Why imported drinks are different
UK supermarket drink aisles cover a narrow slice of what these brands actually make. American Fanta launches a dozen flavours that never reach the UK (Grape, Berry, Pineapple, Peach). Dr Pepper has multiple cream and cherry variants only available as US imports. Monster sits at over 50 flavours globally, with the Ultra and Java lines being the biggest UK gaps. Red Bull launched in Thailand as Krating Daeng in 1976 and the original Thai gold-can formula remains a non-carbonated, syrupy-textured drink very different from what Western markets know. The imports we stock cover the flavours and formats that aren't reliably on supermarket shelves.
A second factor is the recipe difference. UK and EU regulations restrict certain colours and the 2018 sugar tax shifted UK soda recipes toward lower-sugar formulations. American Fanta still uses high fructose corn syrup, Yellow 6 and Red 40 (which gives it the brighter colour and sweeter taste UK shoppers notice immediately). Most American imports listed here use HFCS and a different sweetness profile to the UK supermarket equivalents.
The brands we stock
Six brands in the current drinks range, covering soda, energy, sports and iced tea formats.
| Brand | Format | Why we stock it |
|---|---|---|
| Fanta | Imported fruit-flavoured soda | American Fanta flavours (Grape, Pineapple, Berry, Peach) not reliably stocked in UK supermarkets |
| Dr Pepper | American soda | Cherry, Vanilla Float and Cream Soda variants only available as US imports |
| Monster Energy | Energy drink | Ultra range, Java line and limited-edition flavours that UK supermarkets skip |
| Red Bull | Energy drink (Thai original) | The original Thai Krating Daeng gold-can formula, non-carbonated, syrupy |
| Gatorade | Sports drink | American flavours like Cool Blue, Frost Glacier Freeze and Riptide Rush not in UK retail |
| Arizona | Iced tea and fruit drinks | Mucho Mango, Strawberry Lemonade and the broader 23.5oz tall-can American range |
Choosing between soda, energy, sports and iced tea
The four formats serve different occasions. Sodas (Fanta, Dr Pepper) are about flavour novelty: shoppers want flavours their supermarket doesn't have. Energy drinks (Monster, Red Bull) are about caffeine and the specific flavour or format you can't easily get locally, like the Thai Krating Daeng gold can. Sports drinks (Gatorade) deliver electrolytes plus the American flavour profile that's noticeably different from UK Lucozade Sport. Iced teas (Arizona) are the lowest-caffeine option in the imported drinks range, with the brand's signature 23.5oz tall can format being a cultural object in itself thanks to the famous 99-cent price point in the US.
Buy imported drinks online in the UK
Build your basket from across the drinks range to qualify for free UK delivery over £20. Drinks pair especially well with our American sweets and American snacks ranges for full American snack-and-drink build-ups. Order before our daily cut-off for same-day dispatch.
Imported drinks UK: frequently asked questions
Why is American Fanta different from UK Fanta?
American Fanta uses high fructose corn syrup, Yellow 6 and Red 40 colourings, which gives it a brighter orange colour and sweeter taste than UK Fanta. UK Fanta reformulated in 2017 to drop below the 5g/100ml sugar tax threshold, dropping to 4.6g/100ml and switching to vegetable extracts (carrot, pumpkin) for colour and orange juice from concentrate for flavour. The American version contains around 45 calories per 100ml versus 19 in the UK version. Both are made by Coca-Cola but to noticeably different recipes.
What is Thai Red Bull Krating Daeng?
Krating Daeng (Thai for "red gaur", a wild bovine of Southeast Asia) is the original 1976 Thai energy drink created by Chaleo Yoovidhya that the global Red Bull brand is based on. Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz discovered it in the mid-1980s and partnered with Chaleo to launch the carbonated, lower-caffeine Western Red Bull in 1987. The original Thai version remains a non-carbonated, syrupy-textured drink with a higher caffeine and B-vitamin concentration. The gold-can 250ml version is the most recognised Thai original. Browse our Red Bull Thai imports.
Do imported American drinks contain banned UK colours?
Some imported American drinks contain colours that carry the UK hyperactivity warning. Yellow 6 (E110) and Red 40 (E129) are not banned in the UK but trigger a warning label requirement under 2010 EU regulations. The drinks themselves are legal to sell. American Fanta, Mountain Dew and some Gatorade variants contain these colours. The Thai Red Bull and most Arizona iced teas do not. Always check the back of each individual can or bottle for the specific colour list.
Why pay more for imported drinks when UK versions exist?
For most of the drinks we stock, the UK version either doesn't exist (Fanta Grape, Dr Pepper Cherry, the Thai Red Bull gold can, the Monster Java line) or has a different recipe that fans of the American version notice immediately. Imported drinks fill flavour and format gaps that UK supermarkets don't cover, often for shoppers who travelled in the US, watched American content, or grew up with these flavours and want them again.