Need a little lift but don’t want to be buzzing at bedtime? Before you knock back a commercial energy drink with all that sugar, caffeine, taurine and heck knows what else, consider kicking back with an anti-energy drink, designed with the opposite purpose. “In a stressed-out world full of uppers and stimulants, more energy isn’t always the answer,” relays CEO/Co-founder of KAIVAI Doug Quezada. Discovering the benefits of drinking kava led their team to create a popular version. Often considered gritty and bitter, KAIVAI makes kava much more palatable, adding ingredients like hibiscus, cinnamon and monk fruit. Forego the bull. And chill.
KOMBUCHA: Kombucha is fermented tea + sugars + SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) bacteria resulting in a slightly sweet, vinegary carbonated beverage. We like: Han’s Kombucha, available at multiple locations: Liberty Fresh, Hello!Bulk Markets, Animalia
KAVA ROOT: Kava root extract comes from a Pacific islands shrub. Its extract produces a non-alcoholic, non-addictive drink said to improve mood and ease anxiety by upping feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. We like: Kaivai. Found at: Macey’s, Fresh Market, Dans.
MATCHA: A stone-ground Japanese green tea that has 137 times more antioxidants, the amino acid L-theanine (known to enhance mood in a good way) and caffeine (works with L-theanine for added focus and stress reduction)—take that!
We like: Brass Smoothies: The Guru: Matcha, Avocado, Banana, Dates, Spinach, Coconut Water/Manna.
