What makes a drink "functional"
Every drink does something: it hydrates you, wakes you up, or just tastes good. A functional beverage adds an ingredient picked for a specific job. Sports drinks with electrolytes were the first wave. Today the cooler is full of botanicals, adaptogens and mushrooms, including non-alcoholic functional beverages: drinks built to replace a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail. ("Functional drinks" and "functional beverages" mean the same thing; brands and shops use both.)
The main types of functional beverages
| Type | Key ingredient | When people reach for it | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kava drinks | Kava root (kavalactones) | End of the workday, social evenings | Kava Orange Dream |
| Kanna drinks | Kanna, a South African succulent | Dinner parties | Kanna Pomegranate Fusion |
| Botanical elixirs | Kratom leaf (adults 21+, not legal everywhere) | As a fruit-flavored sparkling can | Island Breeze (white) |
| Adaptogen drinks | Ashwagandha, rhodiola, reishi, L-theanine | Busy afternoons, winding down | Recess Mood, Kin Euphorics |
| Mushroom drinks | Lion's mane, chaga, reishi | Mornings, instead of regular coffee | Four Sigmatic |
| Zero-proof spirits | Botanical distillates | Cocktail hour | Aplós, Seedlip |
A closer look at each
Kava drinks. Kava is a root from the South Pacific that has been the shared evening drink in Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga for centuries. Cans list kava root extract or kavalactones on the label. Skip kava if you have a liver condition, and never mix it with alcohol. It's the category we recommend first, because it fills the "after-work beer" slot better than anything else. What is kava? · Best kava drinks
Kanna drinks. Kanna is a South African succulent with a long history of traditional use. There are still only a handful of canned kanna drinks, and they pour well at a dinner party. Never combine kanna with antidepressants. What is kanna? · Best kanna drinks
Botanical elixirs. Botanical Brewing's elixirs are brewed with kratom leaf and labeled by leaf color (white, green and red), each in a different fruit flavor. Kratom is for adults 21+, can be habit-forming with regular use, and isn't sold in every state. Kava vs. kratom
Adaptogen drinks. Sparkling sodas and tonics with herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola, often with L-theanine or magnesium. Gentle, easy to find, and good for anyone who wants something lighter than kava. Few brands print amounts: of the six cans we compared, only Hiyo (a 1.7 g blend per can), De Soi and Recess publish a number, and brand-site prices ran from about $2.75 to $5 a can in 12-packs (checked Oct 31, 2026). Best adaptogen drinks, with price per can
Mushroom drinks. Mostly coffee blends with lion's mane or chaga that cut back on caffeine. Best mushroom coffee
Zero-proof spirits. Not functional in the strict sense, but built to replace a cocktail. Best non-alcoholic spirits
The best non-alcoholic functional beverages, by moment
Start with the moment you want to replace, not the ingredient.
- The after-work beer: a kava can. Kava Orange Dream is sparkling orange with kava soft underneath, 50 calories, zero alcohol.
- The glass of wine at dinner: a kanna can. Pomegranate Fusion is pomegranate and raspberry, sparkling, and looks right next to the wine glasses.
- A fruit-forward can (adults 21+): a botanical elixir. Island Breeze is mango and passion fruit over white-vein kratom leaf.
- Something gentle any time: an adaptogen soda like Recess Mood.
- Cocktail hour: a zero-proof spirit with tonic.
How to pick a good one
- Check the label for the actual ingredient. Good brands name the plant and, ideally, how much is in each can.
- Watch the sugar and caffeine. Some "functional" sodas are mostly juice; some mushroom and adaptogen drinks include caffeine.
- Start with one serving. One can is one serving; wait before deciding on a second, and don't drive after drinking it.
- Never mix with alcohol. These drinks are meant to replace the drink, not add to it.
- Ask your doctor if you take medication. Kava, kanna and kratom can all interact with prescriptions.
Who should skip kava
- Kava drinks are for adults 21+. Skip them if you're under 21.
- Skip kava if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Skip kava if you have a liver condition or drink heavily. Kava has been linked to rare cases of serious liver injury.
- Skip it if you take antidepressants (including SSRIs), sedatives, sleep aids or medications that affect the liver, unless your doctor says it's OK.
- Rules on kava vary by place. Check your local rules before you buy.
- One can or shell is one serving. Don't mix kava with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
Who should skip kanna
- Kanna drinks are for adults 21+. Skip them if you're under 21.
- Skip kanna if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Never combine kanna with antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs) or other serotonergic medications.
- Talk to your doctor first if you take sedatives, sleep aids or any other daily medication.
- Rules on botanical products vary by state and country. Check your local rules before you buy.
- One can is one serving. Don't drink it with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
These are general cautions, not medical advice. If you're unsure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions people ask
Are functional drinks and functional beverages the same thing?
Yes. Both terms mean a drink with an added ingredient chosen for more than flavor or hydration.
What is a functional beverage?
A drink with an added ingredient chosen for a purpose beyond flavor or hydration, like kava, kanna, kratom leaf, adaptogens, mushrooms or L-theanine.
What are some examples of functional beverages?
Kava cans like Orange Dream, kanna drinks like Pomegranate Fusion, botanical elixirs, adaptogen sodas like Recess, mushroom coffee like Four Sigmatic, and electrolyte drinks.
What are the best non-alcoholic functional beverages?
For replacing a beer after work, a kava can. For a dinner party, a sparkling kanna can. For a fruit-forward can, a botanical elixir (adults 21+, where legal). For something gentle, an adaptogen soda.
Are functional beverages healthy?
It depends on the drink. Check sugar, caffeine and ingredients, and talk to your doctor if you take medication.
Do functional beverages contain alcohol?
Most don't. Kava, kanna, botanical elixirs and adaptogen sodas are zero-alcohol, and they shouldn't be mixed with alcohol.
What's the difference between functional beverages and energy drinks?
Energy drinks rely mainly on caffeine and sugar. Functional beverages use botanicals, adaptogens or mushrooms, and many are caffeine-free.
