INFUSED BEVERAGES

BEVERAGE ROUND-UP

Reviewing California’s Canna-Beverage Boom

In one short year, dozens of new beverage brands have come onto the scene and existing players have expanded and dialed in their product lines, making this the fastest growing segment of the California Cannabis market. Three intrepid California Leaf Contributors put their tastebuds to the test to see what’s available out there and worth picking up on your next trip to your favorite local Cannabis shop.

GEM & JANE SPARKLING BEVERAGES

@FINDGEMANDJANE Gem & Jane’s branding is as sparkly as the beverage tastes. Sleek metallic cans feature a wide range of cannabinoids like THCV for energy, Delta-8 to chill, a splash of CBD, and a burst of flavor. The subtly sweet refreshment is delicious straight up, but mixes well in a cocktail – and they even share recipe recommendations regularly on IG. Cannabinoid blends vary.

REVIEWS BY ALEXA JESSE @ALEXAJESSE

CALEXO INFUSED BEVERAGES

@DRINKCALEXO Full bodied in taste and presentation, artist and BIPOC founded Calexo’s psychedelic design pairs perfectly with their cocktail inspired flavor combinations like Cucumber Citron and Citrus Rose. Intended to be shared in social settings, the substantial 22-ounce bottle is sure to ”bring a smile to your mind.” 10mg THC/bottle.

CANN SOCIAL TONICS

@DRINKCANN Blood orange and agave nectar are a few of the simple ingredients to be savored in queer-owned Cann’s Social Tonics. With a fine-tuned balance of 2mg THC to 4mg CBD, the bubbly beverage provides a lovely buzz that takes the edge off – while their 5mg THC Hi Boy provides an elevated experience. 2-5mg THC/can.

MAD LILLY LEMON DREAM TONIC

@MADLILLYDRINKS Mad Lilly’s nighttime Dream Tonic wraps the mind and body in a lemony haze. Tart and sweetened with real sugar and lemons, the lavender and lemon balm extract ease stress and support muscle relaxation. A dose of 5mg CBN and 3mg THC makes for a sleepy night and a cozy morning, courtesy of this woman-owned brand. 24mg THC, 40mg CBN, 16mg CBD/bottle.

RICKETT BREWING JOLIE FLEUR BLANC AND JOLIE FLEUR PINK

@RICKETTBREWING Rickett Brewing’s high end infused sparkling wines are the perfect option for any special occasion. Their Jolie Fleur Blanc offers loads of white grape, honeydew melon and green apple flavor, while the Jolie Fleur Pink delivers huge raspberry jam notes and still maintains a nimble body and dry finish. Both have a delicate carb and nuanced complexity – sure to please even the most discerning of palates. 10mg THC/bottle.

GOOD STUFF BEVERAGE CO. HONEY LEMONADE

@GOODSTUFFBEVERAGECO This tantalizingly sweet and herbal Honey Lemonade is as tasty as it is versatile. Perfect as a slow sipper over some big cubes, a heady addition to seltzer or tonic water, or a flavorful addition to your favorite cocktail – this luscious brew benefits from the infusion of Cannabis derived terpenes. A timeless treat for any time of day! 100mg THC/bottle.

GREEN MONKÉ CLASSIC LIGHTLY SPARKLING SODA

@DRINKGREENMONKE Green Monké is a newcomer to the scene, and has entered the market with three delicious flavors of lightly carbonated and sweetened, infused sodas: Mango Guava, Tropical Citrus and Orange Passionfruit. With only 5g of sugar per can, you can indulge in several of these crushable refreshments without the guilt – and without getting absolutely blasted. Happy hour just got happier! 3mg THC, 6mg CBD/can.

CANNABIS QUENCHER BLACKBERRY LEMONADE

@CANNABIS_ QUENCHER This sweet and tart Blackberry Lemonade is packed with bright, jammy and tangy citrus flavors that’ll transport you back to summer camp and those three ounce paper cups full of juice. Perfect for a hot day, this one is sure to hit the spot and complement any warm weather activity you can think of. 100mg THC/bottle.

NECTR LEMON LIME SPARKLING WATER

UNCLE ARNIE’S ICED TEA LEMONADE

@OFFICIALUNCLEARNIES Sweet, blissed out vibes accompany this modern take on the classic mash-up of iced tea and lemonade. The flavor is nostalgia-inducing and there’s no hint of Cannabis flavor on the palate. Loaded from lemonade, twisted off tea – this stuff is the real deal potency-wise. Packing a stout 100mg THC in every bottle, even the heftiest of tolerances will be feeling this one after just a few swigs. 100mg THC/bottle.

HOUSE OF SAKA SPARK MIMOSA

@INFUSEDLUXURY This orange blossom and nectarine essence infused, de-alcoholized mimosa is a highly quaffable and effervescent treat – tasting exactly like the real deal, minus the booze and featuring a 5mg dose of nano-enhanced THC instead! They’ve even crafted it using strain specific Cannabis oil from the Mimosa (Clementine x Purple Punch) strain. Delicious! 5mg THC/bottle.

@DRINK.NECTR Nectr’s Lemon Lime Sparkling Water tastes like the name brand lemon lime sodas, only without all the sugar and artificial flavors. It’s simple, refreshing and easy to drink – really, what more could you want? Providing incredible bang for your buck, Nectr’s Sparkling Water packs in 10mg of THC and retails at most stores for just $5 per bottle. 10mg THC/ bottle.

REVIEWS BY NATE WILLIAMS @NATEW415

BEVERAGE ROUND-UP

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WUNDER LEMON GINGER SPARKLING BEVERAGE

@FINDWUNDER Wunder earns its stellar reputation in the Cannabis beverage world by offering well-developed flavor combinations that work for gourmet food pairings, for integrating into cocktail recipes, or all by themselves. The effervescent Lemon Ginger is crisply refreshing, and the fact that it comes in a low-dose, sessionable formulation means it’s cool if the slightly spicy kick of ginger root has you reaching for a second and third can. Per can: 2mg THC, 2mg delta 8 THC, 4mg CBD (also available in a 20 mg can, with 10mg THC and 10mg Delta-8 THC)/8oz can.

KUSH CUPS SINGLE ORIGIN GUATEMALA - LOS SANTOS MEDIUM ROAST

@KUSHCUPS With so much flavor and category innovation going on in the Cannabis beverage market, there’s something awesome about pure, high-quality infused coffee. Kush Cups pairs direct trade, single-origin roasted beans with the convenience of the Keurig brewing system – making for an easy caffeine and Cannabis combo on the go. 10mg THC/cup, 40mg THC/4-pack.

BOLDT DRINKS BLUEBERRY POMEGRANATE ICED TEA

@DRINKBOLDT Boldt blends a variety of fruit flavors for the company’s line of infused black teas that are a throwback to the heyday of chuggable canned iced tea. The Blueberry Pomegranate has a smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel – not to mention smells like blueberry muffins. Boldt also brings their teas in black and peach offerings, as well as a half tea/half lemonade version. 10mg THC/12oz can.

KOAN CREATE CORDIAL

@KOAN.LIFE

Intentional, purposeful formulation and attention to detail are the hallmarks of KOAN, which offers a line of single-dose cordials that are perfect for people looking to accomplish something specific with consumption. Good alone as quick shots or mixed into other beverages, the KOAN cordials come mixed in experience-based cannabinoid ratios – from the CBDrich “Calm” to the THC-heavy “Play” – making them perfect for dosing at different times of day. 18.6mg THC/pkg, 6.2mg THC/serving, 19.96mg CBD/pkg, 6.65mg CBD/serving.

@KEEFBRANDS With so many options on the market, it’s refreshing to find a classic soda on the shelf. This sugary sweet, traditional root beer from OG Colorado-based beverage brand Keef hits every note you’d expect – with the hint of Cannabis flavor only adding to the herb-and-root profile. Just add infused ice cream and you’ll be root beer floating. 10mg THC/12oz can.

KAN-ADE WATERMELON SYRUP

@KAN_ADE_ Billed as a Medible Mixer, the Kan-Ade products offer extremely high potency, versatile syrups for use in cocktails, to be mixed with sodas, or – for the set who came up sippin’ on syzzurp – it can be consumed uncut. This candylike potion tastes like watermelon bubblegum, and it doesn’t take much … just a tiiiiny taste. 1000mg THC/bottle, 200mg THC/serving.

PABST LABS LEMON SELTZER

@PABSTLABS This easy, bubbly seltzer from the powerhouse lager producer Pabst is the perfect sipper for someone who can’t get enough of the hard seltzers that have been dominating the alcohol industry – but minus the boozel. It’s lightly sweet with a whisper of acidity, and completely crushable. 5-10mg THC, 12oz can.

S*SHOTS TROPICAL THUNDER

@DRINKSSHOTS These little stubby bottles contain opaque, richly potent elixirs with intense flavor profiles. The Tropical Thunder tastes like a pina colada and a roll of Smarties threw a rave in your mouth. S Shots was kind enough to provide a shot glass with dosage hash marks, ensuring we didn’t unintentionally double or triple dose while throwing one back. 10mg THC/shot, 100mg THC/bottle.