Functional Drinks: A comprehensive review

What are “functional drinks” and why are they so popular right now? The term “functional” as it relates to a drink is really a large umbrella to categorize a non-alcoholic beverage claiming some positive effect on the body due to one or more nutritional ingredient. This can include everything from a probiotic shot to an energy drink to a nut milk.

For the purposes of this review, I’ll be focusing on drinks with nootropics (☀️), adaptogens (🌗), natural herbs and botanics (🌸), and THC (🌱). Nootropics enhance our cognition and brain health (think caffeine!), adaptogens relax our physical and mental states (ginseng and some mushrooms for example), and natural herbs and THC speak for themselves.

Kin Euphorics: Kin is marketed as “non-alcoholic, adaptogenic drinks that balance the body’s response to stress, boost brain power, and lighten the mood.” Truthfully, I tried the “Lightwave” canned drink and couldn’t even finish it. I was supposed to taste notes of “lavender-vanilla, smoked sea salt, and passionflower,” but instead it gave off a strong medicinal aftertaste. I couldn’t tell you whether this relaxed me or not, and I don’t really want to try another flavor or their “Made-to-Mix” bottles. Other than that, I do love their branding and the purpose behind the products. 2/10 ☀️ 🌗

Recess: I am a true sucker for good social media content, which is what drew me first to Recess drinks. It’s cute, informational, fun and creative. Plus, I feel like their drinks actually work. I do feel more relaxed when I drink them - placebo effect or not! They also use monk fruit instead of sugar which can help for those trying to manage their total intake. Recess is marketed as “a sparkling water infused with magnesium & adaptogens to calm the mind and lift the mood.” 7.5/10 ☀️ 🌗

Seedlip: This is the most expensive option because they don’t sell cans, just larger bottles for crafting mocktails. Seedlip products are “distilled non-alcoholic spirits with a unique & complex set of plants for a different flavor profile.” I have had bartenders make great mocktails with the drink since it’s a pretty popular bottle to find in a bar that offers NA options but when I tried to make a drink with the Grove 42 flavor, I found the flavors lacking in strength. On its own, there is such a light flavor it’s almost nonexistent… but according to their website, when “mixed with ginger seltzer or within cocktails our spirits really shine and open up the complexity & strength of our plant distillates.” Due to the price, I wouldn’t repurchase. 5.5/10 🌸

De Soi: Katy Perry’s brand! These drinks are a “range of non-alcoholic apéritifs made with natural adaptogens for moments of pleasure and restraint.” I was rooting for this, but there was a flavor note I couldn’t figure out…. until I checked the ingredients and realized it was balsamic vinegar. I didn’t absolutely hate the addition, but I can’t say it was my favorite! Another flavor has sherry vinegar (champignon dreams) but the golden hour can doesn’t contain vinegar, so I’d try that to see if I liked it better. The effects from adaptogens weren’t life changing, but it was a nice drink before bed. 5.5/10 🌗 🌸

Hiyo: I think the flavors are great, but had a hard time determining whether I felt anything from their drinks - not a requirement, but when it’s advertised as such, I think it could deliver more. However, maybe after a few cans I would’ve experienced “the float” that they promise. Hiyo drinks are “mindful social tonics crafted with organic adaptogens, natural nootropics, and functional botanicals to elevate your mood and empower you to be truly happy in your own.” 6/10 ☀️ 🌗

Cann: Cann is another favorite of mine. The idea behind the product is “drinkable, delicious cannabis that’s as bubbly, refreshing, and sociable as your favorite cocktail, but hold the booze – and the hangover.” The drinks have 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD, so you aren’t going to get a high by anyyy means, but they do have a “Hi-Boy” with 5mg of THC and a few for someone with less “experience” (their words), can produce stronger effects. Personally, I loved these and their flavors are great. I tried the Blood Orange Cardamom and are a pretty cost-friendly option at $1.99/can. 8/10 🌸 🌱

Ghia: These have a pretty controversial flavor. I personally like it since I tend to gravitate to more bitter flavors than sweet ones, but fair warning, it’s different! I’ve tried the canned Ghia Ginger spritzes, but do want to try the larger bottle for more drinks. "Ghia drinks are non-alcoholic apéritifs packed with only pure, natural extracts where potent plants, heady herbals, and blithe botanicals combine for a completely natural, soothing, stimulating experience.” 6/10 🌸

Heywell: I grabbed the strawberry lemon can for “energy and focus” and personally found it a little too sweet. Two of their cans are caffeinated (thus containing nootropics) but all four contain adaptogens, antioxidants and other herbs. Their cans are “sparkling waters filled with adaptogens, antioxidants and organic caffeine from green coffee beans (in our energy collection) for when you want a little energy, immunity, calm, focus or support for occasional stress.” 6/10 ☀️ 🌗 🌸 & 🌗 🌸

Three Spirit: I tried the “Nightcap” and honestly found the sichuan pepper more of a prominent flavor than I wanted. The flavor was good not great, but I think I need to play around with different add-ins to create a more exciting drink. “Three Spirit drinks combine plants used for centuries in ceremonies and potions to stimulate the mind, body and palate - before, during and after the party.” I would repurchase another flavor to try as well as my current bottle. 7/10 ☀️ 🌗 🌸 & 🌗 🌸

Sunwink: I’ve tried Sunwink drinks once and currently have their Cacao Clarity superfood powder, but I don’t remember being particularly impressed by the drink. Their drinks are marketed as “super clean plant-powered herbal tonics for everyday wellness” and they heavily rely on the plant-powered aspect of their products. Would I repurchase? Sure! But it’s not the first drink I’m grabbing off of the shelf. 🌗 🌸 5.5/10

Figlia: This is by far my favorite flavor of an NA beverage I’ve tried. “Figlia is a non-alcoholic drink blended with filtered water, rose extract, ginger juice and more.” Its ingredients, specifically the warming spices of ginger and nutmeg, lend to a more fall/winter drink, and although I’ve only had it on its own, I can tell the addition of another sparkling drink would be even better. I also like the idea of drinking it warm like a toddy. They make a fizzy canned beverage which I am dying to try and an apéritif-like bottled beverage good for making multiple mocktails. 8.5/10 🌗 🌸

Töst: “TÖST Beverages are all-natural, delicious, dry, sparkling alcohol-free beverages with white tea, white cranberry, elderberry, and ginger.” These are probably my favorite drinks that mimic champagne. The price is right at about $7 for a bottle, and it’s fun to have at a party for someone who doesn’t want an alcoholic beverage but still wants a glass in their hand. It doesn’t have any relaxing adaptogens and is more of a sparkling tea, so it’s not something you should drinking expecting to feel a certain effect. 7/10 🌸

Goldthread: I love love Goldthread! It’s one of my favorite drinks to mix with something sparkling and some lime or lemon juice for a fun pre-dinner drink. They’re “plant-based tonics with super-herbs, spices & adaptogens” and their flavors are some of the best. I think I’ve tried two or three flavors but plan on buying them all eventually. 🌗 🌸 8/10

Sovi: Sovi cans and bottles are more NA wine drinks that I’ve liked for a while and are actually some of the first NA drinks I tried. Their website describes the drinks as “distinctive wines sourced directly from growers, gently distilled to remove the alcohol.” I like the rose cans and thought they were a good alternative to regular wine. Don’t expect to feel any effects from this drink, there are no adaptogens, nootropics, CBD or THC. 7.5/10

*Blog cover image from this Vice article