Aptonia After Drink Lemon recovery drink

Aptonia is the nutrition brand of sports megastore chain Decathlon and the After Drink is Aptonia's take on the recovery drink – a post ride beverage to deliver the protein and carbohydrates required to repair the muscle damage caused by exercise, in an easy-to-consume form.

To that end, each 70g serving (2 scoops) packs a substantial 46g of carbohydrates and 14.5g of protein– on par with most of the competition. You mix it with 500ml of water, because trying to eat dry powder is no fun. To be sure, it's not going to replace a proper meal, but it'll get the recovery process started while you're busy cooking or simply lying on the sofa in a glycogen depleted daze.

Whey is used as the principal protein source while the carbohydrates are derived from a mix of unspecified proportions of dextrose, sucrose and maltodextrin – pretty standard stuff. In addition, each serving provides the usual handful of electrolytes – sodium, potassium and magnesium – and vitamins B1, B2 and B6. Those with nut or lactose intolerances (for all disclaimers see the product information box below) should note that this product isn't guaranteed to be free of such substances, and is therefore probably inappropriate.

All in all, the After Drink isn't trying to revolutionise the sports nutrition world, and nor does it make any claims to that effect; it's basically a standard recovery drink at a price which undercuts most of the competition.

However, unlike more traditional recovery drinks which are often quite thick and milkshake-like, with the flavours to match – chocolate, strawberry and banana seem to be the most popular – the lemon Aptonia recovery mix is much thinner and lighter. This makes it a more refreshing option when coming back from a long, hot ride; the kind where you find yourself encrusted in salt. I can see it being much more suited to summer time riding and racing than winter, when perhaps the thicker consistency of a more traditional recovery drink would be more fulfilling - well, for me at least.

Mixed with water based on the proportions indicated on the container, the resulting drink is not too sweet either and tastes quite like a decent lemonade should. The flavour is pleasantly mild and not at all overpowering, further adding to its refreshing quality. Mixability is good too, with a couple of shakes being all that's required to get the powder to fully dissolve. The fact that the lid doubles as a scoop (and a decent one at that) is also a neat touch.

Verdict

Refreshing recovery drink ideally suited to hotter conditions.