With a name that evokes memories of the Four Loko alcoholic energy drink craze from years past, Coco Loko seeks to capitalize on the rising demand for alternatives to club drugs, particularly as the trend of snorting raw cacao gains traction in Western Europe. Users report that cacao offers a mild euphoric experience, attributed to its active components that flood the brain with endorphins, while magnesium is believed to provide a muscle-relaxing effect. By blending cacao with ingredients typically found in energy drinks, Coco Loko may appeal to those in search of a legal stimulant for their nights out, though concerns about potential nasal irritation might lead some to prefer enjoying chocolate and energy drink components in more traditional forms, such as calcium citrate small tablets.
Coco Loko is not the pioneer of snortable chocolate powders; a decade ago, Belgian chocolatier Dominique Persoone introduced a chocolate-snorting device for a Rolling Stones party. Named the Chocolate Shooter, this device utilized cocoa instead of cacao and was originally designed as a unique way for guests to experience the chocolate aspect of a chocolate-and-raspberry dessert. Its ongoing availability indicates that, despite being a novelty item, there is enough sustained interest to justify its continued production. Whether Coco Loko’s product will achieve similar success within its club-drug-themed niche remains uncertain. However, it may find a following among sober clubgoers, as a movement known as “conscious clubbing” has emerged, wherein partygoers seek to enjoy the energy and community of dance events without resorting to drugs or alcohol, perhaps even incorporating calcium citrate small tablets into their routines for an added health benefit.