In the effervescent universe of energy drinks, Monster Energy has been the pulsating heart for many. Yet, like cult TV shows that met an untimely end, some of its flavors vanished off the shelves, leaving a void in our caffeine routines.
What spirited them away? A change in taste trends? A secret soda society? Dive in as we embark on a fizzy quest, unearthing the mystery behind the discontinued legends of Monster Energy. Strap in, it’s going to be a carbonated ride through beverage history!
Key Takeaways:
Here are some of the drinks discontinued by Monster:
- Java Monster Big Black
- Java Monster Lo-Ball
- Java Monster Originale
- Java Monster Nut-Up
- Java Monster Chai Hai
- Java Monster Russian
- Green Tea Monster Rehab
- Ripper Juiced Monster Energy
- Vanilla Espresso Monster
- Salted Caramel Triple Shot Espresso Monster
- Monster Ultra Citron
- Monster Heavy Metal
- Monster Ballar’s Blend
- Monster Mad Dog
- Monster Rehab
- Monster Assassin Creed (Limited Edition)
Read on as we will also go over a few possible reasons why Monster discontinued these fan-favorite drinks, and some of the best alternatives to discontinued Monster Drinks, so you don’t have to miss out on your beverage!
Some Of The Discontinued Monster Drinks
| Monster Drink Flavor | Approximate Year of Discontinuation |
| Java Monster Big Black | 2021-2022 |
| Java Monster Lo-Ball | 2021-2022 |
| Java Monster Originale | 2022 |
| Java Monster Nut-Up | 2022 |
| Java Monster Chai Hai | 2022 |
| Java Monster Russian | 2022 |
| Green Tea Monster Rehab | 2021-2022 |
| Ripper Juiced Monster Energy | 2022 |
| Vanilla Espresso Monster | 2022 |
| Salted Caramel Triple Shot Espresso Monster | 2022 |
| Monster Ultra Citron | 2017 |
| Monster Heavy Metal | 2013 |
| Monster Ballar’s Blend | 2013 |
| Monster Mad Dog | 2013 |
| Monster Rehab | 2018 |
| Monster Assassin Creed (Limited Edition) | 2017 |
Why Monster Discontinued These Flavors?
If you notice a particularly good mix of Monster flavors in the table above, it is perfectly natural to wonder why such products would be discontinued. You may also wonder why Monster discontinued so many and why they all seemed to be pulled from shelves around the same time.
The Monster company has not released any official statements clarifying their reasons for removing some of these products: however, educated guesses aren’t hard to make!
The Possibility of Hazardous Ingredients in Monster Energy Drinks
For one thing, Monster Energy drinks have had a checkered history with proper ingredient standards to maintain customers’ health and safety.
For example, in January 2021, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland reported that a batch of Monster drinks was being withdrawn from the market for containing too much of a certain ingredient called propylene glycol.
It’s important to note that all of the products brought back in January have been completely phased out.
But the Food Safety Authority said that anyone who had already consumed these drinks was unlikely to experience any significant discomfort from propylene glycol’s worst-case health effects.
These are the Ripper Juiced Monster Energy, the Lewis Hamilton Monster Energy, and both flavors of Espresso Monster Vanilla Triple Shot.
Propylene glycol is an additive known to cause vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and even fainting if consumed in quantities that are too large.
When the Food Safety Authority of Ireland found too much of this additive in one particular batch, the Monster Drink was withdrawn.
However, a recipe with any ingredient that could cause discomfort in consumers is not the best manufacturing investment. The risk that customers could get sick and cost the company money is too high.
This wasn’t the only time Monster faced such a dilemma. One of the discontinued flavors, the Green Tea Rehab, sparked a lawsuit in 2012 after certain amounts of a possibly dangerous ingredient were found within. Monster has since discontinued this drink, too.
Monster Replaces Old Drinks With Better Recipes
However, hazardous ingredients are not the only reason that Monster may stop making a product! Sometimes, they will remove a product to replace it with an improved recipe. This is the case for many of the above tea and coffee flavors of Monster drinks.
For example, Monster’s “Originale” was an improvement on the canceled “Java Monster Big Black.” When the company decided to improve on that recipe again, Java Monster Originale was replaced by the Java Monster Kona Blend.
Therefore, even if your favorite Monster flavor has been discontinued, you may find that the Monster company still makes a very similar drink in its place.
Also, low sales of product can be a contributor!
Origins Limited Edition Can
Some flavors or cans of Monster energy were always intended to be around for a limited period of time. Just like in the case of the Monster Assassin Creed can. In this case, you can’t technically call it a discontinued flavor, due to it being planned to be around for a limited time.
Also, the flavor was still Monster original, just in a can with different artwork on it.
Also Read: 6 Discontinued Red Bull Flavors You Probably Miss
What Are The Best Alternatives To Discontinued Monster Drinks?
If any of the Monster drinks listed above were your favorite flavors, it could be disheartening to learn that they are not returning to stores near you.
The best encouragement for someone in this situation is to find an alternative drink that gets pretty close to the flavor you find yourself missing! For this reason, we’ve made a list of the best alternatives to Monster Drinks!
- Celsius Sparkling Kiwi Guava
- Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Espresso Coffee
- GURU Organic Energy
Let’s take a closer look at the taste and feel of these alternatives so you can see which one matches up with the Monster Drink flavor you had in mind.
1. Celsius Sparkling Kiwi Guava
One of the most popular drinks that Monster discontinued was the Monster Ripper Energy Drink. Though this flavor, full of guava and pineapple juices, is still available outside of the United States, it is hard to come by. Luckily, the Celsius Sparkling Kiwi Guava is a great alternative!
Celsius is already the top competitor to the Monster Energy Drink company, and its products are high-quality. The Sparkling Kiwi Guava is just one of their many fruit-juice flavors. Not only is its taste comparable to Monster beverages, but it also bumps the human metabolism and helps you lose weight!
2. Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Espresso Coffee
As we’ve said, many of the above drinks that Monster has either re-imagined or outright discontinued are a part of their coffee-flavored product line. So if you find yourself missing the Java Monster Big Black or even the Java Monster Originale, try the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy drink!
The Starbucks company has proven that it can create tasty, hand-crafted coffee beloved all over the world.
Their shelf products are just as successful! The Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Espresso Coffee usually comes with around 135 milligrams of caffeine, which can be increased if you buy the Tripleshot version!
Not only that, but Starbucks also makes several flavors to choose from, including caramel, vanilla, and mocha.
3. GURU Organic Energy
One of the first items Monster replaced when discontinuing products was the Green Tea Monster Rehab. As stated above, the product may have been controversial to some, but it was a favorite for others.
Luckily, a great green tea-flavored alternative energy drink can be found in GURU’s Organic Energy drink. The green variety is flavored with ceremonial-grade matcha tea from Japan!
Healthy Alternatives To Discontinued Monster Energy Drink
#1. Ice Tea Coconut
If you are missing Monster Rehab’s tea flavor, then this natural energy drink alternative is the right pick for you. This energizing iced tea made with coconut water is a great source of antioxidants for your body. Cut a cucumber into thin slices and chill them in the fridge while you prepare the rest of your drink. Combine one cup of cold brewed green tea, one tablespoon of honey, one-fourth of a teaspoon of rock salt, and one cup of coconut water in a pitcher. Enjoy the energy boost after adding the chilled cucumbers to the beverage!
#2. Ginger And Cardamom Mix
If you’re looking for a quick and simple energy drink, try this ginger and cardamom concoction. With two thin slices of peeled ginger fill your cup, along with the juice from half an inch of fresh ginger root.
A quarter teaspoon of powdered cardamom, a quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder, and one to two teaspoons of honey (to taste) should be added to the cup before being filled with hot water and consumed.
Together, ginger and turmeric rev up your metabolism and provide you with a jolt of energy. Cardamom has been shown to increase energy and enhance circulation.
#3. Banana Energy Shake
Those who like to do intense cardio and weight training at home might benefit from this all-natural energy drink.
An excellent source of electrolytes and energy-boosting carbohydrates, a banana and greens smoothie fortified with whey protein is a great way to start the day.
Throw one ripe banana, two tablespoons of almond butter (or half a cup of raw almonds), one scoop of sugar-free whey protein, two cleaned and chopped kale leaves (or spinach), half a cup of yogurt, one cup of your preferred non-dairy milk, and half a teaspoon of powdered flax seeds into a blender jar (optional).
If you don’t have any whey protein on hand, 2 tablespoons of curd water can do in its replacement. Restore your protein stores, bid farewell to lethargy, and enjoy this smoothie instantly by blending all of the ingredients together, pouring them into a glass, and drinking them
Interested to check out more homemade energy drink options? Try our DIY Natural Energy Drink Recipe.
How Redditors Feel About Their Favorite Monster Drinks being Discontinued?
In general, Redditors are unhappy about the discontinued monster energy drinks which is to be expected. After all, who wouldn’t miss the sip of their favorite energy drink which isn’t available anymore?
Some Redditors are unhappy because their favorite energy drink, like the Monster Ultra Citron is discontinued.
Then, there are others who miss the nostalgia of sipping their favorite energy drinks.
They are remembering their high school days when they used to enjoy some of the discontinued monster energy drinks which were available back then. Although they highlight some alternatives to those drinks, they still badly miss the discontinued drinks.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/energydrinks/comments/fbb9sf/discontinued_monsters/
Bottom Line
In short, there is no denying that Monster Energy Drink company has discontinued many of its products.
Whether this is because of a number of reasons we discussed in this article, there is no reason to despair over losing your favorite!
Alternatives to discontinued Monster drinks, like GURU, Starbucks, and Celsius, offer similar caffeine energy boosts and similar flavoring. Also, you have the option to try other natural alternatives.
Read Next: The Best Healthiest Energy Drinks
