The Best Kanna Drinks of 2026, Compared
Six kanna drinks, side by side: how much kanna is actually in each can, what else is in there, and what you pay per can.
The best kanna drink for most people is Silly by Psilly Goose: 35 mg kanna per can, clearly labeled, plus lion's mane, with no kava, no caffeine and 40 calories. Upstate Elevator is the pick if you want a named, standardized extract (Zembrin) plus kava, and On the Brightside is the cheapest zero-sugar option.
Kanna drinks compared
Here's what each brand says is in the can. "Kanna per serving" isn't perfectly comparable across brands, because extracts differ in strength. Only Upstate Elevator and On the Brightside name a standardized extract (Zembrin). More on that in our dosage guide.
| Drink | Kanna / serving | Other actives | Cal | Price / can* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silly (Psilly Goose) | 35 mg kanna extract | 3,000 mg lion's mane | 40 | $8.00 list; ~$4.50 first subscription |
| Upstate Elevator Uplift Spritz | 50 mg Zembrin | Kava (20 mg kavalactones), 90 mg L-theanine | 20–40 | $4.17–$5.00 |
| On the Brightside | 15 mg Zembrin† | None | 0 | $4.08 |
| Myce Spicy | 500 mg kanna extract (unnamed) | Capsaicin (chili) | Not stated | $5.75–$6.25 |
| GIÓ | Not stated on brand page‡ | Kava, blue lotus, rhodiola, L-theanine, caffeine | 45 | $4.17–$5.83 |
| Kanva Release + Relax (shot) | 3.75 mg Sceletium alkaloids | 150 mg kavalactones, 50 mg GABA | Not stated | ~$4.50 / serving |
*Brand-site prices on Oct 28, 2026, before tax and shipping; ranges reflect pack sizes. Silly's ~$4.50 is the first-order price on an 8-pack subscription ($36); regular one-time price is $8.00/can, dropping to $6.80/can on a 96-pack. †Per the brand's launch press release; not on the product page. ‡A third-party review reports 125 mg; the brand's page does not state an amount.
The rankings
Silly by Psilly Goose
- Kanna35 mg
- Also3,000 mg lion's mane
- Calories40, no added sugar
- Caffeine / kavaNone
Silly is the drink we'd hand someone trying kanna for the first time. It keeps the formula simple: kanna as the main functional ingredient, lion's mane mushroom extract, and a passionfruit-mango soda that tastes like an actual drink instead of a supplement. There's no kava, no caffeine and no stack of five botanicals.
The 35 mg of kanna is printed plainly on the can. Published trials used 25 to 50 mg of a standardized extract (Zembrin), and extracts differ, so no can on this list exactly matches a studied product. Silly is rated 4.8/5 from 223 reviews on the brand's site, and its product page carries an SSRI warning and a stated daily limit (no more than six kanna drinks in 24 hours).
What we like
- Kanna-forward: no kava, caffeine or THC
- Kanna amount stated on the label
- 40 calories, sweetened with allulose and stevia
- Lion's mane adds a second functional ingredient
Keep in mind
- Highest list price here ($8/can) unless you subscribe
- Extract standardization isn't stated on the label
- One flavor
Ingredients (from the can label): carbonated filtered water, passion fruit juice concentrate, allulose, peach & mango natural flavors, lion's mane fruit body extract, citric acid, ascorbic acid, kanna, stevia leaf extract.
Upstate Elevator Uplift Spritz
Elevator
- Kanna50 mg Zembrin
- AlsoKava, L-theanine
- Calories20–40
- Price$4.17–$5.00/can
Upstate Elevator is the most transparent label in the category. Its Uplift Spritz flavors list 50 mg of Zembrin, the standardized extract used in the published kanna trials, plus 20 mg of kavalactones and 90 mg of L-theanine. If you specifically want kanna and kava together, this is the one to get. It's also well priced at $4.17/can on a 24-pack.
Why it's #2 for us: we prefer kanna-forward formulas, and this one pairs kanna with kava and L-theanine. Its 50 mg of Zembrin is at the top of the range used in published trials (25 to 50 mg daily). Kava also carries a separate FDA consumer advisory (see kanna vs. kava). Note the brand's Blackberry Zinger "Unwind Soda" is a different formula: 15 mg kanna, 100 mg kavalactones, and 26 g sugar.
What we like
- Names its extract (Zembrin)
- Clear mg for every active
- Good value at 24 cans
Keep in mind
- Contains kava
- Kanna shares the can with kava and L-theanine
Source: upstateelevator.com, checked Oct 28, 2026.
On the Brightside
Brightside
- Kanna15 mg Zembrin†
- AlsoNothing else functional
- Calories0, zero sugar
- Price$4.08/can
A clean, simple kanna soda: zero sugar, zero calories, no caffeine, sweetened with fermented Reb M. Kanna is the only functional ingredient, which we like. It's also the cheapest per can on this list.
Why it's #3: the 15 mg figure comes from the brand's launch press release rather than the product page, so it's harder to verify. If zero sugar and price matter most to you, it's a strong choice.
What we like
- 0 calories, 0 sugar, no caffeine
- Kanna-only formula
- Lowest price per can
Keep in mind
- Kanna amount not on the product page
Source: drinkbrightside.com and brand launch press release (July 2026), checked Oct 28, 2026.
Myce Spicy
- Kanna500 mg extract
- AlsoChili (capsaicin)
- CaffeineNone
- Price$5.75–$6.25/can
Myce stands out for flavor (a spicy chili-lime-mango that's genuinely different) and for listing 500 mg of a standardized, HPLC-verified kanna extract per can. It's caffeine-free and vegan.
Why it's #4: "500 mg of extract" isn't comparable to other brands without knowing the extract's alkaloid content, which the product page doesn't give, so 500 mg here isn't directly comparable to other cans. (No drink on this list, including ours, has been tested in a published trial.) It's also non-sparkling, if you prefer bubbles.
What we like
- Unique spicy flavor
- Kanna-only, caffeine-free
Keep in mind
- Extract strength not stated
- Non-sparkling
Source: drinkmyce.com, checked Oct 28, 2026.
GIÓ Social Elixir
- KannaNot stated on brand page
- AlsoKava, blue lotus, rhodiola, L-theanine
- Calories45
- Price$4.17–$5.83/can
GIÓ is built as a cocktail replacement, with mocktail-style flavors and a big blend: kanna, kava, blue lotus, rhodiola and L-theanine, plus a little caffeine according to a third-party review. People who like a "stacked" drink may enjoy it.
Why it's #5: the brand's product page doesn't list how much kanna (or anything else) is in the can. A third-party review reports 125 mg, but we couldn't confirm that on GIÓ's own page. With this many actives, it's hard to say what kanna is contributing.
What we like
- Cocktail-style flavors
- No added sugar
Keep in mind
- No mg amounts on brand page
- Contains kava and caffeine
Source: drinkgio.com, checked Oct 28, 2026.
Kanva Botanicals Release + Relax
- Kanna3.75 mg alkaloids/serving
- Also150 mg kavalactones, 50 mg GABA
- Format2 oz shot
- Price$8.99/bottle
If you'd rather take a quick shot than drink a can, Kanva's kanna-kava tonic is the most established option, sold widely in specialty shops. The label lists Sceletium alkaloids rather than extract weight, which is actually more informative, but hard to compare with the cans above.
Why it's #6: it pairs kanna with a substantial amount of kava (150 mg kavalactones per serving) plus GABA, it's a shot rather than a drink, and it was sold out on the brand site when we checked. Its own label warns against use with SSRIs and SNRIs.
What we like
- Lists alkaloid content
- Portable
Keep in mind
- Contains kava and GABA
- Availability varies
Source: kanvabotanicals.com, checked Oct 28, 2026.
Also considered: Utopia Red Kava & Kanna Shot (50 mg kanna, 75 mg kavalactones, 25 mg caffeine; backordered at retailers we checked) and Mitra9 Kava Kanna shot (listed as a limited release; no longer in the brand's online store). Several Amazon "kanna energy drinks" didn't name a brand owner or kanna amount, so we left them out.
How we ranked them
We're upfront that this ranking reflects what we think makes a good kanna drink, and that we make one of them. Here's what we prioritized, in order:
- A kanna-forward formula. We prefer drinks where kanna is the main functional ingredient, not one of six botanicals or paired with kava or caffeine.
- A clearly labeled kanna amount. Published trials used 8 to 50 mg per day of one standardized extract (Zembrin). Extracts aren't directly comparable, so no drink here matches a studied product; we favored drinks that state their kanna amount plainly on the brand's own page.
- A simple, transparent ingredient list. Is every active ingredient listed with an amount? Is the extract named?
- Sugar and calories. Lower is better, all else equal.
- Price per can. It matters, but we weighted it less than formula. If price is your top priority, On the Brightside and Upstate Elevator win.
We did not lab-test any product. All data is from each brand's product page, published nutrition facts or press materials, checked on the date shown. Formulas and prices change, so check the label before you buy. If you're a brand and something here is wrong, tell us and we'll fix it.
What is kanna, briefly?
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a succulent plant from South Africa, traditionally chewed or brewed by San and Khoikhoi people. Its main active compounds are mesembrine-type alkaloids, which lab studies suggest act on the serotonin transporter and the enzyme PDE4. Small human studies of a standardized extract have looked at mood, stress responses and cognitive flexibility in healthy adults, with mixed but interesting results. Read the full kanna explainer or our summary of the research.
How to choose a kanna drink
- Check the milligrams. If the brand won't say how much kanna is in the can, that tells you something.
- Decide whether you want kava. Some drinks keep kanna as the main functional ingredient (Silly, On the Brightside, Myce); others blend it with kava (Upstate Elevator, GIÓ, Kanva).
- Watch for caffeine. Some blends add it. If you're drinking in the evening, skip those.
- Start with one. Responses vary by person, and drinks haven't been studied directly. Follow the brand's label directions.
- Check your medications. Don't combine kanna with antidepressants or other serotonergic drugs without talking to a doctor. Our safety guide explains why.
Ready to try kanna? Start with Silly.
35 mg kanna, 3,000 mg lion's mane, 40 calories, no kava or caffeine. 8-pack from $36 on your first subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best kanna drink?
Our top pick is Silly by Psilly Goose (35 mg kanna, no kava or caffeine, 40 calories). Kanna Drinks is published by Psilly Goose, so weigh that; our criteria and every competitor's label data are on this page so you can compare for yourself.
How much kanna is in a kanna drink?
It varies a lot: from 15 mg (On the Brightside, Upstate Elevator Blackberry Zinger) to 50 mg (Upstate Elevator Uplift Spritz) to 500 mg of an unnamed extract (Myce). Human studies used 8 to 50 mg per day of a standardized extract called Zembrin, most often 25 mg. See our dosage guide.
Do kanna drinks contain alcohol or THC?
None of the six drinks on this list contain alcohol. Silly, Upstate Elevator's Uplift Spritz, On the Brightside and Myce are sold as hemp-free kanna drinks; always read the label, because some brands also sell separate cannabis lines.
How fast does a kanna drink kick in?
Brands typically say 15 to 30 minutes. Psilly Goose says most people notice Silly within 10 to 30 minutes. Effects are generally described as subtle, and there is little published research on drinks specifically.
Can I drink kanna if I take an antidepressant?
Talk to your doctor first. Kanna appears to act on the serotonin system, so combining it with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs and other serotonergic drugs may raise the risk of serotonin-related side effects. Read our safety guide.
What's the difference between kanna and kava drinks?
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) is a South African succulent; kava is a Pacific Island root with different active compounds and a separate safety profile. Several drinks combine both. See kanna vs. kava.