I made myself a science experiment for “mood-altering” NA beverages

There are countless good reasons to nix alcohol from your diet. It’s addictive, disrupts sleep, causes hangovers, taxes your liver, and causes inflammation (which is why we wrote a guide to our favorite mocktails!). As the health and wellness industry has grown over the past decade, a next-level type of herbal/botanical beverage has emerged. These  “functional beverages” — which are not only alcohol-free but actually contain health-boosting ingredients like ashwagandha, ginseng, and reishi — have been gaining serious ground. In a December 2023 Food & Beverage Insider trend piece, Philip Caputo, the marketing manager at beverage company Virginia Dare, noted that delicious, functional drinks, “fit the bill for women looking to support mental health, the gut microbiome, aging, or skincare.” 

As a dabbler in herbal medicine and self-diagnosed “Beverage Goblin” who’s often sipping three libations at a time, I wanted to find the best mood-altering, yet nonalcoholic (NA) beverages to help me either energize or chill, depending on the time of day. (There’s just something about drinkable remedies, right? They feel more holistic than popping a pill.) For a full week, I made my body a science experiment for different beverages that promised to alter my mood in various ways. 

Here are the drinks I tried and their effects on my mood:

1. Three Spirits Livener Non-Alcoholic Elixir 

This “energizing elixir” was created by Three Spirits; the company’s NA spirits are designed by plant scientists and bartenders to “enhance moods throughout day and into the night.” Ingredients include guayusa, guava leaf, Schisandra, and big flavors from vibrant berries, bright aromatics, and heat. 

Taste: The herbaceous, peppery notes are strong and distinctive, and the ginger, cayenne, and apple cider vinegar flavors are extremely forward. This isn’t something you sip in the background — its flavors command your attention. I’m guessing that smokers or spicy food lovers would be extra drawn to this taste. Ever smelled actual smelling salts? This is kind of like the drinkable version. 

Mood-altering capability: I poured one out (over ice) when my 2 p.m. slump rolled around and hoped for a green-tealike effect. I didn’t get that long-lasting caffeinated experience, but the elixir was so boldly spicy that it definitely jolted my senses from their sleepiness, even if only temporarily. 

How to get it: Enjoy at stores and restaurants near you or on the Three Spirits site.

2. Three Spirits Nightcap Non-Alcoholic Elixir

Another from Three Spirits, this nighttime-focused elixir claims to comfort and soothe the senses. The elegant bottle — with flavor notes of “calming, woody, and mellow” — contains ingredients like lemon balm, valerian, licorice root, black and Sichuan pepper, and hops to evoke a calm, dreamy feeling. 

Taste: As directed, my husband and I poured Nightcap over ice, and garnished with citrus, creating a little low-calorie before-bed ritual a few nights in a row. The taste is … herbaceous and very turmeric- and licorice-forward (so, a hint of pepper and spice). All in all, it was a nice sensory treat in lieu of an alcohol buzz. 

Mood-altering capability: I can’t claim any marked difference in sleep patterns, apart from the relaxing ritual of pouring and drinking a good-for-me substance right before bed. 

How to get it: Enjoy at stores and restaurants near you or from their website.

3. Cann Lemon Lavender Social Tonic

Cann Social Tonics are canned beverages that contain a microdose of THC and CBD. (Meaning, they’re nonalcoholic, but not 100% sober-friendly). Cann, like other THC beverage companies, uses hemp (not “weed” as we know it), which typically contains less than 0.3% of THC, the ingredient that makes you feel high. Ever tried a CBD oil tincture or a low-dose gummy? That’s kind of very gentle “mood-altering” you’ll get from this THC beverage. 

Taste: Flavors available are: Grapefruit Rosemary, Blood Orange Cardamom, Lemon Lavender, and Ginger Lemongrass. I chose the Lemon Lavender (2mg THC/4mg CBD) and drank two cans while friends drank beer. The taste was very pleasant, akin to a lemon La Croix, and it didn’t taste like weed, but did have the faintest, earthiest whiff of it.  

Mood-altering capability: Apart from my shoulders dropping a bit, I didn’t experience much of an effect until the second can, when I felt ever-so-slightly more relaxed. No loss of inhibition, however, and like the company boasts, “no hangover.” 

How to get it: Find it at supermarkets and dispensaries in your area or the Cann’s website. (Since I live in Chicago where cannabis is legal, I was able to snag it at my neighborhood Binny’s Beverage Depot.)  

4. Apothékary Free Spirit Minis

Given my interest in herbal medicine and natural body products, Apothékary, targeted me on the ol’ social media algorithm. Founded in 2020 by Shizu Okusa, the company is a plant-based “farmacy” rooted in natural healing and using food as medicine — a modern-day alternative to both pill-popping and traditional Chinese medicine herbal consultations. I chose the Minis Set with three herbal tincture blends: Take the Edge Off (for stress and marketed as an alcohol replacement), Rose Tinted Glasses (for mood and skin support), and Wine Down (for sleep support). 

Taste: You can ingest them either by diluting a drop in water or taking the tincture under your tongue. Since I’m used to taking herbal tinctures, I opted to take the dropper “straight.” All three had a pleasant flavor and sensation, similar to a throat lozenge. My favorite flavor was Wine Down, which had inflections of hibiscus and strawberries. I also enjoyed Take the Edge Off, which included notes of lemon, linden, and nectarine.

Mood-altering capability: Although I enjoyed the flavors, the tincture delivery method, and the packaging, I can’t say that my mood was altered in any way. However, the directions specifically say that you should use each remedy for at least a few weeks before results emerge. So, it could be that these herbs work in a cumulative way, if not immediately. 

How to get it: The Minis Set is available on Amazon, and there’s even more on the Apothékary site.

5. Kin Euphorics Actual Sunshine 

Kin Euphorics is a (canned) functional beverage, rooted in Ayurveda and designed to “elevate your every day from dusk to dawn,” sans drugs or alcohol. Their beverages incorporate adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals. I chose the Actual Sunshine blend, which includes vitamins such as C and D, zinc, saffron, and turmeric for a super boost of immunity, and a small dose of caffeine. 

Taste: If I’m being honest, the taste was pretty offputting. I liked the saffron and turmeric notes, but this also included notes of ginger, pineapple, and cardamom, and the way they translated into this cold, caffeinated beverage was — let me be diplomatic — not to my taste. I couldn’t manage more than a few sips before I gave up and poured it out. 

Mood-altering capability: Since I couldn’t finish the can, I sadly have zero mood effects to report. But even if I’d loved the taste, at about $4 per small, 8oz. can, I wouldn’t be able to justify buying this gently caffeinated beverage. 

How to get it: Target or the Kin Euphorics site. 

6. Sleepy girl mocktail

Like most women in their forties, my sleep can be hit or miss, so I’ll down any sleep aid on offer. Because of my thyroid and autoimmune issues, I already take magnesium glycinate, so trying this “sleepy girl mocktail” that’s been making the rounds on TikTok seemed like a no-brainer. I’m wary of pseudo-science, but since the Cleveland Clinic and SELF Magazine noted that it couldn’t hurt, I went ahead and mixed up this sleepytime recipe — magnesium powder, tart cherry juice, and sparkling water — and drank it while watching TV before bed. 

Taste: I liked the taste. If fizzy tart cherries sound good, you’ll like this, too. 

Mood altering capability: To test out this mocktail’s sleep and relaxation properties, I skipped my nightly Kush and imbibed it while reading a book before bed. It might have provided a teeny bit of relaxation (placebo effect?), but it didn’t do much good for actual slumber, sorry to say. 

How to get it: Snag magnesium powder from your local drugstore and tart cherry juice from your favorite grocery.