What is kanna?
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a succulent from South Africa that people there have chewed, brewed and fermented for centuries. Today it shows up in social tonics and canned drinks. People describe it as lighter and chattier than kava: easy conversation, not a heavy body feel. More on what kanna is.
How we picked
There aren't many real kanna drinks yet. Plenty of "social" tonics on the shelf don't contain any kanna at all, so we only included drinks that list kanna on the label. Then we looked at taste, format (can or bottle), sugar, and price per drink.
Kanna Pomegranate Fusion
Pomegranate Fusion was Botanical Brewing's first kanna drink, and it's still the one we'd hand someone who's never tried kanna. It leads with ripe pomegranate and raspberry, it's sparkling, and kanna's herbal note sits quietly in the background. Botanical Brewing uses a blend of three kanna types ("heavy," "uplifting" and "balanced") rather than a single extract. It comes in 4, 12 or 24-can packs.
Best for: dinner parties, first dates, and the hour before friends arrive. Read our Pomegranate Fusion review.
Shop Pomegranate FusionZero alcohol · Ships direct from Botanical Brewing · Affiliate link: we may earn a commission.Innerbloom Ethereal Drift Kanna Drink
Innerbloom's Ethereal Drift is a lightly sparkling kanna tonic with citrus, hibiscus and watermelon, plus L-theanine, magnesium and electrolytes. It's 25 calories with 3 g of sugar per can, and it's caffeine-free. Innerbloom doesn't print the milligrams of kanna per can.
Best for: label watchers who want the lowest sugar.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link: we may earn a commission.Kamello Kava + Kanna Drink
Kamello pairs the two plants in one 12 oz can: 50 mg of kanna extract plus 50 mg of kavalactones from kava. Flavors include Citrus Blossom, Peach and Black Tea, and Spiced Coffee. If you already like kava and want to try kanna, this is an easy bridge. If you're new to both, try each on its own first.
Best for: kava drinkers curious about kanna.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link: we may earn a commission.Curious No. 9 Booze-Free Sparkling Rosé
Curious No. 9 is a booze-free sparkling rosé made from Chardonnay grapes with key lime and oak, plus South African kanna, California poppy and rose. Each 11.5 oz bottle is about two drinks, 30 calories and 5 g of sugar. It's dry, complex and built to pour into a wine glass.
Best for: dinner tables where everyone else is drinking wine.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link: we may earn a commission.Kanna drinks compared
| Drink | Format | Flavor | Kanna listed | Also contains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBCo Pomegranate Fusion | Sparkling can | Pomegranate, raspberry | Three-kanna blend | — |
| Innerbloom Ethereal Drift | Lightly sparkling can | Citrus, hibiscus, watermelon | Yes (amount not listed) | L-theanine, magnesium |
| Kamello | 12 oz can | Citrus Blossom, Peach Black Tea, Spiced Coffee | 50 mg | Kava (50 mg kavalactones) |
| Curious No. 9 | 11.5 oz bottle | Sparkling rosé, key lime | Yes | California poppy, rose |
How to try kanna for the first time
- Start with one can and give it 20 to 30 minutes.
- Drink it cold, with food or at the start of the evening.
- Don't mix it with alcohol.
- Skip kanna if you take antidepressants or other mood medication, or if you're pregnant. Check with your doctor if you're unsure.
Kanna vs. kava
Both are zero-proof evening drinks, but they're different plants with different reputations. Kava is the calm, end-of-day one. Kanna is the social, talkative one. Kava vs. kanna, compared.
Product details from each brand's own site, checked October 2026. Brands change formulas, so check the label.
Questions people ask
What is a kanna drink?
A drink made with kanna (Sceletium tortuosum), a South African succulent. Most are sparkling cans or tonics with zero alcohol.
What's the best kanna drink?
Botanical Brewing Co.'s Kanna Pomegranate Fusion is our top pick: sparkling pomegranate and raspberry with a blend of three kanna types.
What does kanna feel like?
People describe kanna as social and talkative, lighter than kava. Start with one can and give it 20 to 30 minutes.
Can you mix kanna and alcohol?
We don't recommend it. Kanna drinks are meant to replace alcohol, not go with it.
Who shouldn't drink kanna?
Skip kanna if you take antidepressants or other mood medication, or if you're pregnant, and check with your doctor if you're unsure.
Is kanna legal in the US?
Kanna is sold legally in the US as a food and beverage ingredient. For adults 21+.
For adults 21+. Skip it if you take antidepressants.