Energized
June 8, 2009 by nopstar
Chances are most of you’ve heard of Red Bull and drink it on a regularly basis. However did you know that it was originally a Thai concoction? “Krating Daeng” (Krating =Buffalo, Daeng=Red) as it’s known in Thailand, has been widely popular in Thailand since the 70’s.
The Red Bull Licensing was sold back in the 80’s to an Austrian businessman who has since turned it into the world brand, as we know it today. Before it was positioned as the “Extreme” Athletes drink of choice it was widely consumed by Thai truck drivers, laborers and farmers.
Krating Daeng was really the working mans drink… hence it’s connection with MuayThai. Since the original launch of Red Bull in the 70’s, there have been dozens of energy drinks that tried to emulate the success of Krating Daeng.
Most of you who’ve kicked it in Thailand will have undoubtedly noticed that there are a shit load of Energy Drinks in the fridge at 7 Eleven. Judging by the selection one would have thought that Thai people have serious energy deficiencies.
Neungsiam told me that lot’s of fighters would down copious amounts of Red Bull before their fights and come out swinging! Ever wondered why the Bull was red?
I’m mostly familiar with the drinks that sponsor MuayThai, M-150, Shark, Rang Yeur, Carabao… but that’s just scratching the surface. There are whole bunch I’m sure some of you have never seen. I’ve come up with a small selection that I’m pretty sure you won’t see at your local shop anytime soon.
Firer Horse?
mmmm… I dunno? You would have thought before investing in your brand, you would have made sure that it made sense? Fire Horse maybe? That actually sounds cool, but Firer Horse?
I’ve notice these guys don’t like to break the Mold; they often stick to the animal motif… I think to be a success you need to have an animal as your mascot. (A tough animal)
Hence the awesomely named Commando Bear. A bear is pretty damn tough… have you seen one? Their fierce as hell, but for the energy drink market that just isn’t enough. No, in fact the only thing tougher then a wild bear is apparently a bear with elite military training. I’d fight a bear, but a bear that was a commando? I think not.
Apparently these guys didn’t get the energy drink success guidelines manual. The first mistake, their Emu would get mauled by Commando Bear, trampled by Firer Horse, smashed by a Red Bull, and devoured by a Shark. (I’m sure M-150 would do something as well if I new what 150 was all about) The Emu just doesn’t have a fighting chance.
What’s that little spot under the Emu? Has it already laid a turd at the thought of coming up against any of the other tough mascots?
This last one was a bit random… nothing screams energy and activity more to me then downing a big bottle of opiates. They should have named it, black meth, black crystal, black crank etc. But Black Opium? Fail.
20 cases of black opium pls
Nopstar
The “150″ in M-150 stands for 150 ml, which is the serving size. They used to have M-100, but at some point added that extra 50 ml, thus the M-150. However, I think they just decided to stick with M-150 as a brand name, because I have seen 250 ml cans of the stuff, and they aren’t labeled M-250……..
vodka commando bear pls
Commando Bear has to the the sweetest name ever. My fighting name is “the Bear;” now I wish I’d changed it to Commando Bear. I would’ve obviously done much better in my fights…
funny, i always thought m-150 was named after the gun.
This is friggin funny!. Here in the US there are quite a few, and of course they try to beat Red Bull ( in true American style) by going over the top. More sugar, more caffeine, ephedrine and bigger cans. Just what we need , American size servings for the nation with he highest incidence of obesity related diseases.
Whatever happened to plain old ginseng elixir and a cup of tea!?=)
And here I thought Red Bull was an austrian marketing concoction. I think few people in US know its true roots, I will fwd it on=_)
in the mostly non-related dept., in thai the adjective goes behind the noun ? just curious as i’m self-teaching a little thai prior to my next trip… :)
Celtic1967-
You are correct sir… Aharn Aroi (Food Delicious), Poo Ying Na Rak (girl cute)
I used to love taking in some red bull (or even other energy drinks) to get a good get up and go, but all they contain are loads of caffeine or some kind of caffeine type substance with loads of sugar. I try to stay away, unless I really need it- like with my vodka.
im a big fan of krating deang and M-150.
i used to drink a lot for many different reasons.
back in Thailand in a couple of weeks have to try out some commando bear in my wiskey.
ive always wonted to export a few thousand back to London but i think they might be banded by the EU food standard can anyone verify this?
H
tx much nop…funny stuff as always…
black crank LOL.
H
Hahaha! The emu pooping drink is hella funny! My trainers always make me buy M-150’s for all da trainers at the camp after my fights to show appreciation for helping during training. I still drink it since dats the only one i can find in the US.
This whole thing gives me nightmares of tourists partying all night while downing redbulls and vodkas. It helped them I guess to dance and drink until 4:00 AM or so. Any Thai energy drink is about the equivalent of 3 western ones. I seriously had to make a conscious effort to wean myself off all of them.
H – I used to think that, Id heard that the thai brand energy drinks were banned over here over ingredients issues but I dont think its true.There is a big thai supermarket and a thai shop or two not far from me and they all sell it its not very expensive.I periodically by a crate of liptovan d to remind me of Thailand everynow and again.If your in London I bet theres nuff Thai shops, check em I bet they have all the brands?!Can even buy Sangsom in the ones here!
Black Opium sounds like a pretty addictive thing. One bottle here please.
Kratingdaeng is still in full force…and they sponsor the Kratingdaeng gym.
My collection of fights is packed with Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, and Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym’s fights.
(and those are just the international style boxers, not the muay thai fighters!)
dude those drinks right before a fight = heart attack status
I read somewhere that taurine is actually really bad for your heart if you train hard… remember the drink brute force? supposedly Chatchai (samart2) from sityodtong died after he took a fight not very well prepared and instead downed a lot of that before, he collapsed and died shortly after his fight, even in the 5th. round he seemed…out of the fight totally…
^ gee you think? it increases your heart rate FFS…..i NEVER understood people drinking redbull and training habitually. it makes absolutely no sense.