Get ready to go green with a new breed of seltzers here to keep you cool year round.
WORDS Lauren Buzzeo
IMAGES Jennifer Cousins
Chances are, unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few years, you’ve come across—and possibly tasted your fair share of—the wave of alcoholic seltzers that crashed upon retail shelves and dominated the coolers of barbecues, pool parties and beach retreats alike. Light in feel and flavor, these spiked seltzers typically offer a high refreshment factor within a lower sugar, carb and calorie count package than many traditional bev-alc offerings, making them attractive alternatives for those seeking a leaner option while still enjoying alcohol.
But there’s a new tide of seltzers coming in, ready to one-up the original wave. Cannabis-infused seltzers are ready to join the party, and the good news is, they’ve never been better.
“Manufacturers and product developers in this space are treating cannabinoids just like they would any other ingredient,” says Diana Eberlein, chair of the Cannabis Beverage Association and VP of business development and marketing at SoRSE Technology. “The application of water-soluble emulsion technology, like SoRSE, to cannabinoids is one innovation greatly responsible for the improved taste and overall experience consumers enjoy today.”
Additionally, gone here is the wait-and-see wildcard mentality of consumables past. Not only do these beverages offer measured low-dose infusions, but thanks to new technology, they also feature rapid on-set times, typically within 10 to 20 minutes on average, for a delivery experience more similar to spirited drinks than your friend’s homemade brownies.
“When THC and other cannabinoids are extracted from the plant, they are in oil form,” explains Eberlein. “Oil-based ingredients take longer to enter the bloodstream, which means consumers don’t feel the effects for an extended period of time. Infused beverages not only offer a quick onset time, but they also provide for a consistent offset, making these consumables more sessionable and easier for the consumer to build or manage their experience. The quick onset time is due to the emulsion technology process, which reduces the particle size of the oil droplets and enrobes them to disguise them as ‘water’ to the body, allowing them to be absorbed more quickly through the intestinal tract.”
While there is an assortment of beverage types that are embracing the format, from sodas and teas to cocktail proxies and beyond, many infused seltzers boast all-natural flavors as well as low or no sugar and calories, prompting strong consideration from those seeking alternative social-beverage options.
Here are five cannabis-infused seltzers we’re completely crushing on now.
Levia
While the brand does offer the occasional limited or seasonal release, Levia’s core lineup features three products: the sativa-blend Raspberry Lime Achieve, the hybrid-blend Lemon Lime Celebrate and the indica-blend Jan Berry Dream, all with 5 mg of THC as well as no sugar and zero calories.
Happi
At 15–30 calories and 2.5–10 mg of THC per can, you can embrace Happi’s all-natural offerings made with organic fruit, like the Lemon Elderflower, Raspberry Honeysuckle, Lime Wild Mint and Pomegranate Hibiscus, or consider their functional beverage line comprised of the Glow and Nightcap selections, which also feature additional cannabinoids like CBN or CBG as well as adaptogenic mushrooms.
Wynk
This brand’s zero-calorie, no-sugar, highly sessionable portfolio showcases flavors of Lime Twist, Black Cherry Fizz and Juicy Mango with an approachable one-to-one ratio of either 2.5 or 5 mg each of THC and CBD. It boasts a rapid 10-minute onset of calm that can last about 90 minutes.
Hi5
Launched by Theory Wellness in March 2021, Hi5 boasts an array of choices with natural fruit flavors, all gluten free and zero calories, with 5 mg of THC from locally grown cannabis in every can. Hi5 also uses a proprietary infusion process to ensure a consistent shelf-stable product.
Cantrip
Vegan, gluten free and only 8 calories per can, Cantrip’s seltzers offer either 5 mg of THC or 3 mg of THC and 2 mg of CBD in three tasty flavors: Lemon Basil, Blackberry Lavender and Ginger Peach. Additionally, Cantrip’s seltzers are terpene-infused and made from hemp-derived delta-9 THC.
This article was published in the Spring 2023 issue of Full Pour. Don’t own it? Pick one up today!