Functional beverages have moved well past the “green juice at the gym” phase. A growing number of drinks now contain active ingredients designed to change how you feel, not just how you hydrate. Some target relaxation, others aim for focus or gut health, and a few are specifically designed to fill the social space that alcohol used to occupy. If you’ve already read our guide to nootropic and adaptogenic drinks, think of this as the deeper dive into three specific categories that deserve more attention: kava, CBD, and the broader world of functional beverages built around mushrooms, vinegar, and fermentation.
Kava drinks and why they stand apart
Of everything in the functional beverage world, kava produces the most noticeable immediate effect. It’s the one that people who miss the feeling of alcohol tend to gravitate toward first, and for good reason.
Kava comes from the root of the Piper methysticum plant, native to the Pacific Islands, where it has been used ceremonially and socially for thousands of years. The active compounds, called kavalactones, interact with GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is the same neurotransmitter system that alcohol affects, which is why the sensation of drinking kava can feel surprisingly familiar. You’ll notice muscle relaxation within 15 to 20 minutes, a loosening of social tension, and a general sense of calm without mental fog. Your thoughts stay clear even as your body unwinds.
Kava bars have become a real phenomenon, particularly in Florida, Colorado, and parts of the West Coast. They function much like a traditional bar, with a counter, stools, and a bartender, but everything on the menu is alcohol-free. The drinks range from traditional kava shells (a single serving of prepared kava root) to blended smoothie-style drinks that mix kava with cacao, coconut milk, and spices.
Not all kava is equal, though. The distinction between noble kava and tudei kava matters. Noble kava varieties have been used safely in the Pacific Islands for centuries and produce a pleasant, clear-headed relaxation. Tudei kava (the name comes from “two-day,” referring to how long the hangover lasts) uses different cultivars that can cause nausea, headaches, and lethargy. Reputable kava bars and brands use only noble kava, but the supplement and pre-mixed drink market is less consistently regulated. Look for brands that specify noble cultivars and test for kavalactone content.
Ready-to-drink kava brands have made the ingredient much more accessible. Leilo makes canned kava-infused relaxation drinks in flavors like ginger lemon and pineapple that taste more like sparkling juice than traditional kava. Feel Free blends kava with kratom (a more controversial ingredient worth researching separately). Tru Kava focuses on a more traditional preparation in a convenient format. If you’re new to kava, a canned option like Leilo is probably the easiest starting point.
CBD drinks and what to actually expect
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the hemp plant. Unlike THC, its more famous cousin, CBD doesn’t produce a high. It’s legal at the federal level in the United States (provided it comes from hemp with less than 0.3% THC), though regulations vary by state and the FDA hasn’t fully sorted out rules around CBD in food and beverages.
That regulatory gray area is worth acknowledging upfront, because it affects everything from product quality to what brands can legally claim. Some CBD drink companies have been shut down or forced to reformulate. Others operate in states with clearer local regulations. The category exists in a kind of limbo that makes it harder for consumers to know what they’re getting.
What CBD actually does, when it works, is produce a mild sense of calm. It’s not sedating. It won’t make you feel euphoric. Most people describe the effect as a subtle reduction in background anxiety, like the volume on your stress getting turned down a notch. Some people notice it clearly; others barely feel anything at all. One reason for this variability is bioavailability. CBD is fat-soluble, which means it doesn’t mix naturally with water. Drinks that use nano-emulsion technology (which breaks CBD into tiny particles that absorb more easily) tend to produce more consistent effects than those that don’t. Check whether a brand mentions nano-emulsified or water-soluble CBD on the label.
Brands like Recess have built a following with their sparkling water plus CBD formula, available in flavors like peach ginger and pomegranate hibiscus. Cann makes low-dose THC and CBD social tonics (where THC is legal) in small cans designed for sipping at parties. Sweet Reason offers CBD-infused sparkling water with botanical flavors and clean ingredient lists.
If you try CBD drinks, keep your expectations measured. This isn’t going to replace the feeling of a cocktail. It’s more of a gentle background shift that pairs well with the ritual of making and sipping something intentionally at the end of the day.
Other functional beverages worth knowing
Beyond kava and CBD, a growing roster of drinks uses mushrooms, fermentation, and other active ingredients to offer something beyond basic refreshment.
Mushroom-based drinks have gained serious traction. Four Sigmatic popularized the category with mushroom coffee and hot chocolate blends that include lion’s mane (associated with cognitive function) and chaga (associated with immune support). MUD\WTR positions itself as a coffee replacement, combining mushroom extracts with masala chai spices, cacao, and a small amount of caffeine from black tea. These drinks tend to work best as daily rituals rather than social drinks, replacing your morning coffee rather than your evening cocktail.
Kombucha has become a staple at bars and restaurants that take their non-alcoholic menus seriously. The fermented tea provides natural probiotics, a slight vinegar tang, and enough complexity to feel like an adult beverage. Some kombuchas contain trace amounts of alcohol from fermentation (usually under 0.5%), so check labels if you’re avoiding alcohol entirely. Brands like GT’s, Health-Ade, and Humm offer widely available options, and many craft breweries now produce their own.
Shrub-based drinks and drinking vinegars occupy a similar space. Shrubs are fruit-and-vinegar syrups with roots in colonial American and European preservation traditions. Mixed with sparkling water, they produce tart, complex drinks that feel more sophisticated than juice. Brands like Acid League and PARCH have introduced ready-to-drink options, while making your own shrubs at home is straightforward and inexpensive.
Probiotic sodas, such as those from Olipop and Poppi, blend prebiotic fiber or apple cider vinegar with familiar soda flavors. They’re less “functional” in the mood-altering sense and more about gut health, but they’ve become a popular swap for people stepping away from both alcohol and sugary soft drinks.
How functional beverages fit alongside mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits
Traditional mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits are primarily about flavor. A well-made non-alcoholic Old Fashioned built with a quality bourbon substitute gives you the taste and ritual of a cocktail without the alcohol. A functional beverage is trying to do something different: it wants to make you feel something, whether that’s relaxation from kava, calm from CBD, or the gut-friendly effects of fermented ingredients.
The two categories aren’t competing; they’re complementary. You might serve non-alcoholic gin and tonics at a dinner party and offer kava drinks or CBD seltzers as a late-night option when the mood shifts from animated conversation to winding down. The sober curious movement has created demand for a full spectrum of alcohol alternatives, and having both flavor-focused and function-focused options means there’s something for every context and preference.
Start with whatever appeals most. If you miss the physical feeling of alcohol, try kava first. If you’re looking for something to make your evening wind-down feel more intentional, a CBD seltzer or adaptogenic drink might fit. If you just want interesting, complex flavors that happen to be good for your gut, grab a kombucha or mix up a shrub spritzer. The category is big enough now that there’s no wrong entry point.
