Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng

Posted on June 16, 2025 | Last updated November 26, 2025

This is a review of one of the two flavors of Thums Up Charged that were simultaneously released in Vietnam in June 2023, Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng. The flavor name literally translates to "Wild Strawberry".

Thums Up is a cola brand created in 1977 as a substitute when Coca-Cola withdrew from India. In India, Thums Up became so popular that it reached the No.1 market share among cola beverages. Today, Coca-Cola has reentered the Indian market, and Thums Up has been acquired by Coca-Cola.

Thums Up Charged is the energy drink series released by Thums Up specifically for the Vietnamese market.

Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng

Manufacturer	Coca Cola Vietnam
Country of Origin	Vietnam
Price	13000 VND
Flavor	Strawberry
Total rating	★★☆☆☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 8,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng

When I open the can, a burst of rich Southeast Asian–style strawberry syrup aroma fills the air. This strawberry syrup scent is a classic flavor across Southeast Asia, so I can already imagine how it will taste. Let’s give it a try.
Flavor of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng
As soon as I take a sip, a dense, smooth, and heavy sweet-and-tart strawberry syrup concentrate floods my mouth.

What stands out even more is the “weight of the sugar” that lingers even after it passes through my throat and reaches my stomach. It has that intense, concentrated Southeast Asian strawberry syrup character, and it immediately tells me just how much sugar is packed into this drink.

The heaviness is strong enough to make me hesitate before taking a second sip. In fact, the sugar content is nearly double that of a typical full-sugar energy drink—one of the highest amounts I’ve ever come across.

Southeast Asia is home to some of the most sugar-dense energy drinks in the world, and even among them, Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng ranks near the top. It contains the same amount of sugar as the simultaneously released Thums Up Charged Hương Kiwi.

I assume this flavor works because most people in Vietnam can finish the whole can without any issue, but for those not accustomed to this level of sweetness, drinking it to the end might be a challenge.

Energy Ingredients of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng

Energy Ingredients of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng
It contains 96mg of caffeine. No other energy ingredients are included.

What concerns me is the extremely high sugar content typical of Southeast Asian energy drinks. This one contains nearly double the usual amount, exceeding 60g per can. It delivers exactly the level of sweetness you would expect—this is truly a Southeast Asian energy drink. The sugar poses a much greater risk than the caffeine, so it’s best to avoid drinking too much.

Design of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng

Thums Up originally began as an Indian cola brand, and the Thums Up Charged series was released in Vietnam as the brand’s energy drink line.
Design of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng
The Thums Up logo is the same as the original cola logo. The background features a sparking effect and lightning bolts, giving it a very energy-drink-like design.

Design of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng
The back of the can includes a QR code from a campaign held in 2023.

Since its release in 2023, the Thums Up Charged series has consisted of only these two flavors, and no new flavors have been added.
Design of Thums Up Charged Hương Dâu rừng
Energy drink brands in Southeast Asia rarely release many flavors, so a third one may not be very likely.