Last Updated On August 30, 2023
If you’re in the market for a delicious pre-workout supplement - the Cellucor C4 lineup might just be what you need.
C4 is one of the most popular pre-workout supplements on the market, and my theory is that the flavor is precisely what made it so hip for both beginners and experienced gym-goers.
But we’re not here to bash their “Explosive energy blend” or the use of beta-alanine or creatine nitrate - we’re here to discuss what makes your taste buds tingle, and let me tell you - C4 does.
So, let’s find out which is the best C4 pre-workout flavor!
C4 Pre-Workout Flavors - 10 Best Options To Try!
In order to grade and rank these, I had to get my hands on a lot of pre-workouts. A lot.
So, in no particular order, here are the 10 best C4 pre-workout flavors you may want to try! I have given each a personal score from 1 to 10.
1. Icy Blue Razz
Icy Blue Razz's flavor blew me away. Honestly, this is one of the best flavor pre-workouts Cellucor ever put out.
It’s super refreshing, and if you were to add a few ice cubes into the mix, it’d be like you’re drinking a blue raspberry ice tea - if that’s something that even exists. I’d definitely drink this one on a hot summer day to refresh myself if it weren’t so caffeinated.
Brilliant flavor.
My Flavor Rating
10/10
2. Pink Lemonade
People love the Pink Lemonade flavor, and after trying it - I understand why.
At this point, you're probably wondering if this list will just be filled with sweet and sour drinks with a velvet bean and green coffee bean extract.
Anyway, if you’re like most people and you like lemonade, just one scoop of this pre-workout will turn your glass of water into something deliciously satisfying.
My Flavor Rating
10/10
3. Watermelon
Watermelon flavor? Yes, please.
Now, since I grew up devouring watermelons every summer, I can tell you right away this doesn't do the real watermelon justice, but then again - it rocks.
The flavor is great; who cares if it's artificial? It’s nice and refreshing with just the right level of sweetness. It simply hits the spot for me, and I can’t help but love it.
In fact, even though these pre-workouts don't do a lot for my exercise performance, I'd gladly drink this watermelon-flavored goodie before gym one more time.
My Flavor Rating
9.5/10
4. Strawberry Margarita
Strawberry Margarita just edged out Strawberry Watermelon for the top ten.
Now, the thing with strawberry-flavoured things is that they taste nothing like strawberries, and I like that.
I think we can all agree that strawberries look way tastier than they are, right? They just lack sweetness, don’t they?
Anyway, while the flavor's not of an actual strawberry margarita because instead of tequila, you get artificial flavors and caffeine, it will still taste very good.
My Flavor Rating
9/10
5. Cherry Limeade
While this one's similar to Pink Lemonade, it isn't as good.
Now, don’t get me wrong - Cherry Limeade is delicious, and quite frankly, it tastes just like you’d imagine something called Cherry Limeade tastes.
It’s sour, a bit tangy, with that irresistible citric note.
One of the best flavors on the market.
My Flavor Rating
9/10
6. Fruit Punch
This one might be a little bit controversial, but Fruit Punch is one of my favorite flavors.
While many of you will probably prefer the flavor of the other pre-workout supplements on this list, I couldn't help but enjoy the cherry-like taste of this one.
Sure, a cherry flavor wasn't what I expected from something called a Fruit Punch (to be fair, I didn't know what to expect), but if there were ever a fruit that packed a punch - it would be cherry.
Now, it’s not like this pre-workout is tart or sour. It’s refreshingly sweet. Tastes great overall.
My Flavor Rating
8.5/10
7. Orange
Orange or Orange Burst, call it whatever you want, but I'll call it delicious. I can't help it.
I'm a sucker for that citrusy flavor. I love tricking myself into thinking I'm getting a ton of vitamin C if something's sour.
If I had to paint you a picture, I'd say the flavor is similar to a bog-standard OJ. Not freshly squeezed, but store-bought.
However, it's still decent enough to enjoy before a muscle-building or fat-burning training session. If it were up to me, though, I’d add just a pinch of extra sweetness into this one to make it top-notch.
My Flavor Rating = 8.5/10
8. Pineapple
Pineapple is another flavor on the impressive list of fruity flavors C4 has put out over the years. And, while I'm sure some people wouldn't quite enjoy pineapple flavor - I kind of did.
It was powerful and tangy - not going to lie. Though, I guess you kind of have to expect a tangy tone from a pineapple, right?
The only thing I’d hold against it is it had a bit of aftertaste. Nothing too crazy, but still more than other varieties on the list.
Not the best flavor they ever made, but one I'd gladly return to. I had to deduct a point because of the aftertaste.
My Flavor Rating = 8/10
9. Sour Batch Bros
Oh, man, the Sour Batch Bros flavor was good. It was as if candy and apple juice had a baby. Honestly.
After the first sip, it was evident to me that this one would be in the mix for the best flavor C4 has ever made.
The sweetness hits you first, and then you're left with that sour-y green apple juice flavor. Now, I know green apple isn't something everyone enjoys, but as I said, I just love that sweet and sour mix.
My Flavor Rating = 7.5/10
10. Berry Bomb
With Berry Bomb, I was expecting something like blue raspberry, but I have to say - I can't really describe this taste other than - It doesn't taste very berry-like.
It’s delicious, that’s for certain. It just doesn’t match the name.
I'd say this one's a mixture of loads of different flavors, which are probably berries, but I couldn't really tell you anything other than it's sweet and a bit sour.
My Flavor Rating = 7/10
How We Decided On Our Top Picks
Choosing our top picks was challenging. It actually took a long time to taste all the C4 pre-workout flavors because there are about a thousand of them.
Thankfully, doing this didn't require me to drink a full dose of a pre-workout. Otherwise, I wouldn't just feel jittery afterward. I'm pretty sure my whole body would reject me if I drank that much caffeine.
Instead, it was just a matter of ordering as many flavors as possible, tasting them back to back, one sip at a time, and jotting down my impressions.
One thing to note is that focusing on ingredients wasn’t something that I did. There’s a round-up C4 pre-workout review where you can read all that.
Why Is C4 Pre-Workout Popular? (Benefits Explained)
C4 is one of the most recognizable brands in the supplement industry. They make the most popular pre-workout supplements in the world.
But they also make protein powders, fat burners, testosterone boosters, energy drinks, etc.
As I said earlier, I believe that the flavor of their products is why C4 products are so popular because the quality of their products is average at best.
As you probably know, a pre-workout is supposed to give you energy and aid your overall performance in the gym.
It should help with power, endurance, and recovery time, and it should help your muscles look bigger. And to be fair, C4's pre-workout supplements do that. Mostly through caffeine, but still.[1]
These supplements achieve this by providing you with the main ingredients like caffeine (often caffeine anhydrous, for energy and focus), L-citrulline (for nitric oxide production and enhanced blood flow for massive pumps), L-theanine, and N-acetyl L-tyrosine (for focus and offsetting caffeine jitters), alongside malic and folic acid.
A pre-workout often contains other ingredients like beta-alanine, arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), (micronized) creatine, BCAAs, and other amino acids.
The latter group is the one you don’t need in a pre-workout, but it’s also the one you’ll often find in C4’s products, and since a lot of people (mostly beginners) don’t know a ton about how these things work - they eat up the marketing, and they get C4 products even though there are other options.
Sure, creatine does support ATP production, and beta-alanine does help with lactic acid build-up a bit, but still, neither is necessary to consume before working out. Instead, they benefit you in a different fashion.
Are There Any Side Effects To This Pre-Workout Brand?
The only side effects you might experience are the usual pre-workout supplement side effects like jitters, beta-alanine tingles, upset stomach, insomnia, nausea, and sometimes even drowsiness after the effects wear off.
Thankfully, as long as you take the right amount before training, you shouldn’t have any major issues.
Related Article - Best Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout Flavors
Related Article - Best Ghost Pre-Workout Flavors
Related Article - Best Total War Pre-Workout Flavors
Related Article - Best Bucked Up Pre-Workout Flavors
C4 Pre-Workout Flavor FAQs
The C4 Original is better than C4 Sport.
While both of these are average at best, and they contain somewhat useless ingredients like CarnoSyn beta-alanine, B vitamins, creatine Nitrate, and creatine HCL, the Original version is the better supplement.
It has more caffeine and contains at least a little bit of L-citrulline, so it will provide you with more energy for training, better muscle pumps, and will overall improve your performance in the gym more than the Sport will.[2]
C4 pre-workout supplements are mixed with 6-8 oz of water and are taken an hour to half an hour before training your muscles.
It’s possible.
Candy and apple juice do taste beyond great, but it's not the flavor that might cause addiction - it's caffeine.
While not highly addictive, caffeine does have some addictive properties that could lead to physical dependence.[3]
The effects of C4 will leave your body in about three hours or so.
Despite caffeine’s half-life being up to six hours, you should probably stop experiencing the effects of C4 sooner.
Our Verdict - The Best C4 Pre-Workout Flavor Is Icy Blue Razz
While Pink Lemonade and Sour Batch Bros are very delicious, crowning Icy Blue Razz as the best C4 pre-workout flavor wasn't too hard.
Its flavor was just impressive, and dare I say, I think most of you will agree with me.
So, if you're in search of a super tasty and refreshing pre-workout supplement that will aid your performance, get you a muscle pump, help with recovery, and help you find some motivation to hit the weights - the Icy Blue Razz flavor is the way to go!
References:
1. https://biomedres.us/pdfs/BJSTR.MS.ID.007008.pdf
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/7/921
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3680976/
