15 best CBD drinks that can help you relax: From infused tea to gin – The Independent

Stressed? Having trouble sleeping? Finding it hard to concentrate? Or looking for a healthier alternative to booze? CBD drinks claim to hold the answer. And drinks makers are fast jumping on the trend with an ever wider array of products.

In a year defined by stress and anxiety, self-care has become an increasingly important focus for many. Its no wonder then that the CBD market has boomed during 2020, with the so-called wonder ingredient now to be found in everything from tea to hot chocolate, gin to cold-brew coffee.

To be clear, CBD or cannabidiol which is predominantly found in the buds and flowers of the hemp plant cannot and does not get you high. You need THC for that.

Nor is it addictive. But it is claimed that it can help balance the body and mind, regulating everything from anxiety and mood, help to boost concentration, reduce inflammation, and aid sleep through relaxation.

Right now, people want to take the edge off, says Olivia Ferdi, co-founder of CBD drinks brand, Trip. What CBD does is help balance any excess stress or tension you might be feeling. It is a molecule that interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body which regulates and balances many processes.

CBD works to give fuel to this system, so it can optimise its job. I dont think theres many people who wouldnt want to be feeling more balanced.

If youve ever tried a CBD oil however, you may be aware that it has an incredibly bitter taste. CBD drinks then, offer an easy way to make CBD a part of a daily routine, minus that intense bitterness. Tapping into health and wellness trends, there are a number of low calorie drinks or alcohol alternatives emerging, while other brands claim to be healthier alternatives to sodas, workout supplements, pre-meeting pick-me-ups, or vitamin supplements.

In many ways, this is an industry in its infancy. Currently the Food Standards Agency(FSA) recommends that healthy adults consume no more than 70mg a day, and thosewho are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medication not to consume CBD products.

With CBD products being so new, theFSA is currently having a consultation on the sector asking CBD brands to apply fornovel foodauthorisationby March 2021 in order to remain on the market.

Though CBD affects everyone differently, were looking for a high enough dose per drink to offer a benefit. Again, it depends on the individual, dosage and the CBD quality used, but the effects can generally be felt as soon as 20 minutes after consumption. And finally, alongside value for money, were looking for how easily products fit into daily routines or specific occasions.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Described as a liquid hug by founder Dave Gibson, the Gibsons Goodology range of tea-based drinks is intended to help make imbibers feel their best. Each are made from just five natural ingredients including tea, fruit, agave syrup, lemon juice, and a generous 25mg water soluble CBD per 250ml can. However, this is a flavour-first brand theres no grassy off-notes here. Developed with Oskar Kinberg, mixologist and bar manager of Michelin-starred London restaurant Hide, the range includes green tea and passion fruit, a good caffeinated morning pick-me-up, jasmine tea and rhubarb which is recommended as a post-workout recovery drink, and our favourite: shiso tea and blueberry. Beginning with a zesty burst from the shiso and a slight earthiness, the thick mouthfeel and rich colour reminds us somewhat of a grown-up Ribena. Lovely on its own as an evening tipple. Naughtier with a splash of vodka.

How much? If youre used to paying under 10 for your cocktail bitters, then the price of premium CBD brand OTOs non-alcoholic ones might come as a bit of a shock. If youre used to buying CBD oil, then it probably wont. But factor in that this 100ml bottle contains 2500mg of CBD (equating to around 25mg per serve, and 100 serves a bottle) then the reasons behind its price tag become clearer.

Said to enhance everything from coffee and juices, to cocktails and tonics, these sugar-free bitters give flexibility if youre trying to incorporate CBD into your daily routine, but granted are perhaps prohibitively priced for the novice. The brand recommends two serves a day for optimum effect. Taste-wise, they add a pleasing warming spice, with a little citrus and some floral notes. We love them served simply with a tonic, or added to black coffee. But if you want to try OTO for less, the range also includes canned botanical seltzers.

Inspired by voyages through Asia, Muhu was created to offer gin drinkers something a little different. Said to be engineered for relaxation, its made with full-spectrum CBD oil from responsibly farmed, high-quality Colorado-grown hemp, which is, in Muhus case, deliberately flavourless. Unlike a number of other CBD gins, this one isnt cloudy, but crystal clear.

And though this gin is also flavoured with hibiscus, its still very much juniper-forward, like a good gin should be. Theres no specified quantity of CBD on the bottle and no bitter earthy taste here but we felt its effects were noticeable. Fresh and menthol at first, building to a really punchy big mouthfeel, theres a pleasant but not overpowering burst of hibiscus towards the end.

Launched in 2019, Trip was created when the co-founder Olivia Ferdis husband Dan underwent knee surgery just before their wedding. Upon finding CBD, the oil helped him make it to the dance floor and the couple set about making a CBD product that fits into peoples everyday lives, minus that intensely bitter taste. Intended to balance functionality with flavour, the range uses no added sugar, is vegan-friendly, gluten-free, low calorie, and is enhanced with adaptogens to support immunity, focus and stress-relief.

Theres three CBD-infused drinks including a lightly sparkling peach ginger and a cold brew coffee, for jitter-free energy as well as two flavoured CBD oils. But we most enjoyed the sparkling elderflower mint drink, with its cooling, refreshing taste. Alongside 15mg of CBD derived from UK-grown organic hemp per can, it also contains l-theanine said to aid relaxation, lemon balm and ginseng for focus, and rooibos for digestion.

Love them or loathe them and trust me, they are divisive hard seltzers have been one of the big drinks trends of 2020, with everyone from big brewers to small craft distillers producing their own. For their fans, theyre a low calorie way of still enjoying alcohol. For their detractors, they can seem a little, ummm, bland.

Not so is this offering from London bar Behind This Wall, which is said to be the UKs first CBD-infused hard seltzer. In actuality, this flavourful seltzer is more of a cocktail, combining spiced rum, soju, honey and ginger syrup, lemon, cardamon, seltzer water, bitters, and of course 15mg of CBD. Combining two big trends is a canny move. Its also incredibly delicious.

You might know Silent Pool gin for its distinctive blue bottles. For this gin, the Surrey-based distillery has teamed up with CBD company, Green Stem, to produce what it claims to be a spirit containing the UK's highest concentrate of CBD, at 200mg of CBD oil per 500ml bottle, or 10mg per 25ml serve. This strong dose of Colorado-sourced CBD is intended, according to the brand, to deliver the ultimate chill-out gin drinking experience.

In the bottle, the liquid is a little cloudy, due to the high concentration of CBD oil. On the nose, theres a grassy aroma alongside the bitterness of juniper. And to sip theres a lot of citrus, notably orange and grapefruit, and then a distinctly green finish. In fact, the CBD is very much part of the flavour of this one, with the cool notes of the gin, paired well with the warming earthiness of the CBD. At 50 a bottle, its certainly not cheap. Pair with a grapefruit-flavoured tonic.

Of course inspired by the pina colada cocktail, this lightly sparkling tipple really does taste like the real thing. Although sweet, the tang of fresh pineapple upfront gives way to a creamy coconut finish. What really makes the Little Rick range which also includes raspberry coconut and lime and mint standout though, is its high CBD content, at 32mg per 330ml can. The brand also claims that its production methods allow the active ingredients to be absorbed into the bloodstream more effectively, helping absorb up to four times more cannabinoids. Flavour-wise, this one also works well with rum.

Bored of gin and tonic, or rum and coke? This functionality-focused brand uses nootropics, adaptogens, herbs, nutrients and 15mg of broad spectrum liposomal CBD, which is said to be easier for the body to absorb. In fact its six-strong wellness drinks range, from cranberry and lime flavour to espresso and vanilla, is named for the purpose of each; calm, defence, sleep, recover, focus and glow.

However, were rather taken with its no-lo range, described as ideal mixers or non-alcoholic alternatives. Again named for functionality, the cranberry and lime boost is recommended served with vodka, lavender and chamomile calm can be paired with rum, orange and pineapple recover works with mezcal, and elderflower and lime glow mixes well with gin.

If youre new to CBD and are looking for an inexpensive and low dose way to dip your toe in the pool, this low-alcohol beer from independent UK brewery Hop & Hemp might be for you. Made with citra, cascade, and mosaic hops, each bottle includes 8mg of CBD. Crisp and refreshing, its not quite as hoppy as many alcohol-free beers, and the CBD doesnt overpower the beer. Instead theres bright citrus, specifically a little lemon, and a slight toffee note on the finish. A great alternative if youre taking some time off the sauce.

This functional sparkling water drink from Calm claims to be world's first multi vitamin drink infused with CBD, and is intended to support your immune system with its blend of multi-vitamins, including vitamin A, B, C, D, E and K, as well as 10mg of CBD per can. Lightly sparkling, overall this tastes like a less sweet orange soda. The range also includes a lemon and lime flavour, and mixed berry water, cold brew coffee, as well as Belgian hot chocolate.

Fruity and warming, this ginger and turmeric sparkling water hails from a brand started in a Battersea kitchen, with recipes designed to help deal with the challenges of modern life. The refresh and relax sparkling water is intended to be a low sugar alternative to soft drinks, and is gluten-free and free from artificial ingredients, contains 10mg of CBD, and is sweetened with maple. If youre looking for a festive winter warmer, this may be it.

This fruity number is a cider by name, but with its mix of sweet and sour, sips more like a kombucha. And like a kombucha, it may divide opinion. The Champions cider range of alcohol-free ciders has been created by a group of former International rugby players (Charlie and James Simpson-Daniel, and Will Greenwood) frustrated by the lack of alcohol-free alternatives made without preservatives or high quantities of added sugar.

This CBD-infused, vegan-friendly flavour has 11.2g of naturally occurring sugar and a hefty 25mg of CBD per bottle. That sour note comes from the inclusion of apple cider vinegar, while apple juice and kiwi flavour gives this slightly sparkling liquid a solid mouthfeel and sweetness. If you like a touch of tart sourness, youll love this.

Though this Scottish gin includes a relatively low amount of CBD at 10mg (each 50ml measure contains 1mg of CBD), it also uses hemp seeds alongside botanicals such as milk thistle and blossom honey, for a smooth and enjoyably herbal sipper. Theres a little earthiness, and at times its also a little creamy, ending with a pleasing dry finish. One to sip and savour. More stock expected soon.

If youve ever tried a cold brew coffee before, you may be aware that some of them can pack quite a punch. This method of steeping coffee in cool water not only results in a sweeter, smoother-tasting brew but is often more concentrated than a regular coffee. However, woman-led start-up My Lifeline claims that the addition of CBD to its range helps balance out the impact of caffeine, with a generous 20mg per 200ml bottle, for composure.

Made from a blend of coffee beans from Colombia, Peru and India, roasted and ground in the UK, theres a spiced, and also a coconut flavoured brew in the range. But for its nutty and chocolatey top notes we favour the cool original variant, made with 90 per cent Arabica and 10 per cent robusta coffee, and a touch of Himalayan salt.

As hops and cannabis belong genetically to the same cannabaceae plant family, they make great brewing partners, according to Green Times Brewing. Vegan friendly, gluten-free and brewed in the UK, this IPA is made with amarillo, mosaic, and waiti hops, and is infused with an unspecified amount of CBD oil.

There is a discernible earthiness and thick mouthfeel from the CBD, which is a little more overt here than in a number of other products, but overall the beer is balanced with some tropical fruit notes and a lingering dry finish. And for those not drinking, a low-alcohol version, at 0.5 per cent ABV, is available. The company has also partnered with a reforestation charity called Eden Reforestation Projects to plant a tree for every order received.

The verdict: CBD drinks

For its nuanced flavours, great value, easy canned format, high dosage of CBD and its versatility when it comes to mixing as well as occasions to drink them be it a morning pick-me-up or evening cocktail we love the Gibson's Goodology range.

However, the OTO CBD bitters deserve a special mention too. Though pricey, we think they represent good value when compared to the price of buying a CBD oil, as well as being exceptionally tasty and easy to add to your favourite drinks.

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15 best CBD drinks that can help you relax: From infused tea to gin - The Independent