Panera Bread's Charged Lemonade is a unique addition to their beverage menu, offering a twist on the classic lemonade by infusing it with caffeine. Their website claims it contains as much caffeine as their dark roast coffee.
However, for those who do not study nutritional menus on a daily basis, you may be wondering just how much caffeine is in these drinks especially as they have made recent news stories after a college student sadly died after consuming these.
How Much Caffeine Does Panera's Charged Lemonades Have?
| Serving Size | Caffeine (MG) | Sugar (G) |
| 20 Fl oz | 245 | 0 |
| 30 Fl oz | 368 | 0 |
One of the biggest advantages of Panera's Charged Lemonade is its versatility. It serves as an excellent alternative to traditional caffeinated beverages like coffee or energy drinks. Whether you're looking for a morning pick-me-up, a mid-afternoon boost, or something to accompany your meal, this lemonade has you covered.
However, it's essential to note that the caffeine content is relatively high, depending on the size you choose. So, if you're sensitive to caffeine or just looking for a milder boost, you might want to opt for a smaller portion. On the other hand, if you're a caffeine enthusiast, the larger size might be exactly what you need.
While the Charged Lemonade is undoubtedly a refreshing and innovative drink, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, or in this case, lemonade. If you're a purist who prefers your lemonade caffeine-free or you're looking for a more traditional caffeinated drink, you might not find it as appealing.
Charged Lemonade Caffeine Level: High
Panera's Charged Lemonade's caffeine content is relatively high compared to other popular non-coffee drinks. A 30-ounce cup contains 368 milligrams of caffeine, which is roughly the same as a 20-ounce Pike Place coffee at Starbucks with an extra espresso shot added.
It's worth noting that the caffeine content of these drinks can vary by cup size and who prepares the drink. If more ice is used then you will most likely have less caffeine than advertised and more caffeine if a lot less ice is used to fill the cup.
Are Panera Charged Lemonades A Good Source Of Caffeine?
According to the FDA the suggested safe limit for daily caffeine consumption in otherwise healthy adults is 400 mgs per day. While some may be able to consume more without any adverse side effects it may not be healthy for others to do so.
Since Panera's Charged Lemonade beverages have 368 mg of caffeine per cup it is not recommended to have more than one of these per day and they are not suggested for kids, those with heart issues, and pregnant women.
Caffeine Content Compared To Coffee
To put this all in perspective, an 8-ounce cup of coffee typically contains between 95-165 milligrams of caffeine depending on the strength of the brew while stronger coffees and larger cup sizes can hit almost 400 mgs per serving.
Therefore just one of these can equal an entire serving of high-caffeine coffee and should be consumed with caution.
HOW LONG DOES CAFFEINE STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM?
Caffeine has a half-life of 6 hours, meaning that half of the amount you consume will be out of your body within 6 hours. The other half will take another 4-6 hours to leave, so that means you'll need to wait 12 hours for complete clearance from your system.
But this is just an average; some people may clear it more quickly than others due to individual factors such as age and genetics.
Comparison to other drinks
| Average Caffeine Content | MG of Caffeine |
| Panera Charged Lemonade | 368 |
| Starbucks Pike Place Roast | 310 |
| Bang Energy | 300 |
| Red Bull | 80 |
| Coca-Cola Classic | 34 |
| Sprite | 0 |
Panera Charged Lemonade Sugar Content: None
According to Heart.org, the average adult should consume no more than 30-40 grams of sugar per day. Since Panera Charged Lemonade has 0 grams per serving, these drinks will not add any substantial sugar to your diet.
However, one 20-ounce cup of Charged Lemonade also has 280 calories which makes it a less than ideal option for those looking to cut calories. If sugar is a concern you may want to check out several of Panera's other low-calorie options like their iced tea.
Ingredients In Panera Charged Lemonades:
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