Krating Daeng

Dietrich Mateschitz was born in 1946, a native of the Styria (Steiermark) region of Austria. As a student in Vienna, he studied world trade and commerce. After graduating, he worked for Unilever, then Blendax, a German manufacturer of toothpaste. This position involved much global travel.

In 1982, Mateschitz visited Thailand and brought home with him a number of energy drinks he sampled there. According to The Economist, Mateschitz was sold on a product called Krating Daeng after it took away his jet lag. He later claimed to consume up to eight of the drinks a day.

Krating Daeng, which is Thai for "Red Bull," was a drink popular among cab drivers and other blue collar workers. It had been produced since the early 1970s by the T.C. Pharmaceutical Co., founded in Thailand in 1962 by Chaleo Yoovidhya, a Blendax licensee. (T.C. Pharmaceutical eventually formed the subsidiary Red Bull Beverage Co. Ltd.)

Mateschitz founded Red Bull GmbH in Austria in 1984 as a 49 percent partner with Chaleo Yoovidhya and his son. The company began marketing its namesake drink in Austria in 1987; a million cans were sold in the year.

The original formula was altered for Western palates. Some ingredients were dropped and carbonation was added. Components of the legendary elixir included B vitamins, glucuronolactone, sodium, and caffeine. One ingredient, the amino acid taurine, was derived synthetically, not from bull testicles, as rumor had it. Red Bull's selling proposition was that it increased stamina and mental concentration, making it a natural for one of the original target users, long-distance drivers. The taste of the thick yellow beverage, said to be akin to liquid gummi bears, lent added distinction to the brand.
- Skinny 3-17-2011 7:23 pm

I use it sparingly. Typically for road trips.
- mark 3-17-2011 8:20 pm [add a comment]


22 hours is my road trip Red Bull record, from Texas to VA. The empty cans strewn about a vehicle also make an effective air freshner.
- jimlouis 3-17-2011 11:50 pm [add a comment]


eau de liquid gummy bear
- mb 3-17-2011 11:57 pm [add a comment]


"eau de liquid gummy bear" LOL. I have yet to try the stuff. Might be good for dissertation writing, although I'm pretty committed to the lots of sleep and procrastination formula.
- sally mckay 3-18-2011 1:08 am [add a comment]


When Skinny & I did a Buttholes road trip in '91 we relied strictly on Durk & Sandy's Rise & Shine, er, Blast nowadays... no doubt Red Bull is more "authentic"...
- alex 3-18-2011 1:30 am [add a comment]


oh my god, durk and sandy.
- linda 3-18-2011 3:54 am [add a comment]


San josey to indio. I can has RB ?
- mark 3-18-2011 5:45 am [add a comment]


San josey to indio. I can has RB ?
- mark 3-18-2011 5:45 am [add a comment]


San josey to indio. I can has RB ?
- mark 3-18-2011 5:45 am [add a comment]


Oops
- mark 3-18-2011 5:45 am [add a comment]


red bull and vodka in iceland w/ the late night kids, and an OD in venice showed me this stuff is not for me
- Skinny 3-18-2011 9:11 am [add a comment]


Had two smalls to get from Bakersfield through most of the LA metroplex. Didn't want to fight LA traffic in the AM. Hope I can sleep now. New race track this weekend. By the way,I don't know how much money they make, but its enough to sponsor two F1 teams. So my guess is a metric fuckload.
- mark 3-18-2011 9:50 am [add a comment]


Triple posting is a well-known side-effect of RB use.
- alex 3-18-2011 12:39 pm [add a comment]


great for hangovers too!
- ken 3-18-2011 5:17 pm [add a comment]


Yeah, Tony got me hooked on RB and tangerine Emergen-C. Had one every morning for about a year. Hangover eraser. Been off it for a while now though.
- jim 3-18-2011 6:13 pm [add a comment]


fresh unpasterized coconut water for hangovers too
- Skinny 3-18-2011 7:28 pm [add a comment]


p.s. his 49% share is worth over 6 Billion Euro if not more....as a victim of "minority share abuse" (MSA) its great to see he still owns it 27 years later
- Skinny 3-18-2011 7:32 pm [add a comment]





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