Best Adaptogen Drinks and Functional Drinks of 2025: Get Clear
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Best Adaptogen Drinks Overall
Brez Adaptogen Drinks
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Best Mushroom Tea
Juni Sparkling Adaptogen Tea
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Best Functional Alcohol Substitute
Sentia GABA Black, Red, and Gold
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Best Kava Drink
Melo Sparkling Kava
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Soda isn't just soda these days: It’s a tool for life. The best adaptogen drinks promise not just to wake you up in the morning, but offer focus and clarity and maybe even a warm wash of well-being. A different drink might tuck you gently in at night, or sub in for alcohol as a mindful party drink.
I've spent months trying some of the most popular functional drinks on the market, bedding down with kava or tryptophan-laced xicha morada, and waking up with caffeine and L-theanine. Many of the new school of nootropic and functional drinks are like kissing cousins of mushroom coffee (https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mushroom-coffee/) , except in refreshing soda form. Functional sodas might be chockablock with mushroom adaptogens such as reishi and cordyceps (https://www.wired.com/story/the-wired-guide-to-mushroom-supplements/) , alongside traditional home anxiety remedies such as ashwagandha or L-theanine.
I both logged the effects of each soda, and held a large taste test with Portland, Oregon, sommelier Sami Gaston, owner of an excellent wine bar and shop called Bar Diane (https://bardiane.com/) and Negociant, (https://www.negociantpdx.com/) respectively—to determine how happy you'd be to drink them even if they didn't help you focus better on endless spreadsheets or the hunt for a job. (https://www.wired.com/story/stanford-research-ai-replace-jobs-young-workers/)
If you're just looking for pep and the jitters and better life through chemicals, check out WIRED's guide to the best energy drinks (https://wired.com/story/best-energy-drinks/) . Also check out WIRED's guide to mushroom gummies (https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-mushroom-gummies/) , or take your wellness in powdered form with the best greens powders (https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-greens-powders/) and the best protein powders (https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-protein-powders/) .
Here are the best adaptogen drinks and functional sodas to wake up, get down, or rest your weary head.
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Brez
Adaptogen Drinks
Brez (https://cna.st/affiliate-link/3aDLD4v8PzjSrfXUvrXgLMBhdBoYpvy6kGqdj1qsu27mT1W5CKMdwWYC3kjWRxofWMeSmoqTVZKKn6erStfoWQVKj2RPTM4aCwWsT1SpaTpUcAyNGqm6kY8S85opNBDicynjUGB5oRwgUURX6hzBTVNGprx8GtuyHtdtmpL4hEbopCUJSAB8GdDZ9HnCMKaD6AxTpNKLXQRA7QNeaWFUpFjBaAYh6bNNAcTAdrbgUtzUAA5jLB4XmrgAaUZCMkVVuhmT8mZuQ4b2RmeNUc49kNu593hitmpfxh7wFnPicdsAzecDKZgh3) is perhaps better known as a THC and CBD brand, but it also sells a trio of cannabis-free adaptogen sodas that ended up being our favorites overall. Among all adaptogen drinks we tried, Brez is the most transparent about functional ingredients and the best-balanced in terms of flavors. I won't lie: You'll know from taste that there are mushrooms in these drinks. But across three flavors, Brez nailed the sweet spot on relatively low-calorie drinks with no artificial aftertaste, with genuinely thoughtful balance among its flavors.
I favored the Elevate (https://cna.st/affiliate-link/217rUsmTHgFnCdrX6WNLfLP9mpE7xWSL68PTWr1mhovcp6GxNDVDUxdHUrd36r2MSgDZDKje7XCCiRwLAmLqhLyGwURXc6rJyRysZ1UiNp8BKzEC1qe2aLWBUHrdtwPXvhQRmBszJ2HJEhLKcpt6oY9dfddgot8wRPui4nEufvjDwXJLiD4Tx1i9QH3nhpomAmh49SR4hTXSAbzHCCx6g81DntHS2JMiAc2Ctvp7e83epFWwnwm96gUMAbUJxkgmESHz6Tpkv5TMUXP5TcVuazgmfQWJ4imrAgVSMPQhZuD4BBWGBoVMBMT3Sa6Rc5C5Q7KT9bWtyVZ7bsU4z6mgbeFBHJXrm6euLcUQTQaeRy7pph7ZKCSF5vVjhveYogd4rjeQHjoVoNFsEu) , a lightly funky strawberry mango drink whose dominant flavor note is a big burst of real strawberry juice concentrate, mixed with a savory-medicinal undercurrent of cordyceps mushroom and ginseng—not to mention 80 mg of caffeine from a caffeinated South American holly tree called guayusa, about the same dose as a cup of tea or a single-shot espresso. This is the only drink I tried that subbed in happily for my morning cup of coffee, and I loved the mix of berry and lightly medicinal earthiness.
In a tasting, sommelier Sami Gaston far preferred Brez's trademark lemon elderflower flavor on the Flow (https://cna.st/affiliate-link/gChDhNS3tFzYaHYucb1sNmjbsM1wPQCAaNGmLd3SizbddkXamFvCoYMJsvwWER6SxsuRDugBwEDxWWiQgAvD9phZMTxV2qt1sgo5Z7HmDhy77uMyUchGMNHqfkYMEKDxnp1Cv6wz28c5PVFe4e1FgFuxLEo9XpoaL6ERVHoSLPUDeqMNLPVi3EoZiP5bhE5Lcefu6or4TEMaigRzHKt9ZqE1fZrF8Utbvf55h9M3cpMpeNQb3YJ8DDRrv45Z36mtFG2GUoLGs1shQtCXUJrKPkvdrs3avb6wKa7QneN52eMPbtiRGiJuL2h4GoJEH8nimadR5Qhchwcsoc6UgqgHWwgH1X9YBUHLKPwfKqWJhN6vN6kTeuyP2qXEnMSM8vK8MkZCujtJy) —a caffeine-free can with purported stress relief from 1,200 mg of lion's mane mushroom, alongside L-theanine and black seed oil, plus a serotonin hit from a little bit of cacao extract.
A cherry-chamomile Dream (https://cna.st/affiliate-link/3z2cX3BbZjFAzMv3qE58qM6T2uDM93sNHGGtahc5nYMDrhD7z2Lqq6RNduo5a2DM3bdgMuyVyGMNC1G9mVtmrdwY1oKytj8kAEu19ZxSjBXBPPbe6jcndwHyECTvbmN2HDQB4kUVL1dC7p33MgLTeA7h1w7TbQwAdonZJUUArVKv73PJvdx9r6vGFAvSq9GRUj85NM2RzdxWro7XBhk1gywHjfgK3ekKVtU5Yuhd9AtVHw8hLvi6GtRT8zTVJUGry9MWWqz9gZ8v98jKB7tN2tz9VDMFoCQj857gStd3z2uupPtV6aJXGmy6BGroNsF2v7N1S28fVmDpGcb3JXuiqjeS3DWJ697MKG8ZxCNoriCwcp9GUy88TiX7Ff26ZnbK2JvG6wp8jED) is my least favorite of the trio, meant for evening relaxation but the least well-integrated in terms of flavor.
Sommelier tasting notes (Flow): "It's the most cohesive. It tastes like real things. You get fruit, you get a little savory, it's kind of floral. No stevia notes.”
Sommelier tasting notes (Elevate): "This tastes like something you would drink at the gym. It's giving Red Bull.”
Functional notes: The strawberry mango Elevate offers some energy drink vibes, complete with taurine—but the effect is much more subdued, with modest caffeine and a slight GABA kick (https://cna.st/affiliate-link/EbxtFkHZLuQbEbvDkgXWVoGAx9jK4wgSwivMenZw1TP467SQdJ1F3KSoRj94NrjKNxmV5pk2sabiu1Lwnoorr9VraxRShoYM13w7NHqVkEPnEiYknxfHmi3CcDJ6aPhiuyRiBxmNDHwo8vjvp2uz6auYG7G43RXiNdCpvVkPyYKdstjC2pMBPGcsgMod4kFN39pkFRibFkAcpeXAGTdHqjEuA37XNbMGqzwAkXJfg1kQJxdaki3eUZ7Vxx826JZxzGoLqvr1CGaf7HmTee37Z5zQ89vb7JzgAhiCLXxDrRjQDW1BAGaq9NcWRazgC8corWax2L3ZL7hQD59xXdKj) that amounts to a microdosed head high. It's a firm good morning. The lemon elderflower Flow is more chill all-around, best for mid-afternoon doldrums. Cherry chamomile Dream tastes like … cherry chamomile.
Nutritional Stats (Elevate, 12 ounces)
80 milligrams caffeine
60 calories
Functional ingredients: guayusa extract (80 mg caffeine), cordyceps extract, maca extract, ginseng extract, taurine
Nutritional Stats (Flow, 12 ounces)
0 milligrams caffeine
30 calories
Functional ingredients: lion's mane (2,200 mg), cacao, black seed oil, L-theanine
Nutritional Stats (Dream, 12 ounces)
0 milligrams caffeine
15 calories
Functional ingredients: reishi extract, chamomile extract, glycine, L-tryptophan, L-theanine
Best Mushroom Tea
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Juni
Sparkling Adaptogen Tea
Juni is probably the most ubiquitous of the new school of adaptogen drinks, a no-calorie sparkling tea whose cans sport sunny PBS-cartoon wellness branding that looks like it wouldn't be out of place at a Whole Foods. Unsurprisingly, Juni launched at select Whole Foods in October.
Though the flavors are various, each can of Juni sports the same blend of adaptogens: Essentially, it's a gentle 30 mg of caffeine from green tea as a pick-me-up, offset by stress-relieving substances like ashwagandha, L-theanine (from the tea), lion's mane and reishi mushrooms, and acerola cherry. There's no added sugar and a mere 5 calories, so most perceived sweetness comes courtesy of agave inulin and stevia.
Some flavors showcase this stevia note more than others, and some of the seven flavors (here's looking at you, peach!) can taste artificial. But the citrus flavors in particular fare quite well. I haven't yet tried the new lemonade flavor, but our favorites from the tasting were the lemon zest and especially the (decaf) yuzu pineapple.
Sommelier tasting notes (Yuzu Pineapple): "I actually kind of like the yuzu flavor … It's a bit like I got an earthy Lacroix. The pineapple mellows it out. I like this.”
Sommelier tasting notes (Tropical): "It smells a little sweaty, but oddly smells like pine needles a little bit … Let's say this one kind of takes you in all the directions. It's fruity … but it also tastes kind of bubblegummy. And it also has a mushroomy note. Not loving that.”
Functional notes: Juni is fairly gentle on the caffeine front, even for caffeinated flavors. Doses aren't listed for any of the functional compounds, but I didn't detect any head high, buzz, or weirdness at the edges of my consciousness. Consider Juni instead a light sprucing of your mood, with pint-sized pep. It's good as a rescue from the mid-afternoon energy dip, when you're looking for a refresher without the panicked adrenaline jolt of a morning double espresso.
Nutritional Stats (12 ounces)
30 milligrams caffeine (except cherry lime, yuzu pineapple, and strawberry hibiscus, which have 0 mg)
5 calories
Functional ingredients: Ashwagandha, L-theanine (from the tea), lion's mane and reishi mushrooms, and acerola cherry. No doses disclosed.
Best Functional Alcohol Substitute
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Sentia
GABA Black, Red, and Gold
