Blackberry Orange Kava Tonic

Dark berry against citrus, a pairing that works because blackberry on its own turns flat and sweet in a hurry. Orange keeps it lifted. This one runs 30 calories with 5 grams of sugar, putting it at the fuller end of Leilo's range rather than the diet end. Underneath the fruit sits 1,000mg of a proprietary noble kava root extract blend, sourced through partnerships with Pacific island growers. Kava's active compounds are called kavalactones. There are eighteen of them, six doing most of the work, and different varieties produce noticeably different results, which is why sourcing matters more here than branding does. Expect the calm to arrive roughly twenty minutes after you start drinking, and expect it clear rather than hazy. Serve it properly cold. Skip it entirely if you are under 18, pregnant or nursing, or if you have any liver concerns.