What Is Celsius Drink?

Celsius is a sugar-free energy drink. A standard 12 oz can has 200 mg of caffeine, about 10 calories and no sugar. It’s sweetened with sucralose and gets its kick from a blend of caffeine, guarana, green tea extract and ginger that the company calls MetaPlus. Celsius markets itself as a “fitness drink,” which is why you’ll often see it in gyms and next to protein bars rather than beside the sodas.

So, in short: Celsius is a strong, zero-sugar energy drink with added vitamins, sold in sparkling cans, non-carbonated cans and powder sticks you mix with water.

That one-paragraph answer covers the basics. The rest of this guide goes deeper: exactly what’s on the label, how Celsius compares with Monster, Red Bull and coffee, what the “burns body fat” claims really mean, who owns the brand, and who should think twice before cracking a can.

What’s Actually in a Can of Celsius?

Here’s the full ingredient list from a 12 oz can of Celsius Raspberry Acai Green Tea, as printed on the label (H-E-B):

MetaPlus Proprietary Blend: taurine, guarana extract (seed), caffeine (as caffeine anhydrous), glucuronolactone, ginger extract (root), green tea leaf extract standardized to 15% EGCG. Other ingredients: filtered water, citric acid, natural flavor, fruit and vegetable juice for color, sucralose.

Celsius also adds vitamins and minerals. The powder sticks, for example, list vitamin C, several B vitamins (B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 biotin and B12), calcium and chromium (Giant).

Here’s what each of the main ingredients does, in plain English.

One important detail: MetaPlus is a proprietary blend. The label tells you the total caffeine (200 mg) but not how much guarana, green tea extract or ginger is in the can. That’s legal, but it means you can’t see the exact dose of each ingredient. Registered dietitian Jamie of The Balanced Nutritionist points this out as one of the main drawbacks.

How Much Caffeine Is in Celsius?

Most 12 oz Celsius cans have 200 mg of caffeine. The bigger 16 oz Celsius Essentials cans have 270 mg (Barista Life caffeine chart). Each On-the-Go powder stick also has 200 mg (Giant).

That’s a lot for a 12 oz can. Here’s how it compares:

Sources: Celsius label (H-E-B), Barista Life (Essentials), Caffeine Informer (Monster), H-E-B (Red Bull Sugarfree), FDA (coffee).

Ounce for ounce, Celsius is stronger than Monster or Red Bull. One 12 oz can is half of the FDA’s 400 mg daily guideline for healthy adults. The can itself says not to exceed two servings a day.

For a ranking of the strongest drinks on the market, see our guide to energy drinks with the most caffeine.

Calories, Sugar and Nutrition

A 12 oz can of Celsius has:

• 10 calories
• 0 g sugar
• 0 g carbohydrates (listed as 0 mg on the Raspberry Acai label)
• 200 mg caffeine

That’s very different from a full-sugar energy drink. A 16 oz can of original Monster, for comparison, has 230 calories and 54 grams of added sugar (H-E-B). If cutting sugar is your main goal, Celsius is a clear step up from sugary energy drinks.

Does Celsius Really Burn Fat?

This is Celsius’s big marketing claim, so it’s worth being clear about.

Celsius has long described itself as a fitness drink that “accelerates metabolism” and “burns body fat” (Sporked). The idea is that caffeine and green tea extract can slightly raise how many calories you burn for a short time.

What the evidence actually shows is modest. The Balanced Nutritionist notes that the supporting research includes a small, company-funded study from 2010 that found modest fitness gains in exercising men, and that evidence for metabolism and weight claims is limited (The Balanced Nutritionist). The Celsius label itself states that its claims “have not been evaluated by the FDA.”

The honest takeaway: any calorie-burning effect from caffeine is small. Celsius won’t cause meaningful fat loss on its own. What it can do is give you a zero-sugar caffeine boost before a workout, which may help you train a little harder.

What Does Celsius Taste Like?

Many people describe Celsius as tasting closer to a flavored sparkling water than a classic energy drink, without the syrupy “energy drink” flavor of Red Bull or green Monster. The sparkling cans are lightly carbonated and fruity, and the sucralose gives a clean sweetness with a mild aftertaste that some people notice.

There are three main formats:

1. Sparkling cans (12 oz): the classic Celsius, in fruit flavors and limited editions like the Sparkling Spritz Vibe Summer Edition.
2. Non-carbonated cans: flavors like Peach Mango Green Tea for people who don’t like bubbles.
3. On-the-Go powder sticks: single-serve packets you mix into 12 to 16 oz of water (Giant). Handy for the gym bag or travel. See the Celsius On-the-Go Berry sticks.

Who Makes Celsius?

Celsius is made by Celsius Holdings, Inc., a public company based in Boca Raton, Florida, that trades on the Nasdaq as CELH (Beverage Industry; Sporked). A few milestones explain why you now see Celsius everywhere:

So Celsius, Alani Nu and Rockstar now sit under the same US management, with PepsiCo handling distribution.

Is Celsius Good for You?

For most healthy adults, one can of Celsius a day is a reasonable choice, especially compared with sugary energy drinks. It’s zero sugar, low calorie, and the caffeine is clearly labeled.

The trade-offs are real, though:

• High caffeine: 200 mg in 12 oz is a lot, and it adds up quickly with coffee or pre-workout.
• Proprietary blend: you can’t see the dose of each herbal ingredient.
• Artificial sweetener: most flavors use sucralose.
• Marketing over evidence: the fat-burning claims are stronger than the research behind them.

We go through each of these in detail, with who should avoid it, in is Celsius bad for you?

Who Should Avoid Celsius?

The Celsius label itself says it is not recommended for people who are caffeine sensitive, children under 18, or women who are pregnant or nursing, and tells you not to exceed two servings a day (H-E-B). People with heart conditions, high blood pressure or anxiety, or anyone on medication, should check with a doctor first.

When Is the Best Time to Drink Celsius?

• Before a workout: this is what Celsius is designed for. Many people drink it 15 to 30 minutes before training.
• Mid-morning or early afternoon: as a coffee alternative.
• Not late in the day: caffeine has a half-life of up to about 5 hours, so a can at 6 p.m. can still affect your sleep at midnight. Healthline suggests stopping caffeine at least six hours before bed (Healthline).

Curious how long the boost lasts? Our guide on how long energy drinks last explains the timeline.

Celsius vs Other Energy Drinks

Sources: labels via H-E-B, Open Food Facts, H-E-B and H-E-B.

Want a lower-caffeine, zero-sugar option? Monster Ultra has 150 mg in a bigger can. Want to compare more options? See our guide to the healthiest energy drinks.

FAQs

What is Celsius drink made of?

Celsius is made of filtered water, a proprietary “MetaPlus” blend (taurine, guarana, caffeine, glucuronolactone, ginger and green tea extract), citric acid, natural flavor, vegetable juice for color and sucralose, plus added vitamins and minerals.

Is Celsius an energy drink?

Yes. Celsius markets itself as a “fitness drink,” but with 200 mg of caffeine per can it’s an energy drink in every practical sense.

How much caffeine is in a can of Celsius?

A standard 12 oz can has 200 mg. Celsius Essentials (16 oz) has 270 mg, and each On-the-Go powder stick has 200 mg.

Does Celsius have sugar?

No. Celsius is sugar-free and sweetened with sucralose. A 12 oz can has about 10 calories.

Is Celsius stronger than Monster?

Yes, ounce for ounce. A 12 oz Celsius has 200 mg of caffeine, while a 16 oz Monster has 160 mg.

Can you drink Celsius every day?

Most healthy adults can have one can a day within the FDA’s 400 mg caffeine guideline. Don’t exceed two cans a day, as the label says, and count other caffeine you drink.

Does Celsius help you lose weight?

Not much on its own. Caffeine can slightly raise calorie burn for a short time, but evidence for Celsius’s weight-loss claims is limited.

Who owns Celsius?

Celsius Holdings, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed company in Boca Raton, Florida. PepsiCo owns about 11% and distributes it in the US.

The Bottom Line

Celsius is a zero-sugar, 10-calorie energy drink with 200 mg of caffeine per 12 oz can, a blend of guarana, green tea extract and ginger, and added vitamins. It’s a better choice than sugary energy drinks, but it’s strong, so one can a day is plenty for most people, and it isn’t a fat-loss product.

Shop CELSIUS at DrinkWorlds → Sparkling 12-packs and On-the-Go powder sticks, with free US shipping on orders over $35.