CBD is having a moment that shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
Since it first became legalised in the UK in November 2018, the number of products containing CBD has continued to grow and grow (if you’ll excuse the pun). First medicinal items, then supplements, gummies, oils, skincare, balms and finally drinks. It’s now possible to ingest CBD in pretty much any way you like.
Don’t fret about taking a sip and heading for the clouds: CBD won’t get you high. Instead, it’s loved around the world for its ability to ease pain, encourage relaxation and calm you down. Also touted for its ability to ease some epilepsy symptoms, CBD is constantly under review to see exactly what else it’s capable of doing.
Most of these drinks contain around 20-30mg of CBD, which is enough to give you a gentle feeling of serenity but won’t send you to sleep. Accentuated with varying herbs, roots, fruits and other ingredients, some of these drinks are also specifically targeted for different times of the day, helping you to focus first thing in the morning or switch off a little easier after work.
You’ll find the most popular brands sold all over from high street supermarkets to popular online retailers.
ADACT Medical is a leading authority in analysis, testing, compliance, regulation and research across a range of health-related fields including CBD, food and botanical supplements. Its founder, Chief Regulatory Officer and Scientific Advisor Damien Bové is a CBD expert. We reached out to find out more about the world of CBD drinks.
What is a CBD drink?
Bové explains, “CBD drinks are drinks made with CBD oil or a CBD extract. CBD is one of the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. But unlike another compound in cannabis – THC – CBD is not psychoactive and does not produce the same high as THC. CBD drinks are designed to be an easy and enjoyable way to consume CBD. These drinks come in various forms including sparkling water, sports drinks and teas”.
Do CBD drinks work?
“CBD has been well studied for its health properties”, he continues. “CBD drinks tend to have a lower concentration of CBD compared with some other products like pure CBD oil. However, the lower CBD content may be justified on the basis that nanotechnology is used in some CBD drinks to decrease particle size and make CBD more absorbable by the body. Research on absorption from nanoparticles is limited but one study found that lipid-based nanoparticles of CBD are better absorbed.”
What do CBD drinks do?
“Studies evaluating CBD have found that it contributes to mental health, reducing anxiety and stress, helping sleep and relieving inflammation and pain”, reveals Bové. “CBD has been found to be effective for these health issues but it may be better to buy a quality CBD oil product with a known and labelled content of CBD.”
Are CBD drinks safe?
“Yes”, he says but adds “if you purchase a quality product with a known strength of CBD and no THC. The World Health Organisation’s 2018 Critical Review Report on CBD stated that, to date, there’s no evidence that the recreational use of CBD is harmful, or that there are any public health-related problems associated with its use. The FSA set an acceptable daily intake of 0.15mg/kg/body weight which equates to 10mg for a 70kg adult (for products with 98 per cent purity).
“CBD should be avoided by children under the age of 18 and pregnant and breastfeeding women. People taking medication should check with their doctors.”
Are CBD drinks legal?
“All CBD products in the UK are regulated as novel foods and must comply with safety and labelling regulations”, Bové details. “CBD is legal if it contains less than 1mg of THC in the final preparation (Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2010 (part C of regulation 2).”
Can you drive after CBD drink?
“There are no laws in the UK that prohibit taking CBD and driving. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning it is not intoxicating and does not make you drowsy. After taking CBD, you can safely drive, exercise or operate heavy machinery as long as you are fit to do so. It is best not to drive when taking CBD for the first time to find out how you feel. If the CBD you take contains too much THC (i.e. more than 1mg per container (vape cartridge or e-liquid bottle), this could cause you to fail a drug driving test.”
We’ve rounded up all of our favourite CBD drinks below.
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Goodrays CBD Drinks Mixed Pack
Goodrays takes things one step further when it comes to CBD. As well as offering a few different flavours of delicious, CBD-infused drinks, the brand also produces gummies and oils.
Available in four flavours - Yuzu & Elderflower, Raspberry & Guava, Passionfruit & Pomelo and Blood Orange & Grapefruit - each drink comes with 30mg CBD (one of the higher doses found in these drinks) as well as vitamin D.
While these drinks taste a little stronger than other brands, they also offer a more impressive result, too. Fun packaging and a vegan, sustainable core make Goodrays one of our favourite CBD brands.
Buy now £13.69, Amazon
OTO CBD Botanical Seltzer Discovery
OTO's stylish, minimalist packaging is the first thing you'll notice about this CBD seltzer brand. If you've heard of OTO somewhere before, it's because it doesn't just produce drinks but also drops, skincare products and spa experience, sold as far and as wide as John Lewis, Selfridges and lookfantastic. The drinks are just as impressive as the rest of its product line-up, infusing CBD with three sparkling flavours that add a gentle buzz to your day. Green Tea & Garden Mint is our favourite.
Buy now £25.49, OTO CBD
TRIP Lemon Basil CBD Drink
TRIP is one of the best CBD brands to fall in love with as it's stocked in possibly the most places out of any brand in the sphere. This is very convenient, as it's also one of the most delicious options around. While most of TRIP's drinks tend to focus on light, fruity flavours, you'll also find the TRIP Cold Brew: coffee infused with CBD providing all of the energy but none of the jitters. With 15mg of CBD per can, it's a great option to sample first if you're new to CBD drinks or if you're sensitive to trying new ingredients.
Buy a 12-pack for £24.
Buy now £24.00, TRIP
Unrooted CBD 20mg Drink Cool & Calm
Unrooted takes things back to basics with a delicious CBD shot that gets the job done quickly. With 20mg of CBD per shot, it's not the strongest option out there but provides a great boost of calm energy to help you through the day.
Adults are recommended to have no more than 70mg of CBD per day, so you could feasibly stock up on a few of these without going over the suggested limit if need be. Flavoured with cucumber, mint and baobab fruit powder, this CBD drink is also a great source of fibre and, if that wasn't enough, each bottle sold helps to support rural Zimbabwean communities.
Buy now £3.50, Holland & Barrett
Medahuman Cranberry & Lime CBD Energy Drink
Medahuman steps things up a notch with a line of CBD drinks that each work a little differently. While the core element remains the same, the brand cleverly incorporates differing ingredients to encourage different effects. The result? A line of drinks that works for every occasion.
Looking for a gentle burst of energy? Choose the brand's Cranberry and Lime made with Vitamin B & C, natural caffeine and ginseng. Searching for the opposite? The Ginger, Blood Orange and Turmeric CBD Recover drink is ideal post-workout or later in the afternoon when you're thinking about winding down for the day.
Buy a 12-pack for £27.
Buy now £27.00, Amazon
Drink 420 CBD Infused Wild Berries
Drink 420 makes the kind of drinks you'd pick up and enjoy regardless of their CBD content. Good enough to drink on a daily basis without even considering the health benefits, the biggest problem you'll have with these CBD drinks is limiting yourself so as to not exceed the recommended dosage each day.
With stronger fruit flavours and a more subtle CBD flavour than many other competing brands, these fizzy, low-calorie drinks promise to quickly become a contender for your new favourite soft drink.
Buy now £2.00, Sainsbury's
EXALT Chilled AF Cold-Pressed Fruit Juice with CBD
There's no doubt about it: EXALT's Chilled AF CBD drinks are definitely up there with the most wonderful tasting around. That's especially true if you're someone who would rather ingest their CBD without tasting it, as this drink's strong, fruit flavours could easily fool you into thinking it's just another fruit juice.
Combining orange, mango and pineapple with cold-pressed ginger, lime and basil, it's one of the freshest and tastiest CBD options around. While it only features 15mg CBD, it's made using water-soluble CBD, which is 10 times more bioavailable than normal CBD oil.
Buy now £5.40, EXALT
INTUNE Elderflower Sparkling CBD Drink
INTUNE's award-winning drinks are sourced from premium CBD and offer a grounding, focusing effect when that post-lunch slump hits.
The drink marries 10mg of CBD with a sparkling elderflower accent, but there are many more flavours to choose from. An alcohol-free alternative to a classic spritz, the tipple is suitable for vegans and makes for a sophisticated cocktail mixer.
Price for four cans. Also available in a mixed variety pack on Amazon.
Buy now £6.25, Ocado
Little Rick Mix Pack
Little Rick's CBD drinks are what we'd best describe as "alcohol-free grown-up drinks". The sort of thing you'd pick up in place of a beer on a weekday evening to enjoy while watching Netflix, these cans are just as chilled out as the label suggests.
That's something you'll appreciate more than usual here too, as each of Little Rick's cans contains 32mg of CBD - higher than pretty much any other brand on the market. If you're looking for a hefty boost of CBD in one can, this is the brand to opt for. Each flavour - Mint & Lime, Raspberry Lemonade and Piña - offers a soft yet noticeable feeling of relaxation.
Buy now £29.50, CBD Infusions
Verdict
With so many incredible flavours out there, it’s no easy feat to choose one favourite. But, if we had to pick, we’d opt for Goodrays CBD Drinks Mixed Pack: with just the right amount of buzz and a unique flavour to match, this one will remain a staple in our fridge from now on.
