A Walk on the Mild Side

Published on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, by James Norton / Edit Post

Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda

Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda

I Paid: $2.49 for a 12–ounce soda (prices may vary by region)

Taste: 4 stars

Marketing: 5 stars

Lately we’ve seen a backlash to the energy drink craze, with beverages that are supposed to relax you instead. I was amused to hear about one that explicitly referenced weed, so I figured I’d give Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda a spin. It’s infused with kava, a plant from Polynesia that has a mild sedative effect when consumed in its native state. I tasted it next to another anti-energy soda called Drank.

Mary Jane’s was lightly carbonated, syrupy but palatable, with an essentially herby flavor and hints of black cherry, tangerine, and ginseng. In contrast to the grape-soda-tasting Drank (which features valerian root, melatonin, and a lot of high-fructose corn syrup), the cane sugar–based Mary Jane’s is pretty much 100 percent hippie, 0 percent gangsta.

As for the effect: Yeah, it seems to work, at least for me. After drinking a bottle, I became seriously interested in sitting on the couch. My limbs felt heavier. I was notably less neurotic. This, of course, could be a placebo effect, so in the name of research, I did something not entirely wise: I worked Mary Jane’s Relaxing Soda into an exercise-based experiment. I drank it on an empty stomach, then went to the gym. Lo and behold, my average heart rate was 10 to 20 beats per minute less than it usually is on the elliptical trainer. Highly unscientific, but there you have it.

The stuff markets itself as soda that will pleasantly relax you. On those two fronts, success! It tastes like soda, and it certainly seems to back up its claims with some lazy-ass, low-heart-rate action. If you’re in California, where it’s available in some grocery stores, or you like ordering stuff online, it may very well be a legal solution to your chilling-out needs.

James Norton edits the Upper Midwestern food journal Heavy Table. He's also the coauthor of a book on Wisconsin's master cheesemakers. For his Supertaster Daily videos, he samples offerings from supermarket aisles and fast-food menus. (Click here to see all of James's previous Supertaster work.) You can follow him on Twitter and fan him on Facebook.

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POST A COMMENT |6 Comments

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  • Thats only 2-3 dollars more that the average 6 packs costs in NYC.

  • Interesting product; I wonder if "feeling gooood" had any effect on your rating. Hm? Your flavor description of the MJ soda somewhat reminds me of China Cola-- something I really wish were more available.

    And I am officially offended by the prejudicial alignment of lazy surfer losers with hard working American weed smokers. Good day, soupkitten

  • guilty: If you think kava is the foulest tasting substance, I can think of many substances you've had the fortune of not having tasted!

    Actually, I find Kava to be somewhat of an acquired taste. Having drank kava for years, I actually quite enjoy its earthy, soapy flavour, and love to compare the tastes of kavas raised in different parts of the world (e.g. right now I have some Vanuatu kava and...+READ

    guilty: If you think kava is the foulest tasting substance, I can think of many substances you've had the fortune of not having tasted!

    Actually, I find Kava to be somewhat of an acquired taste. Having drank kava for years, I actually quite enjoy its earthy, soapy flavour, and love to compare the tastes of kavas raised in different parts of the world (e.g. right now I have some Vanuatu kava and some Fiji kava, and they are quite different, in taste and effect). If you really dislike kava, try mixing it with some coconut cream and lecithin.

    Anyways, $2.50 for kava is absurd. Go order yourself some pure kava online instead and make your own beverages. I'd be surprised if this even has enough kava in it to /have any appreciative effect.-COLLAPSE

  • I don't have anything against the soda; it might be good, but $2.50 for one 12-oz. bottle? Wow! That's $15 for a six-pack.

  • but did you immediately order a pizza (dude, it took like, forEVer to get here, bra)? move back in w your parentals? start calling other people "bra"?

  • I agree that kava works great. Unfortunately it's the foulest tasting substance on the planet. In my opinion. And I like to eat chlorella tablets like candy. It's nice to know that kava is now available as a soda. I still won't go near it, but I'm glad someone tried it out--and that it was palatable.