Whether you’re keen to cut back on your alcohol consumption or you’re giving up the sauce for good, these nootropic drinks will ensure you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson

I’d love to be the kind of person who can have a glass of wine, screw the cap back on the bottle and forget about it for a few days. I am not that person. From party girl to wine mum, I had a drink in my hand for the better part of three decades.

My road to sobriety was a long, winding one with several setbacks. I’ll spare you the details because you didn’t sign up to read my autobiography, but I’ve been booze-free for 18 months now and I’ve never been happier.

When I first quit, I needed to find something to drink in social situations and at home during trigger times such as cooking dinner. Alcohol-free wine and beer didn’t appeal to me at all, so I tried a bunch of flavoured sparkling waters and fancy premixed mocktails. They helped, but I still kind of felt like I was missing out.

That’s when I discovered nootropic drinks. Over-the-counter nootropics are vitamins, minerals, herbs or other natural compounds that are believed to increase mental alertness, clarity, attention, focus and memory. Some may also have calming effects, improve mood and even increase brain health.

While there’s some evidence about the efficacy of some nootropics, others lack any solid research to back up their claims. But the nootropic drink industry is booming and I gave these concoctions a solid crack.

I did feel like they had a calming effect and that gave me so much joy. I was getting (slightly) buzzed and it was all natural, baby! Even if it was a placebo effect, who cares? I loved having one of these cans in my paw at a party to feel like I was getting amongst it. I don’t feel the need for them these days, but I highly recommend them when you’re newly sober.

Here are my three favourites in terms of taste and efficacy.

Entry level: Dayse

This was the very first nootropic drink I tried thanks to a Facebook ad and I was an instant fan. Founded by Aussie surfers Jack Freestone and Alana Blanchard, Dayse comes in two formulations: Awaken to give you a boost and Easing to chill you out.

Awaken is formulated with green tea, ginseng, ginkgo and natural caffeine to energise you without giving you the jitters. The pink grapefruit flavour is delicate and easy to drink, but I didn’t notice a huge effect, which may be due to the fact that I drink a lot of coffee.

It was Easing that I fell in love with. As a slightly anxious gal, anything that naturally calms my nerves is a welcome addition to my life and Easing delivered in spades. I felt instantly chilled out when I sipped on the subtle ginger-flavoured bevvy crafted with passionflower extract and L-theanine. Both these nootropics have substantial evidence to back up their efficacy as natural stress relievers.

Pros: Subtle flavour, effective and more affordable than its competitors.

Cons: It may be tricky to find a stockist near you, so you may need to order online. At least shipping is free!

Price: From $4.09 per 330ml can

Mid range: Mellows

I discovered Mellows at my local health food store and it’s my top pick on this list. With L-theanine as its hero ingredient, it delivers the same calming effect as Dayse’s Easing and comes in four flavours that aren’t overwhelmingly sweet. 

My favourites are Pineapple & Desert Lime and Watermelon & Lychee, but Peach & Ginger and Raspberry & Lemon also hold their own. The psychedelic cans aren’t exactly subtle and everyone will ask you what you’re drinking, but if you’re like me, you’ll be happy to tell them.

While I drank Mellows to chill out, some people also report that it improves their focus, cognitive ability and even their sleep. Research has shown that L-theanine may have all the positive effects on the brain, so it’s a nootropic to keep an eye out for.

Pros: Evidence-based mood and cognitive effects in a variety of tasty flavours.

Cons: Stockists are hard to come by (so order online) and it’s not cheap at $6 a pop.

Price: $6 per 330ml can

Luxe: Ārepa

This New Zealand company doesn’t mess around when it comes to formulating its brain drinks. With an in-house neuroscientist and a total of 13 studies (four of which have been peer-reviewed and published), Ārepa takes its scientific evidence very seriously.

The Brain Drink for Performance is formulated with Ārepa’s trademark Neuroberry blackcurrant juice, pine bark extract and L-theanine to reduce fatigue and enhance cognitive function. The Brain Drink for Calm & Clarity contains the same ingredients in different quantities plus some Neuroberry blackcurrant extract.

These drinks do what they say (especially the calming one), but I’m not a huge fan of the tart blackcurrant flavour. But don’t necessarily listen to me - countless reviewers love the taste.

Pros: Backed by scientific research and available in many supermarkets.

Cons: Expensive and the taste may not be for everyone.

Price: From $6.04 per 300ml bottle (or save by buying their 250ml cans or signing up for auto-deliver)

Learn more about L-theanine in the video below by Dr. Arsalan Aspires.