"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,"
"Functional drinks are a somewhat suggestible and subjective category-whose nootropic, adaptogenic and nootropic ingredients are often homeopathics with promising medical studies but few objective or scientific criteria. The ingredients are regulated mostly as food additive, and most brands offer little or no information on dosing. To test the effects of each drink, I had to go with the experience of my own senses."
"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 and Negociant, 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. 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."
Functional sodas blend adaptogens, nootropics, and traditional calming compounds to target wakefulness, focus, relaxation, sleep support, or social drinking alternatives. Common ingredients include mushroom adaptogens such as reishi and cordyceps, herbal remedies like ashwagandha, amino acids such as L-theanine and tryptophan, kava, and caffeine paired with L-theanine. Many formulations mirror mushroom coffee but appear in soda form and emphasize palatability. Ingredients are mostly regulated as food additives, and brands often provide little dosing information. Reported effects tend to be subjective and suggestible, so evaluation relies heavily on sensory experience and taste testing.
Read at WIRED
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