If you’re shopping this week and spot something called Psychedelic Water, don’t bother picking up a can unless you want to be disappointed.
The water, which has made the rounds on social media, claims to be “non-alcoholic and lightly carbonated without any unnatural ingredients. It tingles your tongue but won’t leave you hungover or jittery.” But what’s in it?
According to Popular Mechanics, the drink is a legal blend of water, kava root, damiana leaf, and green tea leaf extract that is “legitimately psychedelic” and has a “mild mood-boosting effect.”
Keith Stein, the co-founder of Psychedelic Water, has reported sales of more than 700,000 cans of his beverage since it launched in early 2021. It has made $4 million in revenue, with a quarter of 2022 revenue coming from retail stores.
It has become a viral sensation on TikTok and YouTube, with reviewers describing the mental impact of Psychedelic Water as “somewhere between a joint and a glass of wine.” However, scientists are not convinced, as the drink does not contain enough Kavalactones to induce a hallucinogenic reaction.
So if you’re looking for a psychedelic experience, maybe look elsewhere. Otherwise, if you want some kind of weird, bubbly tea you might be in luck.
