Short answer: The athletes and clubs using our gum kept asking for caffeine and hydration in one product, and nothing on the market did both the way we wanted. So we built two: Everyday Energy Powder (60mg caffeine, 3 electrolytes, B vitamins) for daily energy and hydration, and Performance Energy Powder (120mg caffeine + taurine & B vitamins, 4 electrolytes) for training and game day. Every batch is HASTA tested.
Zuum started with gum, and it's still our hero product: a measured dose of caffeine you can feel in about 5 minutes, with no drink needed. But gum can't hydrate you. That's the gap the powder fills.
The clubs asked for it
Zuum Energy Gum is used by 14 AFL clubs and 9 NRL clubs, including the Sydney Swans, Hawthorn Hawks, Melbourne Storm and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. On game day we kept seeing the same thing: gum for the quick hit, a separate electrolyte drink in the bottle, and sometimes another caffeine source on top. That's three products, three ingredient lists to check against anti-doping rules, and a lot of guesswork on dose.
The question we kept getting from players and high-performance staff was simple: can you put Zuum in a bottle?
What we didn't like in other drinks
Most of what was already out there did one job well and the other badly:
- Energy drinks with plenty of caffeine, often a lot of sugar, and little in the way of electrolytes.
- Hydration drinks loaded with sugar: fine for a long ride, more than most people need for a gym session or a day at the desk.
- Electrolyte mixes with 1,000mg or more of sodium per serve: useful for a salty sweater in a hot endurance event, but a lot for everyday use.
- Long ingredient lists with fillers, artificial sweeteners and artificial colours.
- No batch testing, which is a real risk for anyone in drug-tested sport. See is caffeine banned in sport? WADA and HASTA explained.
Two powders, built for different days
| Everyday Energy Powder | Performance Energy Powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Work, study, walks, easy sessions | Training, game day, long or hard sessions |
| Caffeine | 60mg | 120mg + taurine & B vitamins |
| Sodium | 250mg | 500mg |
| Potassium | 200mg | 250mg |
| Magnesium | 60mg | 80mg |
| Calcium | - | 70mg |
| Amino acids | Glycine | 3,250mg taurine + glycine |
| B vitamins | B5, B12 | B5, B12 |
| Flavours | Watermelon, Lychee, Blackcurrant | Lemon Lime, Raspberry, Passionfruit |
| Price (30 sachets) | $72 | $84 |
It mirrors the gum range: Everyday for a lighter daily lift, Performance for when the session matters.
What makes the formula good
Sensible caffeine doses. Sports research typically uses 3-6mg of caffeine per kg of body weight, and the International Society of Sports Nutrition notes benefits may start from around 2mg per kg, which is 120mg for a 60kg athlete. Performance sits right there, well under the 200mg single-serve limit recommended by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Everyday's 60mg is about the same as a serve of our Everyday gum, so it fits around your morning coffee. Part of the caffeine comes from natural guarana.
Enough sodium, not too much. The American College of Sports Medicine's position stand on fluid replacement puts average sweat sodium at roughly 800mg per litre. Performance's 500mg makes a real contribution during and after a hard session without going to extremes. Everyday's 250mg suits daily use. The salt comes from Lake Deborah in Western Australia.
More than just salt. Both powders add potassium and magnesium, and Performance adds calcium for four electrolytes in total, with sodium and potassium at a 2:1 ratio.
A little natural sugar, kept small. Coconut water powder adds from 0.3g of natural sugars per sachet, depending on the flavour, along with its own electrolytes. Glucose and sodium are absorbed together in the gut, the principle behind oral rehydration solutions, but we've kept sugar far below sports-drink levels and let the electrolytes do the heavy lifting. There's no added sugar, and both powders are sweetened with organic stevia and thaumatin. Read more in why a little sugar helps your body absorb electrolytes.
Clean label. Natural flavours and natural colours like beetroot extract and anthocyanins. Every batch is HASTA tested before it's released, the same as our gum.
Easy to use. Single-serve sachets, so the dose is the same every time. Tear, pour into your bottle, shake.
Gum and powder together
| Energy gum | Energy powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A fast, measured hit of caffeine | Caffeine plus hydration |
| How | Chew 1-2 pieces | 1 sachet in your bottle |
| When | 5-10 minutes before you need it | Before and during a session, or through the day |
| Electrolytes | No | Yes, 3-4 |
A simple game-day setup: a sachet of Performance in your bottle through the warm-up, a piece or two of gum at half-time. Keep your total caffeine within FSANZ guidance: no more than 200mg in a single serve and 400mg a day for healthy adults. See when to take caffeine before training for timing.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Zuum launch an energy powder?
Clubs and athletes using our gum asked for caffeine and hydration in one product, and we weren't happy with the drinks already on the market. So we built two powders with caffeine, electrolytes and B vitamins.
What's the difference between Everyday and Performance Energy Powder?
Everyday has 60mg of caffeine and 3 electrolytes for daily use. Performance has 120mg of caffeine + taurine & B vitamins, 4 electrolytes including 500mg of sodium, and 3,250mg of taurine and glycine for training and game day.
Is Zuum Energy Powder sugar-free?
Not completely. Coconut water powder adds from 0.3g of natural sugars per sachet, depending on the flavour. There's no added sugar, and it's sweetened with stevia and thaumatin.
Is Zuum Energy Powder HASTA tested?
Yes. Every batch is HASTA tested before it's released, the same as our gum.
Can I use Zuum gum and powder together?
Yes, as long as you keep your total caffeine within FSANZ guidance: no more than 200mg in a single serve and 400mg a day for healthy adults.
The bottom line
The people who trust our gum asked for caffeine and hydration in one sachet, so we built it: two formulas, every ingredient there for a reason, every batch HASTA tested. Try Everyday Energy Powder for daily energy and hydration, or Performance Energy Powder for training and game day.
Alex, Eamon & Hugo
Co-founders, Zuum Energy
Read the research: Sawka MN et al. (2007), American College of Sports Medicine position stand: exercise and fluid replacement, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 39(2):377-90. Abstract on PubMed.
Want to learn more about how Zuum works? Read the science behind Zuum, browse energy powder, or see our FAQs.
