A closer look at the caffeine anhydrous, vitamin D, and wellness trends behind the marketing
Amanda S. flagged this one and sent it to me on Instagram, a post about Perk Energy’s Tan Mocha Latte with a note asking me to break it down. As a health and lifestyle coach, these are exactly the kind of requests I get almost daily, and I love helping people figure out which products in the wellness trends space are mostly hype and which ones might be worth their money.
Have a product you’d like me to break down? Send me a message on Instagram @jenntrepeck or through my website. Your suggestion might be featured in an upcoming article!
When I’m investigating a product, my first stop is always the company website, and friends, this one gave me a lot to sift through. Between “a hug in a mug,” “sippable self-care,” and phrases about how good this can taste, I scrolled and scrolled and still couldn’t answer the most basic question, which is what does this product actually do for you. There’s no “About Us” page either, though the info on how to earn money by recommending the product was very easy to find. Make of that what you will.
From searching around online, I found that Perk Energy is a family run company, founded in 2016 by Rena Doman and her husband. I wish that story were easier to find on their website instead of only on social media. It adds a nice personal touch that the current homepage doesn’t quite capture.
Once I tracked down the Tan Mocha Latte, and there are three versions, original, caffeine free, and lactose free, I finally saw what they’re telling us this product will do. On the canister, near the bottom, it reads something like this: energy support, tastes great, antioxidants and immune support. Let’s see if the nutrition facts back that story up.
One scoop runs about 80 calories, 2g fat, all saturated, 7g carbs, and 9g protein, plus small amounts of vitamin D, calcium, and potassium. My take on these numbers is that this is not a meal replacement, and the fiber and micronutrient amounts are pretty modest. So far there isn’t much here to support the bigger claims, and it’s still unclear what this would replace or add to your current routine.
The ingredient list includes non-fat dry milk, coconut oil powder, whey protein isolate, bovine collagen hydrolysate peptides, cocoa powder processed with alkali, natural flavors, Himalayan rock salt, xanthan gum, caffeine anhydrous at 100mg, blueberry extract, grape seed extract, sucralose, and vitamin D3.
The energy support is coming almost entirely from that 100 mg of caffeine anhydrous, a highly concentrated caffeine powder. For context, the FDA notes that just one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can contain roughly the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee, which is part of why it’s measured in such tiny, precise fractions in products like this one.
As for the vitamin D, the label lists 20 micrograms per serving. Most adults need somewhere around 15 to 20 mcg a day, though plenty of experts argue the real target for a therapeutic benefit may be higher, closer to 125 to 150 mcg per day. I like the source of their vitamin D3, yet the quantity here may not move the needle for your immune system the way the marketing suggests. It can still be a nice little addition within a broader nutrition routine, though.
My other note of caution is around the coconut oil. If you have any blood sugar concerns, it’s worth knowing that research on coconut fat and insulin sensitivity is mixed. One meta-analysis of clinical trials found that long-term coconut fat intake may be associated with increased insulin resistance over time, so it’s something to pay attention to and notice how you personally respond. Wearing a continuous glucose monitor can be a great way to track your own trends over time.
So where does this leave me on Perk Energy’s Tan Mocha Latte? I wouldn’t call it a nutrition powerhouse. It reads more like a flavored caffeine drink with a little protein and collagen tagging along. If you enjoy the taste and it works well for you, wonderful, enjoy it.
Personally, I wouldn’t rely on it in place of a solid breakfast, a multivitamin, or my own antioxidant rich foods. And if you already drink black coffee, you could get a similar or possibly better effect by stirring your own collagen powder in and skipping the extra additives altogether.
Have you tried Perk Energy? I’d love to hear what you thought of it. And thank you again, Amanda S., for submitting this one!