and how “the classic energy drink taste is nowhere to be found,” I was skeptical, yet intrigued. Additionally, Huxley is a Minnesota-based company, so I was rooting for their products to be different than other energy drinks I have tasted. And I was pleasantly surprised.

Huxley was started by Simon Solis-Cohen as a way to “find an energy drink that he felt good about drinking.” He attended the Culinary Institute of America, worked in several kitchens across the US, and started a beverage marketing agency. He used that industry experience to launch Huxley, which prides itself on its use of “cascara superfruit” for its energy source. You might be wondering what cascara is, and I was too—it refers to dried coffee cherries that contain caffeine along with antioxidants. When coffee is harvested, these this fruit is discarded. I’m not going to dig into the “superfruit” buzzword and the claims of health and wellness, but it does appear that the ingredients from Huxley come from plants.

Each can of Huxley has 90 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee, plus 5 grams of added sugar (the total carbohydrates per can vary depending on the flavor). The only other ingredient listed that might contribute to energy levels is L-theanine, a natural ingredient found in tea. There is some evidence that L-theanine may have an effect on brain activity, and Huxley claims that it helps enhance focus. Otherwise, the caffeine in these energy drinks comes from the company’s “Cascara Superfruit Energy Blend.”

Mariah Kaercher

I was sent three flavors to try: Strawberry Sequoia, Mango Mesa, and Tangerine Teton. I recruited my partner to try them too, since he’s more familiar with energy drinks than I am. I was prepared to hate them, but I had to admit I was wrong, and my partner was shocked too. (He liked the mango the best. My favorite was the strawberry.) I did not experience the shakiness I have with other energy drinks, though I was careful not to drink quickly specifically for that reason.

I would never give up my cup of coffee in exchange for drinking Huxley, but if I was out running errands and saw a can in a cooler at a grocery store, I could see myself buying a can to have on the road. Speaking of which, if you’re wondering where you can purchase Huxley, there is a store locator on the company website. Scrolling through the options, it’s nice to see a lot of local coffee shops in the area, including Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea and Fifth Market. You can also buy directly on the website.

A 6-pack of Huxley costs $20.99, while a 12-pack is $41.99. The company donates 1 percent of its revenue to nature conservation. It helps to support a brand that gives back to their community. You can find more information on the Huxley website and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.