Shilajit is a dark, resin-like substance that forms over long periods as plant matter, breaking down in mountain rock, and it has been part of Ayurvedic tradition for centuries.
It's been used for centuries, gathering seemingly mythical status along the way – with whispers of energy, stamina and strength emerging from the high-altitude mountains of the roof of Asia.
Except, now shilajit's turning up somewhere rather different: in OQO's, first to market in the UK, modern functional energy drink.
And while we love a mythical tale in a spectacular setting, at OQO, we love to drink up the science more. We'll leave The Legends of Shilajit to Netflix. Instead, we've turned to the research to find out what's been studied, what's showing promise and where the science still has some catching up to do with the word on the street. We figured, if we're putting shilajit in a ready to drink can, you deserve to know what you're drinking and why you're drinking it.
Traditionally, it's presented as a dark, resinous natural material – a complex herbo-mineral substance thought to form through the transformation of organic material (you know, like plants), over long periods of time. But its composition varies according to geographical origin and processing.
Let's face it, though, with busy lives, that's not necessarily how we want to source shilajit and pop it in our bodies (no crampons and shimmying up a mountain required here). Measuring a resin out every morning is no one's idea of a fun or functional use of time. Instead, a quick pop of a ring pull and enjoying a caffeine energy drink with shilajit extract can turn an unfamiliar ingredient into something easy to slot into your everyday routine.
The OQOLife lowdown: shilajit is a complex natural mixture with a long history of traditional use, and there's still plenty for the research to catch up on.
Each can of Shilajit Energy contains 81mg of caffeine, alongside shilajit extract, Korean ginseng, L-theanine, taurine and vitamin B12.
Caffeine is going to do a lot of the heavy lifting in OQO's Shilajit Energy, of course. Caffeine has a well-established effect on alertness and attention, while reducing sleepiness and the perception of fatigue. In other words, when you want your brain to stop hitting snooze, caffeine has the research to back it up.
Ginseng's another familiar name in functional energy drinks t but we didn't put it to work because we thought it sounded energetic. Korean red ginseng has a history of traditional use and a body of human research investigating fatigue and physical performance. The results aren't conclusive, we all agree that fatigue is a complex human experience, after all, but there's enough research to make it an interesting ingredient rather than simply a bit of functional-drink decoration.
L-theanine, the amino acid naturally found in green tea, has been studied alongside caffeine for its potential to take the edge off caffeine's more stimulating effects. Research suggests the combination can support attention and alertness while producing a less heightened stress response than caffeine alone.
Taurine is another familiar energy-drink ingredient, although it isn't a stimulant like caffeine. It's a naturally occurring compound involved in several processes in the body, and research has explored its potential role in exercise performance and recovery.
Vitamin B12 has a more straightforward job description. It contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue – so while it won't give you the caffeine buzz, it does have a legitimate role in how your body processes energy.
Many claims made about shilajit online, such as boosting testosterone or slowing ageing, aren't supported by strong human evidence. You don't have to travel far into the world of Insta to find people shouting claims from the mountain tops about shilajit. But there's a lot that can't be said for certain – that shilajit's a cure-all, that every shilajit product has the same universal effects, or that lab findings always translate into noticeable everyday benefits.
However, OQO don't do sugar coating or functional drinks with overblown CVs. But we do do delicious, refreshing drinks with a science twist. BYO ice and a slice.
So, when it comes to shilajit, here's where science sits …
Shilajit is a complex natural mixture of organic compounds, humic substances and minerals, rather than a single active ingredient. It definitely isn’t a chemical substance with a neat ingredient label or a recognisable molecular diagram. It's a complex natural mixture containing organic compounds, humic substances – a family of complex organic materials produced as plants, microbes and other biological material break down - and minerals.
That complexity is what makes it interesting to researchers. But interesting chemistry isn't the same as proven everyday benefits, despite the overpromise of Instagram. Shilajit's still under the microscope when it comes to revealing its range of talents.
Fulvic acid is one of the naturally occurring organic components that makes shilajit chemically interesting. Fulvic acid coming from a range of sources has been explored for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lab research.
QOO added shilajit to make a traditional ingredient easier to try, in a ready-to-drink format. Functional drinks are already familiar territory for ingredients such as caffeine, taurine and ginseng. Caffeine has a well-established role in alertness, while the evidence around ginseng is more mixed. Shilajit is different: it's an intriguing natural ingredient with a long history of traditional use, but its potential benefits still need much better human research.
At OQO, we're not claiming that shilajit is a miracle energy booster, or that it delivers the same effects as caffeine or vitamin B12. We're interested in exploring what this unusual ingredient might bring to your modern functional drink choice – without pretending the science has already answered every question. And, frankly, we thought it deserved a more refreshing format.
The OQOLife lowdown: an intriguing ingredient with a long history, not a miracle booster.
Traditional shilajit is usually encountered as a dark, resinous substance with an earthy, bitter and mineral-like flavour. Measuring out resin every morning might suit some routines, but it isn't exactly the most effortless way to approach this ingredient.
OQO takes shilajit extract in a different direction: a ready-to-drink functional beverage with a pear and ginger flavour.
Fresh, fruity pear brings the softness. Ginger adds a little warmth and bite. Together, they make a rather more approachable way to try an ingredient that has traditionally been associated with mountains, resin and a distinct place amongst botanical flavoured drinks.
Shilajit has a distinctive earthy, mineral character, with a subtle savoury, umami-like depth. Pear and ginger bring the freshness and lift. No sticky measuring spoon and no shimmying up mountains and harvesting resins, unless you want to. Just a ring pull and a refreshing energy drink.
Shilajit has an extraordinary backstory and a chemically complex profile. It contains humic substances, fulvic acid, minerals and other organic compounds that researchers are continuing to investigate.
But the science has not yet caught up with every claim made about it online. There isn't enough suitable human evidence to present shilajit as a cure-all, a guaranteed energy booster or a shortcut to better health.
What we can say is that it's an unusual ingredient with a long history, an interesting chemistry and plenty still to investigate.
That's why OQO has brought it into a modern functional drink – with a little pear, a little ginger and considerably less mountain climbing.
