Chargel Strawberry, Pack of 6 Pouches-6.35oz ea: Caffeine-Free Athletic Energy Gel Drink | Refreshing Gel for Endurance | Running, Biking, Triathlon | Unique Texture Carbs & Vitamin B | Gluten Free

This works great for long efforts. Tastes good with good texture and doesn't upset my stomach.

Used to buy this when I was in Japan and I’m so glad that I can purchase here! When I wasn’t feeling like eating or I’m sick this is perfect to get hydrated and get some nutrition easily. Not too sweet but perfect amount of grape flavor.

These gel packs aren't just great for endurance cycling--though during long rides, they're great for a boost of energy! They're also great for when energy is low during sedentary activities like office or desk work! The mild flavor and gel texture are pleasant and make a good alternative to crunchy snacks or bars. Not gritty, chalky, sticky or gooey like other Gu or Blok products on the market. Just smooth, mild, refreshing and great cool energy from these! I chase with water but not really needed as they seem to be water-based. Ride on! --Update: I carried some of these when hiking a portion of the PCT and they were a phenomenal addition to my usual nut based trail mix. A hiking buddy said the taste was good for her (white grape flavor) and she snacked on a pack over a few miles up at high elevation. Highly recommended! (My first time tasting these was at the sag stops during a local century cycling event--they have also been in high demand at several subsequent bike events I've attended.

If these pouches and the company name seem familiar -- they are an effort by Japanese company Morinaga to expand their wildly popular InJelly product line to the US market. In Japan it's been successful for decades and is marketed as a quick snack for time-crunched commuters, athletes, or energetic young people. So, what is the product itself and what can you expect? What you'll get from amazon is a retail pack of 6 pouches in a flimsy cardboard box - luckily it's hard to damage jelly in shipping. The pouches are foil and are similar to common applesauce or babyfood single-serve pouches in American grocery stores, with a twist-off plastic cap on a plastic bottleneck that functions as a built-in straw. Inside is a white-grape-juice flavored jelly base that breaks up into small pieces as you slurp. This textural experience can be very enjoyable or an unexpected surprise for different people, but I find it on the pleasant side. If you're interested in simulating, it is closest to getting a lunch-pack container of jello and mixing it around with a fork to break it up a bit. The jelly dissolves quickly in the mouth even when it's served chilled, as Morinaga suggests (InJelly is in the refrigerated section of Japanese convenience stores) and goes down easily. The grape flavor is not "purple grape" artificial and is a really nice, slightly tangy. Chargel / InJelly is advertised in Japan as "carbohydrates equivalent to one rice ball!" The US marketing seems to be angling at an audience who will be familiar with products like Clif, GU, SiS, or other "energy gel" products for athletes who know the carbs are in the form of quick sugars - this is not whole grains. For athletes the considerations are that Chargel is similar to single gel pouches, but bulkier and tastes best cold. Those are downsides, but a Chargel or two and their jello-texture with more "chew" can be a very nice change from just "eating" thicker or runnier variations on sugar syrups. You'll still have to struggle to get everything out of the pouch if you're counting on full calories on the label for your fueling and figure out how to responsibly dispose of the pouch if on a ride/run. The final point to mention is that "Chargel"s are relatively pricey at $3.50/ea. ($21 for 6, undiscounted) compared to the Japanese domestic market InJelly, where they're a cheap staple at around ¥230-300/ea. ($1.50-2 USD) -- 1,380-1500 ($10-15 USD) for 6. The $3.50 pricepoint is not competitive with other gels or single-serve lunchbox snacks, but the Chargels are tasty and offer something unique in the eating experience and can be - as Morinaga promises - refreshing like a drink but fulfilling like a snack.

Love love love! So good and easy for on the go. My kids both love it and will have one before sports events. I just wish it was a little less expensive.