I’m not being funny. The new Mitra9 root beer and cream soda flavors in the mitragynine (kratom) seltzers are some of the most pleasant and unique drinks I’ve had in a long while. Generally, I’m a berry guy, and my favorite flavor is raspberry; blue raspberry, specifically. But these two flavors stood out, and I can’t wait to have some more.

Alcohol alternatives are hitting the market in full force, and it’s awesome. I don’t hate alcohol. I drink it all the time. But it’s good to see alternatives that don’t have many side effects. That’s so you can ditch the hangovers and headaches and the groggy morning-afters. How? With adult beverages that feature CBD, THC, Kava, and Mitragynine (Kratom). Not all of the above at once, mind you. You should never mix them. But still.

Most will give you a nice, relaxing buzz, and as long as you’re drinking responsibly, you’ll have a great time. Recently, I powered through Mitra9’s incredible variety of beverages, spanning kava and kratom drinks. Not only did they send me a bunch of their seltzers and kava varieties, but also their quick boost shots and powder drink mixers. When I say I tried every flavor, I mean quite figuratively, every flavor.

Anyway, I’m here to share my thoughts and help you discover some of those delicious flavors for yourself — I’m not normally a seltzer guy, but these were excellent. Crack open a beverage, if you have one, and let’s sip on some prose.

What the hell are Mitra 9, kava and kratom?

Mitra9 is the brand, and it’s focused on providing botanical beverages that serve as excellent non-alcoholic alternatives. The creators wanted to brew a beverage that offers more than just refreshment. Tack on improved functionality, efficacy, and a sense of well-being, and you’re aligned with Mitra9’s mission.

Inspired by ancient traditions of kava and kratom leaf extractions, Mitra9’s scrumptious ready-to-drink botanical beverages bring these herbal boomers and their benefits to wider audiences.

For beverages, they offer both kava and kratom (Mitragynine) -based drinks as seltzers, powder drink mixes, and shots. I’ve tried all of the above, in all flavors, and I’m here to share my experience as promised. But first, what do they make you feel like?

How do they make you feel?

Kava drinks are more relaxing, think CBD-type effects with no psychoactive elements, at least not noticeably. However, if you drink several of the kava seltzers, you will start to feel it. Kratom or mitragynine, on the other hand, is slightly psychoactive. It feels like a mild THC beverage or edible if you’re comparing. You shouldn’t be driving or operating any heavy machinery after drinking either one. You also want to start slow, sipping versus chugging, one drink at a time, to test your tolerance level.

They each have separate use cases or scenarios where they can be more beneficial. For example, kratom is purportedly helpful for pain relief, mood enhancement, and potentially anxiety and depression relief. However, these statements have not been assessed by the FDA. More importantly, neither of these substances are meant to treat, prevent, or cure diseases or health conditions.

Amaze-berry: Assessing every Mitra9 flavor

The kratom seltzers come in tangerine, dragon fruit, black cherry, raspberry lime, tropical, berry, watermelon, cream soda and root beer. Cream soda and root beer are new flavors. The kava seltzers come in lemonade, orange dreamsicle, strawberry watermelon, and coconut lychee. Definitely not a big fan of that last one. But you can already see there’s a ton of variety.

The kratom powder drink mixes come in tangerine, watermelon, black cherry and raspberry lime. Meanwhile, the kava powder drink mixes come in island punch, lemonade, orange dreamsicle and strawberry watermelon.

Finally, the shots. The kava shots come in cool breeze (minty) and lavender sunrise (grape-like). A mixed kava + kratom shot comes in blue razz (raspberry) and crisp apple.

Every version of the seltzers, while mostly sweet, has a subtle floral or botanical note. The flavor of kratom stands out if you’ve ever had it before. But both [kava and kratom] have the same lingering tones. The flavor reminds me of hibiscus, which I’ve tasted in several types of tea or even craft beers. It’s not unpleasant. I quite like it. But it is strong, and if you’re not a fan of floral tastes, well, I’m sure you get where this is going.

I do have to say, the orange dreamsicle tastes like a dream. It’s light and airy, sweet enough to make your tongue bounce with joy, and reminds me of an orangesicle in the summer sun. It is incredible to sip by the pool or on the beach — I had mine while lounging in the pool.

Most of the berry or sweet flavors taste pretty much how you’d expect with that twang of botanicals.

What’s the difference?

The seltzers are ready to imbibe right away. Technically, so are the others, but ignore that for now. You can pop open a seltzer to relax, with dinner, or whenever you’re ready and kick back for a great time. I enjoyed quite a few with a cigar by the pool. That may not be your thing. Maybe you’d rather sip one while binging your favorite show. You can drink them chilled — the best way — or lukewarm.

Kratom seltzers have 45 milligrams of mitragynine in each can. Kava seltzers have 500 milligrams of kava extract in each can. Kava shots have 300 milligrams. Mixed shots have 167 milligrams of kava and 36 milligrams of kratom.

The shots are meant to be quick hitters. The kava + kratom shots, for example, can help boost inspiration and creativity and offer feel-good recovery after some chores, a long day, or maybe even a tough workout. I enjoyed mine after some yardwork, after a long day outside in the humid Florida heat. It was very refreshing to unwrap one, pop the top, and guzzle it down, ice cold out of the fridge.

Meanwhile, you add the powder mixes to eight ounces of water, like you would with water flavoring or powder-based energy boosters. They offer the same effects as the seltzers or shots, but you choose the mixture, basically. They’re perfect for tossing into a tumbler or your favorite water bottle. Although again, you want to be mindful of where you’re imbibing when you do. You don’t want to be sipping that mixed water during a commute.

I actually cheated and added a couple of the mixers to soda. Call me a menace, think of me as corrupt, but it was pretty damn good, let me tell you. The added sweetness and carbonation of the soda helped boost the mixer flavors. Of course, it’s not healthy at all, and that’s a metric fuckton of sugar you’re putting in your body. Meh. You only live once.

My favorite flavors and the experience

I already mentioned the root beer and cream soda flavors in the mitragynine seltzers were my top picks. I also really loved berry as it went well with the floral tones of the kratom. Also, you had to know I would say raspberry and watermelon. The orange dreamsicle flavors were perfect pairings with the hot summer heat and a long day outside.

Despite usually liking apple flavors, I did not like the apple shot or the blue razz shot, in taste anyway. Chugging them when they’re ice cold helps mitigate any distasteful experiences, though. They were still incredibly refreshing because I was hot, sweaty, and needed something cold and sugary — as I explained, I had just finished yardwork. To add, the cool breeze and lavender shots were unique and interesting — I’d drink them again.

What surprised me the most was the drink mixers, or rather, the powders that you mix with water. I know I said I mixed a couple with soda, but when I mixed with water, it was easy, the mixture blended well, and they all tasted good. There was always some powder left over at the bottom of the cup or mug, but that didn’t bother me; what did mix was plenty. They all make for a crisp, salving beverage when you mix with cold water. The island punch mix was phenomenal. It reminded me of cotton candy with a bit more of a sour swing.

Really liked:

• Root beer, cream soda, berry, raspberry lime, and watermelon kratom seltzers
• Lemonade, orange dreamsicle and strawberry watermelon kava seltzers
• Island punch, orange dreamsicle, and lemonade kava powder mixes
• Raspberry lime kratom powder mix
• Cool breeze and lavender sunrise kava shots

Not a fan:

• Tropical kratom, dragon fruit, and black cherry kratom seltzers
• Coconut lychee kava seltzer
• Blue razz and crisp apple kratom + kava shots

What’s the verdict, and the price?

Obviously, I don’t recommend these for everyone. You need to be at least 21 to imbibe, of course, and beyond that, not everyone is going to want to consume kava or kratom products. If you have ever tried CBD or THC drinks or edibles, they’re in the same category, I’d say.

The buzz or feel-good feeling isn’t too overwhelming, though if you’ve never had anything like this before, I recommend starting slow. Additionally, you should always consume any of the mentioned drinks or powders at home or in a safe space — do not drive after.

Here’s why I like them: Even with a high tolerance for things like this, I only need to drink one to feel relaxed. I don’t have to pound a ton, I’m not feeling bloated or gross, and they don’t come with the alcohol side effects you’d experience; no hangovers, dehydration, dry mouth, or morning-after headaches. They’re perfect for chilling by the pool, during some evening relaxation after work, or just vegging out on the weekends. I also found they pair exceptionally well with various cigars, particularly sweeter cigars with notes of chocolate, cream, and fruit.

And price?

It’s $30 for a 4-pack of the seltzers as a onetime purchase, but you can snag a discount by subscribing for regular shipments. You can order in increments of two, four, six, and eight weeks, with varying discounts for each period. While more expensive than most beers, you don’t have to drink as many Mitra9 seltzers to relax. Moderation is the key. So, I think the prices are fair.

The best part is that they come in a huge variety of options. Whether you want the ready-to-drink seltzers, the mixable drink powders, or the quick shots, you can choose precisely how you want to get the good times rolling. The flavor selection and huge variety are also fantastic. Some I’m not a fan of, and I imagine you’ll feel the same. Others I absolutely adore, like root beer, cream soda, or berry.

Sure, it may seem obvious, but if you’re into drinks and experiences like this, give Mitra9 a try. If you’re not into it, well, you know what to do there.

• Recommended Buy: No and yes. Not for everyone.
• For Who: Those who want to kick back, relax, and enjoy their day or evening without the guilty after-effects.
• Alternative: Mitra9 GoPak kratom powder mixes
• MSRP: $30 for 4-pack (kratom seltzers) | $30 for 4-pack (kava seltzers)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated the statements and products presented on this website. These products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any diseases or health conditions. The information on this website reflects the opinions of the respective authors and should not be considered medical advice.