Lots of us can’t go about our day without some sort of caffeine jolt. Whether it be a go-to Starbucks or Dunkin’ order, some freshly brewed coffee from home or a cozy cafe, or even some green tea, the variety of caffeinated drinks is endless.
According to some TikTokers, Panera Bread may have taken caffeinated drinks further than the average beverage. User @sarahebaus unknowingly consumed the drink for months before finding out it has more caffeine than four espressos. Yup, four espressos! You read that right.
The findings went viral, and now the internet is freaking out about this buzzy Panera drink.
What Is The Drink?
Panera Bread’s “Charged Lemonade” is the infamous beverage sparking viral conversation. The lemonade is offered in three flavors—Strawberry Lemon Mint, Mango Yuzu Citrus and Fuji Apple Cranberry.
Sarah, who works remotely from Panera, got the caffeinated lemonade as her go-to beverage. Although she knew the drink had some caffeine, she was shocked to find out the amount.
Once she “learned something that should be illegal,” she made a video about it. Apparently, thousands of others were just as shocked to find out about the drink that made Sarah “feel like the Hulk,” too.
How Much Caffeine Does Panera’s Charged Lemonade Have?
“The regular size has 82 grams of sugar. Whatever, let’s push that aside. It has 260 milligrams of caffeine,” she emphasizes. The large size of each lemonade has around 390 milligrams.
According to Panera’s website, while the amount of sugar and carbs vary across each lemonade, the Strawberry Lemon Mint and Mango Yuzu Citrus options each contain 260 mg of caffeine. Similarly, the Fuji Apple Cranberry has 259 mg of caffeine.
The website describes the beverage as, “the ultimate energy drink” that has “as much caffeine as our Dark Roast coffee.”
Is 260 Milligrams of Caffeine Healthy?
In comparison to other beverages, “an espresso has 63 mg of caffeine. 63—for one shot of espresso!” Sarah found. So, the Charged Lemonade has more caffeine than four espressos. Additionally, the drink has more than twice the amount of caffeine found in a Red Bull—a twelve-ounce Red Bull clocks in at 111 mg of caffeine according to Google.
Fortunately, the FDA does confirm that around 400 mg of caffeine is not associated with any “dangerous, negative effects.” However, caffeine can affect everyone differently.
Even Sarah, who after drinking four or five of the lemonades daily noticed, “Man, when I work at Panera, I feel great, I feel awesome, I get so much done.”
I Tried It—Here’s What I Thought!
Jessica Kaplan for Taste of Home
With all the hype, I decided I needed to try one. I went to my local Panera and picked up a regular size of the Strawberry Lemon Mint option. Before trying the lemonade, I definitely feared that it would have so much caffeine that my hands would be shaking from the caffeination all day.
However, I can confirm that after sipping a bit of it, Sarah was right. Without context, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed that there was any caffeine in this refreshing lemonade to begin with. This ideal summer drink offers a refreshing blend of strawberry and mint flavoring, with a sharp buzz.
And for how much caffeine is in it, it’s certainly a cheaper alternative to a venti Starbucks drink. Just keep in mind that amongst all the strawberry-mint deliciousness is a whirlpool of caffeine that the internet has thoughts on.
Lemonade Recipes You'll Love
Old-Fashioned LemonadeA sweet-tart lemonade is a traditional part of my Memorial Day and Fourth of July menus. Folks can't get enough of the fresh-squeezed flavor in this recipe. —Tammi Simpson, Greensburg, Kentucky
Fresh Peach LemonadeLooking for a new twist on lemonade? Fresh peaches lend a fruity flavor to this summertime must-have. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Blackberry LemonadeHere's a special drink that's perfect when blackberries are in season. It has a tangy, refreshing flavor. —Rich Murray, Nevada, Missouri
Strawberry Watermelon LemonadeThe nutrition department at my local hospital inspired me to create this refreshing summer sipper. I tweaked their recipe slightly to create this drink full of sweet-tart flavor. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Raspberry Lemonade ConcentrateHere's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Lemon Mint SpritzerCool down with this refreshing drink. It's wonderful after a long day or during a backyard barbecue. —Laura Nix, Ellijay, Georgia
Peach-Basil Lemonade SlushThis chilly slush with peaches, lemon juice and garden-fresh basil is hands-down the best lemonade ever. It tastes just like summer. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Spiked LemonadeRum gives a tropical addition to this fabulous homemade lemonade. If you have vodka on hand, try that instead of the rum. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin.
Rhubarb Lemonade SlushMy family loves rhubarb, and this is such a fun way to enjoy it. It's nice to have in the freezer and bring out when guests drop by. Even people who aren't crazy about rhubarb enjoy it. —Cathie Beard, Philomath, Oregon
Blackberry Beer CocktailThis refreshing hard lemonade has a mild alcohol flavor; the beer adds just enough fizz to dance on your tongue as you sip. Sorry, adults only! —Ginger Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Brighten up summer cookouts with a batch of these
lemonade cocktails.
Kentucky LemonadeMint and bourbon give this drink a bit of a Kentucky kick, and ginger ale makes it a fizzy party punch. —Cathy Justus, Taylor, Michigan
Orange LemonadeThis juice is a favorite at our place. I'll often double the batch and send a jar next door to my mother-in-law! I was looking for a way to sweeten lemonade without using more sugar when I came up with the recipe. —Wendy Masters, Grand Valley, Ontario
Aunt Frances' LemonadeMy sister and I spent a week each summer with our Aunt Frances, who always had this thirst-quenching lemonade in a stoneware crock in her refrigerator. It makes a refreshing drink after a hot day of running around. —Debbie Reinhart, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
Sparkling Kiwi LemonadeKeep some kiwi ice cubes in the freezer so they’re ready whenever you crave a tall glass of this dressed-up summertime favorite. —Emily Seidel, Ainsworth, Nebraska
Red, White and Blue Frozen LemonadeThis patriotic drink is as pretty as it is delicious. With cherries, blueberries and lemon juice, we created a striped lemonade that is perfect for a Fourth of July celebration. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California
Lemonade Recipe FAQ
What is the formula for lemonade?
In the most basic sense, lemonade is made with sugar, water and lemon juice. How much of each depends on personal preference. Typically, you start by making a basic
simple syrup with equal parts water and sugar. (It's the same stuff you'd use in cocktails like a
mint julep.) Once you've made the syrup, add water and lemon juice to suit your tastes. The more lemon juice you use, the more tart your lemonade will be.
Should you add citric acid to lemonade?
It's completely up to you. Our recipes don't call for it—just plain ol' fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Natural lemon juice has citric acid in it, but if you're looking for even more tartness, adding one to two tablespoons of citric acid will do the trick. You can find the organic compound in grocery stores or online.
