At the recent Vegan Block Party in Miami, I stopped by a table giving out free samples of Feel Free by Botanic Tonic. I was so excited to receive it (who doesn’t love freebies). I had been wanting to try kava root for the longest. This was my chance to test its purported euphoria-inducing properties firsthand.
Doing research on kava root produced some interesting results. On one hand, it has actually been banned in Canada and parts Europe for periods of time due to concerns over liver damage. On the other, kava root cafes are popping up in major cities and many tout it as an effective treatment for anxiety. Drinking kava is supposed to produce a relaxing, euphoric effect.
This tonic was a blend of kava root and kratom, an herbal extract derived from trees native to Southeast Asia. At an approximate ratio of 80% to 20%, I was told that the sedative effect of the kratom would provide a counterbalance to the stimulating effect of the kava root. However, my research showed me that kava root is a depressant, which may help to explain the reaction I had.
I’d eaten a CBD gummie at the event, so I waited to take the tonic on a day that I didn’t have anything else in my system. As the brand rep had recommended, I only poured half the bottle into a glass.
@la_vie_de_zee Trying a new ##kava and #kratom tonic ##miami ##brickell
♬ just like magic – Ariana Grande
The Taste Test
The liquid was a light brown and smelled faintly sweet. I tasted it and oh my goodness, was it bitter. But also sweet, which was a rather unpleasant combination. I quickly swallowed it to avoid tasting it further. I would like to say that I am a fairly adventurous eater. However, this was…not good. I could still taste the tonic on my tongue after swallowing it.
Excited to experience the effects, I got up and continued my morning routine. About 15 minutes after taking the shot, I felt so tired. I flopped onto my sofa. I felt like I’d been drugged. My body may have been relaxed, but I was still feeling anxious. The effect felt almost like drinking alcohol. Not horrible, but not the high I was expecting.
If I were to try kava again, I would definitely take it with coffee or dark chocolate, as I think its better to work with the bitterness of the root rather than to mask it with sweet flavors like stevia and pineapple juice, which were included in the tonic. Truth be told, I didn’t even finish the second half. I am still open to kava, but perhaps in a different context.
Have you tried kava root tonic before? Let me know in the comments!
