Ingredients: every dose in Sí Quema
One scoop of Sí Quema (4.5 g) contains 9 ingredients totaling 3,315 mg, and every dose is printed on the label. There are no proprietary blends. The formula is built around 200 mg of caffeine, 350 mg of L-theanine and 500 mg of L-tyrosine for energy and focus*, plus two forms of carnitine, the carnitine precursor gamma-butyrobetaine, Capsimax® capsicum extract for the cayenne kick, AstraGin® and grains of paradise.
200 mg caffeine per serving · 18+
What's in one scoop of Sí Quema?
Here is the full Supplement Facts list, in the order it appears on the label. One tub has 30 servings.
| Ingredient | Amount per scoop | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine Anhydrous | 200 mg | Caffeine in dry, water-free powder form; a central nervous system stimulant |
| N-Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl | 1,000 mg (1 g) | Acetyl-L-carnitine, one of the two main forms of carnitine used in supplements |
| L-Carnitine L-Tartrate | 1,000 mg (1 g) | L-carnitine in tartrate salt form, used in exercise recovery research |
| L-Tyrosine | 500 mg | An amino acid the body makes from phenylalanine |
| L-Theanine | 350 mg | An amino acid found in tea |
| Capsimax® Capsicum annuum (fruit) extract | 100 mg | A coated red chili pepper extract (trademarked ingredient) |
| Gamma-Butyrobetaine HCl | 75 mg | The compound the body converts into L-carnitine |
| AstraGin® | 50 mg | Astragalus and Panax notoginseng extracts (trademarked ingredient) |
| Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract | 40 mg | Extract of a West African spice seed in the ginger family |
| Total | 3,315 mg | 9 ingredients, every dose disclosed |
Caffeine Anhydrous: 200 mg
Caffeine is the main source of energy in Sí Quema*, and one scoop has 200 mg. "Anhydrous" just means free from water, so this is caffeine in dry powder form.
What it is. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes caffeine as a substance that stimulates the central nervous system, muscles and other organs.
Why it's in the formula*. Caffeine is the anchor of most pre-workouts: a review of the top 100 best-selling products found it in 86% of them. The International Society of Sports Nutrition's position stand notes that caffeine has been shown to benefit attention and vigilance, and that lower doses of around 200 mg were reported to improve cognitive processes associated with exercise. For context, the FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for healthy adults. One scoop is half of that.
N-Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl: 1 g
N-Acetyl L-Carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine, one of the two main forms of carnitine sold in supplements. The HCl means it's in hydrochloride salt form.
What it is. Carnitine is a compound derived from an amino acid. According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, the body makes it in the liver, kidneys and brain from the amino acids lysine and methionine, and it helps transport long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, the part of the cell that produces energy.
Why it's in the formula*. It's one half of Sí Quema's carnitine pairing, alongside L-Carnitine L-Tartrate and the carnitine precursor gamma-butyrobetaine. To be straight with you: the same NIH fact sheet says research on carnitine and athletic performance is mixed.
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate: 1 g
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (LCLT) is L-carnitine in tartrate salt form, and it's the form used in several exercise recovery studies.
What it is. It's L-carnitine, the same compound described above, delivered as a tartrate salt.
Why it's in the formula*. LCLT has been studied for markers of recovery after hard training. In a 2002 crossover study of 10 resistance-trained men, LCLT reduced several blood markers of muscle stress after a squat session compared with placebo. A 2010 study of 18 middle-aged men and women reported similar marker changes and less soreness, with no change in strength or power. Both studies used LCLT providing 2 g of L-carnitine a day for about three weeks, which is more than one scoop of Sí Quema provides.
L-Tyrosine: 500 mg
L-Tyrosine is an amino acid, and it's in Sí Quema for focus*.
What it is. The body makes tyrosine from another amino acid, phenylalanine, and uses it to make hormones and neurotransmitters. Tyrosine is the precursor of dopamine and norepinephrine.
Why it's in the formula*. A 2015 research review concluded that tyrosine appears to help cognitive performance in short-term stressful or cognitively demanding situations, while its value for physical exercise itself appears minimal.
L-Theanine: 350 mg
L-Theanine is an amino acid found in tea, and it's paired with caffeine in Sí Quema for focus*.
What it is. L-theanine is one of the main constituents of tea studied alongside caffeine.
Why it's in the formula*. Researchers have tested caffeine and L-theanine together in several small trials. A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies found the combination had its clearest effects on alertness and attention-switching accuracy in the first two hours. Read more in our article on why caffeine and L-theanine are paired.
Capsimax® Capsicum Extract: 100 mg
Capsimax® is a trademarked red chili pepper extract, and it's where Sí Quema's thermogenic cayenne kick comes from*.
What it is. Capsimax is made by OmniActive Health Technologies from Capsicum annuum (red chili peppers). Chili peppers get their pungency from capsaicin. According to the manufacturer, Capsimax encapsulates capsaicinoids in coated beadlets to improve stomach tolerability, and it lists 100 mg as the daily dose (manufacturer claims).
Why it's in the formula*. It gives Sí Quema its warm, thermogenic character. Expect to notice it: the label warns the product may cause sweating and a warm flushing sensation.
Gamma-Butyrobetaine HCl: 75 mg
Gamma-butyrobetaine (GBB) is the compound the body turns into L-carnitine.
What it is. The enzyme gamma-butyrobetaine dioxygenase converts GBB into L-carnitine, which the NIH's Pharos database describes as the last step in the L-carnitine biosynthetic pathway.
Why it's in the formula*. It rounds out the carnitine side of the formula, next to the two carnitine forms above.
AstraGin®: 50 mg
AstraGin® is a trademarked blend of two plant extracts that its maker sells as a nutrient absorption ingredient.
What it is. NuLiv Science, the manufacturer, describes AstraGin as Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng extracts and lists 50 mg as its dose (manufacturer claim).
Why it's in the formula*. NuLiv Science says AstraGin supports the absorption of certain nutrients, citing a human study on L-arginine and lab studies on other nutrients. These are the manufacturer's claims, and they have not been tested in Sí Quema's formula.
Grains of Paradise Extract: 40 mg
Grains of paradise are the seeds of Aframomum melegueta, a pungent spice from West Africa, and they add to Sí Quema's thermogenic profile*.
What it is. Britannica describes grains of paradise as the seeds of a reedlike plant in the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family, native to tropical western Africa and long used as a spice.
Why it's in the formula*. Grains of paradise extract has been studied for thermogenesis, the body's heat production. In a small 2013 study of 19 men, researchers gave a single 40 mg dose, the same amount in one scoop, and measured energy expenditure for two hours. An increase showed up in some participants, not all.
What are the other ingredients in Sí Quema?
Besides the 9 active ingredients, Sí Quema contains natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, malic acid, silicon dioxide, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and beta carotene for color. FDA rules put these in an "Other ingredients" list right below the Supplement Facts panel. Here is what each one does:
- Natural and artificial flavors. We use both. The FDA says food ingredients must meet the same safety standard whether they are naturally or artificially derived.
- Citric acid and malic acid. Acids that give the flavor its tartness. The FDA lists citric acid among pH control agents and acidulants.
- Silicon dioxide. An anti-caking agent that keeps powder free-flowing.
- Sucralose. A non-sugar sweetener, about 600 times sweeter than table sugar. The FDA regulates it as a food additive.
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). A non-sugar sweetener, about 200 times sweeter than table sugar, also regulated by the FDA as a food additive.
- Beta carotene. Used for color. The FDA lists beta-carotene among color additives.
Sugar is not on the ingredient list. Sí Quema is sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Who should not take Sí Quema?
Sí Quema is for healthy adults 18 and older. Don't take it if you're under 18, pregnant or nursing, and don't combine it with other caffeine.
- Contains 200 mg caffeine per serving.
- Not for use by anyone under 18.
- Do not combine with other sources of caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks or other pre-workouts.
- Not for use if you are pregnant or nursing.
- Talk to your doctor before use if you have a medical condition or take medication.
- May cause sweating and a warm flushing sensation.
- Start with half a scoop to see how you tolerate it.
Ready to try it? See all four flavors in the Sí Quema pre-workout collection.
200 mg caffeine per serving · 18+
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.