Enviga™ is a carbonated beverage that contains green tea with high levels of calcium, caffeine, and EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea. It has been manufactured and sold by the Nestea division of The Coca-Cola Company since October 2006. The sparkling green tea is advertised as being capable of increasing metabolism, and therefore helping to burn calories and promote weight loss. Enviga™ can be found in supermarkets, discount stores and grocery stores. It is generally placed in the section with sodas or the energy drinks.
Enviga™ is available in various flavors, including green tea, tropical pomegranate, and berry. It is sold in individual 12 ounce cans or in six- or 12-packs. The beverage is artificially sweetened with aspartame and is similar in ingredients to a diet soda, albeit one with added antioxidants and a green tea flavor. The cans are priced similarly to soda drinks, and the manufacturer originally suggested drinking three cans a day for maximum benefit, stating that this amount could help burn between 60 and 100 calories per day in otherwise healthy people from ages 18 to 35.
One can of Enviga™ contains 5 calories, 35 mg of sodium, 90 mg of EGCG, and 100 mg of caffeine along with 20% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. The high levels of caffeine and EGCG are primarily responsible for any boost in metabolism that may occur after drinking the sparkling beverage. That amount of caffeine is similar to the amount found in a cup of coffee, but more than in a cup of tea. Other popular energy drinks include a similar amount of caffeine; however, Enviga™ does not contain any sugar, but does have a sweet taste like diet soda.
Since the release of the sparkling green tea beverage Enviga™, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, among several other groups and U.S. States, filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola for its weight loss claims and “deceptive labeling.” After the lawsuit was settled, the parent company was required to re-label Enviga™ with a disclaimer stating that the only way to lose weight is through diet and exercise, and that the drink does not replace a healthy lifestyle.
The cans will also not include any labeling referencing “negative calories” or the brief three-day study that led manufacturers to advertise that Enviga™ promotes weight loss. The can is still labeled as “the calorie burner,” however. Further information is provided on the manufacturer’s website.