Relaxation beverages may promise calm, but the category’s race for dominance in an overcrowded market was anything but serene at Natural Products Expo West in early March.
The global “chill out” drink market continues to expand at an estimated compound growth rate of 8.1% and is projected to reach $21.6 billion by 2030, according to Strategic Market Research.
Functional Beverage Innovations
There are many possibilities to explore with beverages when it comes to formulating functional products. From digestion, energy boosting, hydration and beauty, companies could meet wide-ranging needs through functional drinks. The demand for functional beveragers, however, might not be the same across the different APAC markets where some are far more advanced than others.
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“Relaxation beverages, also referred to as functional calming drinks, encompass a wide range of products designed to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and enhance mental well-being. These products are formulated with ingredients such as adaptogens, nootropics, botanicals, and natural sedatives like chamomile, L-theanine and magnesium,” Strategic Market noted.
Once a niche segment of the beverage market, relaxation drinks are now competing successfully with alcoholic beverages, probiotic drinks and energy drinks.
Drink Recess
Recess Mood, a sparkling water infused with magnesium and adaptogens, is marketed as a relaxation beverage.
Founded in 2017 as a hemp-derived CBD sparkling water beverage company, Drink Recess Inc. expanded beyond cannabinoids, because of heavy regulations around CBD, according to Troy Buehner, Recess senior key account manager.
The company’s website emphasizes the effect of the drinks, rather than the ingredients. Recess’s website explains that the brand grew out of the observation that “it’s easier to be creative, productive and fun when you’re calm.”
“The magnesium that we use really is able to break down the blood brain barrier and be absorbed for cognizant function,” Buehner said. “So the adaptogens that we use, as well as the magnesium, really provide a full-body experience when you have the beverage.”
Hiyo
A newer player in the relaxation beverage space, Hiyo launched out of its Venice, Calif., headquarters in 2021, offering 1.7 grams of adaptogens and nootropics like L-theanine, lion’s mane, ashwagandha, lemon balm, passion flower and ginger, according to co-founder and CEO Evan Quinn.
“They’re all meant to give you kind of a stress-relieving, mood-boosting feel that we call ‘The Float,’” he said. “They all share the same functional stack, and we only differentiate by flavor – very sophisticated, complex, elevated profiles of fruit-fruit combos like Blackberry-Lemon, Watermelon-Lime and Passion Fruit-Tangerine.”
He noted that the name is an acronym for “Happy In Your Own,” a phrase that suggests consumers will feel comfortable in their own skin.
The brand positions itself as an alternative to alcoholic beverages, particularly during occasions like parties where hard drinks are typically the default.
“When people choose to not drink, sometimes it can feel like another feeling. And so we wanted people to really feel like this brand supported them, celebrated them, and made them feel included,” Quinn said.
Brēz
Brēz is another relative newcomer to the relaxation beverage industry, launching in 2023 and experiencing meteoric growth. The brand was projected to surpass $50 million in revenue by the end of 2025.
In July, the company launched four new varieties. Brēz’s Amplify and Drift blends are infused with 5mg of THC and adaptogens, while its Elevate and Dream blends are THC/CBD-free.
Elevate, a strawberry and mango-flavored caffeine drink, includes lion’s mane, nootropics and adaptogens “to support clarity, focus and mental energy.” Dream is a cherry chamomile-flavored drink that includes mushrooms, adaptogens and botanicals “to naturally support rest and relaxation.”
“Since our inception, Brēz’s mission has been to reduce human suffering and maximize human potential. We are furthering this mission with the change to a functional beverage company focused on crafting products to support our customers at any time of day,” said Aaron Nosbisch, founder and CEO of Brēz, in July.
The lineup is available at Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the US.
Trip
Trip, which launched in 2019, is growing rapidly. It reached $100 million in revenue in 2025 and is set to double that in 2026, the company said in October.
The brand, which offers a mix of magnesium, lion’s mane, ashwagandha and L-theanine, is available in more than 15,000 locations across the US and more than 50,000 globally.
The company was launched by husband-and-wife team Daniel Khoury and Olivia “Liv” Ferdi, after Khoury used functional adaptogens to recover from a knee injury.
“Experiencing firsthand how botanicals could support stress, sleep and mental balance, Liv and Daniel set out to bring calm into the mainstream,” according to the company.
Trip debuted its Cherry Lemon variety in October at Whole Foods Market. The company’s lineup also includes gummies and powders.
