What Drinks Have Taurine? A Guide to Energy Drinks and Natural Sources

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to one analysis, the global energy drink market is valued at over $86 billion, and many of these products contain taurine to boost performance. So, what drinks have taurine, and where else might you find it in your diet?

Quick Summary

Many popular energy drinks, including brands like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, contain taurine as a synthetic additive. While naturally present in some animal-based foods, very few common beverages contain this amino acid naturally.

Key Points

Energy Drink Staple: Many major energy drink brands, such as Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, and Celsius, contain synthetic taurine as a key ingredient.
Synthetic Not Natural: The taurine in commercial energy drinks is lab-produced, not sourced from animals, though it is chemically identical to natural taurine.
Combined Effects: Taurine's effects in energy drinks are often hard to isolate and are best understood in combination with other ingredients like high-dose caffeine and sugar.
Naturally Present in Food: Significant dietary sources of natural taurine come from meat and seafood, not beverages (with the exception of human breast milk).
Potential Risks are Broader: The primary health concerns associated with energy drinks are typically linked to their high caffeine and sugar content, though taurine can amplify some effects.
Dosages Vary Greatly: The amount of taurine per can differs widely between brands and product sizes, from around 1,000 mg in a Red Bull to 2,000 mg in a Monster.

The Dominance of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are, by far, the most common beverages to contain significant levels of synthetic taurine. This amino acid is often included alongside other stimulants like caffeine and sugar to enhance perceived energy and mental performance. Major brands consistently feature taurine in their formulations, and the quantities can vary significantly between products and sizes.

Popular Brands with Taurine

Here are some of the most well-known drinks containing taurine:

Red Bull: The iconic energy drink that helped popularize the ingredient. An 8.4 oz can typically contains around 1,000 mg of taurine.
Monster Energy: This brand, in its various flavors and sizes, is known for its high taurine content, with a 16 oz can often containing 2,000 mg.
Rockstar: Similar to Monster, many Rockstar products also deliver 2,000 mg of taurine per 16 oz can.
Celsius: This popular fitness drink includes taurine, with levels around 1,810 mg in a 12 oz can.
Alani Nu: Some Alani Nu energy drinks and powdered energy sticks also contain significant amounts of taurine, often around 2,000 mg per serving.
Ghost Energy: This brand lists 1,000 mg of taurine per 16 oz can.
Other Formulations: Many less common or store-brand energy drinks and pre-workout formulas will also list taurine among their ingredients.

Natural Sources vs. Synthetic Additives

While energy drinks contain artificially produced taurine, the substance itself is a naturally occurring amino acid present in the body and in various animal-based foods. The synthetic version used in drinks is identical in chemical structure to the natural one.

Taurine in Natural Beverages

In the realm of drinks, natural sources are quite limited. The most notable example is human breast milk, which contains taurine naturally and is important for infant development. However, apart from this, most other natural beverages do not contain significant amounts.

Why Synthesize Taurine for Drinks?

Manufacturers use synthetic taurine because it is a cost-effective and consistent way to add the amino acid to a beverage. This also allows for precise dosage and avoids any ethical or sourcing issues associated with animal-derived ingredients for specific products.

Comparison of Taurine in Popular Drinks


Drink Brand	Can Size	Taurine Per Can	Notes
Red Bull	8.4 oz	~1,000 mg	Known for its classic formula.
Monster Energy	16 oz	2,000 mg	Large serving size, high dosage.
Rockstar	16 oz	2,000 mg	Comparable to Monster in dosage.
Celsius	12 oz	~1,810 mg	Part of a proprietary thermogenic blend.
Alani Nu (can)	12 oz	2,000 mg	Concentrated for a smaller can size.
Ghost Energy	16 oz	1,000 mg	Standard dose for a larger can.

Potential Health Effects of Taurine in Drinks

The reasons for adding taurine to energy drinks are varied, but it's important to consider its purpose and the broader context of the beverage's ingredients. Taurine's effects in energy drinks are often studied in combination with caffeine and sugar, making it difficult to isolate the effects of taurine alone.

Proposed Benefits

Enhanced Performance: Some research suggests that taurine, especially when combined with caffeine, may improve mental and athletic performance.
Improved Hydration: Taurine helps with hydration and osmoregulation within cells.
Antioxidant Properties: It possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Associated Health Concerns

Cardiovascular Issues: Concerns exist that taurine combined with high levels of caffeine and sugar could increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, particularly for sensitive individuals.
Hidden Risks: The primary health risks of energy drinks are generally attributed to their high caffeine and sugar content, not the taurine itself.
Drug Interactions: Supplemental taurine may interact with certain medications. For an in-depth review of the risks, you can consult this authoritative source: Taurine, Caffeine, and Energy Drinks: Reviewing the Risks to the Public.

Conclusion

When asking what drinks have taurine, the answer primarily points to the vast market of energy drinks and some specialized supplements. While taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid, its presence in these commercial beverages is almost always due to synthetic additives. Brands like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, and Alani Nu are among the most common examples, each containing varying levels. Though promoted for its potential performance-enhancing properties, it is crucial to remember that taurine's effects in these drinks are intertwined with other potent ingredients, like caffeine and sugar. For most people, a well-balanced diet containing meat and seafood provides sufficient natural taurine, making the synthetic version in beverages generally unnecessary.

Cautions and Considerations

While moderate consumption is typically not a concern for healthy individuals, the high levels of stimulants, sugar, and other additives in energy drinks warrant careful consideration. Always read labels, understand the total nutritional profile of the drink, and be mindful of your overall daily caffeine intake. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions or those on medication should consult a healthcare professional before regular consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid. In energy drinks, it is included as a synthetic supplement because it is believed to help with metabolism, nerve function, and maintaining muscle strength, potentially enhancing the effects of caffeine and improving performance.

No, but most major brands do. Companies like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, Celsius, and Alani Nu all include taurine, though the exact amount varies by brand and product line.

No, this is a persistent myth. The name 'taurine' comes from 'Taurus,' the Latin word for ox, because it was originally isolated from ox bile. The taurine in Red Bull and other drinks is synthetically produced in a lab.

For most healthy individuals, moderate intake of taurine is not considered harmful. However, when consumed in energy drinks alongside high levels of caffeine and sugar, concerns exist regarding potential cardiovascular issues, particularly in sensitive individuals.

Natural beverage sources are very limited. Aside from human breast milk, no other common drinks naturally contain significant amounts of taurine. The best dietary sources are animal-based foods like meat and seafood.

The amount varies significantly. For example, an 8.4 oz Red Bull contains about 1,000 mg, while a 16 oz Monster has about 2,000 mg.

Taurine does not provide an energy boost in the same way that caffeine does. It is not a stimulant. Any perceived energy boost from drinks containing taurine is more likely due to the high amounts of caffeine and sugar in the beverage.

Chemically, the synthetic taurine produced in a lab is identical to the taurine found naturally in the body and in animal products. The difference lies only in its source.