Hey there, fellow fashion lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest trends in style and wellness. And let me tell you, there‘s one drink that‘s been blowing up my Instagram feed lately: Recess.
Dubbed as the "La Croix of CBD," Recess is a line of hemp-infused sparkling waters that promise to keep you calm, cool and collected with every sip. As someone who‘s always looking for natural ways to de-stress (being a fashionista is not easy!), I knew I had to give these colorful cans a try.
But before I dive into my personal experience, let‘s break down what Recess is all about. Each can contains 10mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract (CBD), plus adaptogenic herbs like ginseng and lemon balm to help you chill out and feel your best. The drinks come in six creative flavors like Blackberry Chai and Peach Ginger, all with no artificial ingredients or added sugar.
Sounds pretty great, right? But as a savvy consumer, I know that not every trendy wellness product lives up to the hype. That‘s why I decided to do a deep dive into Recess, from the ingredients to the effects to the overall vibe. Consider this your ultimate guide to the CBD sparkling water everyone‘s buzzing about.
What‘s Really in Recess Drinks?
Before we talk about taste and effects, let‘s take a closer look at what you‘re actually sipping on when you crack open a can of Recess. The main ingredients are:
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Broad-spectrum hemp extract: This is the star of the show, providing 10mg of CBD per can. Recess sources its hemp from a family farm in Colorado and uses a clean CO2 extraction process to preserve all the good stuff (like terpenes and phytocannabinoids) while removing any traces of THC.
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Adaptogens: Each flavor of Recess contains a special blend of adaptogenic herbs meant to enhance the calming effects of CBD. The most common ones are American ginseng (for energy and focus), lemon balm (for stress relief) and L-theanine (for relaxation). Adaptogens have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to help the body cope with stress.
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Natural flavors: The unique flavors of Recess come from real fruit extracts and natural essences – no artificial junk here. The Blackberry Chai flavor, for example, contains black tea, blackberry juice and chai spices like cardamom and clove. Yum.
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Sparkling water: The base of every Recess drink is good old-fashioned sparkling water. No sugary soda or fruit juice here – just refreshing bubbles to keep things light and hydrating.
One thing I really appreciate about Recess is its transparency. The company clearly lists all ingredients on its website and packaging, along with third-party lab results showing the exact CBD content and purity of each batch. In an industry that‘s still largely unregulated, it‘s reassuring to see a brand that‘s upfront about what it‘s selling.
Putting Recess to the Taste Test
Now, let‘s talk about the moment of truth: cracking open a cold one and taking that first sip. As a self-proclaimed sparkling water connoisseur, I was really curious to see if Recess could stand up to my beloved La Croix and Spindrift.
Spoiler alert: it totally did.
I tried all six flavors of Recess, and I was honestly impressed by how refreshing and flavorful they were. The Peach Ginger was my personal favorite – the sweetness of the peach balanced out the spicy kick of ginger perfectly. It kind of reminded me of those fancy ginger peach teas you get at health food stores, but with bubbles.
The Blackberry Chai was another standout for me. I love a good dirty chai latte, so I was skeptical that Recess could capture those warm, spicy flavors in a sparkling water. But somehow, it totally worked. The blackberry added a nice tartness, while the chai spices gave it a cozy, comforting vibe.
As for the other flavors, they were all solid in my book. The Pomegranate Hibiscus was fruity and floral, the Blood Orange was zesty and energizing, the Coconut Lime was tropical and refreshing, and the Blackberry was simple but satisfying. Honestly, I would happily sip on any of these flavors on their own, even without the CBD.
Speaking of which, let‘s talk about the effects. I know that‘s what you‘re all really here for.
Does Recess Really Help You Chill Out?
Here‘s the thing: CBD affects everyone differently. What might feel like a magical stress-busting elixir to one person could do absolutely nothing for someone else. And with only 10mg of CBD per can, Recess is definitely on the milder side compared to some other hemp-infused drinks out there.
That being said, I did notice a subtle but pleasant calming effect after sipping on Recess for a few days in a row. It wasn‘t like "bam, all my worries are gone!" but more like a gentle wave of relaxation that took the edge off my usual jitters.
I especially liked drinking Recess in the afternoon, when that 2pm slump normally hits and I start feeling frazzled from juggling work and personal stuff. A cold can of Peach Ginger or Pomegranate Hibiscus was like a little moment of self-care that helped me reset and power through the rest of the day.
Now, I‘m not saying that Recess is some kind of miracle cure for anxiety or stress. If you‘re dealing with serious mental health issues, you should definitely talk to a professional and not rely solely on a sparkling water (no matter how delicious). But for everyday moments of tension or overwhelm? I think Recess can be a nice little tool in your self-care toolkit.
And I‘m not the only one who feels that way. I did some sleuthing on social media and found tons of positive reviews from other Recess enthusiasts. People raved about how the drinks helped them feel more focused, less anxious, and just generally better equipped to handle whatever life threw their way.
Of course, there were a few naysayers who said they didn‘t feel anything at all from Recess. And that‘s totally valid – like I said, CBD is a highly individual thing. But overall, it seems like a lot of people are vibing with these little cans of calm.
Let‘s Talk Numbers
As a data-loving fashionista, I always like to back up my anecdotal evidence with some cold, hard facts. So let‘s take a quick look at the science behind Recess‘s key ingredients, shall we?
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CBD: A 2019 study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that 79% of participants who took CBD for anxiety or sleep issues reported lower anxiety levels within the first month. Another study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that a single dose of 600mg CBD reduced anxiety in people about to give a public speech. While the 10mg in Recess is much lower than these clinical doses, it‘s still promising to see research supporting CBD‘s calming effects.
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Adaptogens: A 2018 review in the journal Pharmaceuticals looked at the stress-reducing effects of various adaptogenic herbs. It found that American ginseng, one of the key ingredients in Recess, has been shown to improve cognitive function and reduce fatigue in multiple studies. Another adaptogen in Recess, lemon balm, was found to improve mood and cognitive performance in healthy adults.
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L-theanine: This amino acid, found in green tea and some of the Recess formulas, has been extensively researched for its calming effects. A 2016 study in the journal Nutrients found that a 200mg dose of L-theanine significantly reduced stress and anxiety in healthy adults. Again, the amount in Recess is likely much lower, but it‘s still cool to see the science backing up this ingredient.
Of course, more research is needed to specifically look at the effects of Recess‘s unique formulation. But based on the existing evidence around its key ingredients, I feel pretty confident saying that these drinks are more than just a trendy placebo.
The Final Verdict
So, after all that, what‘s my honest take on Recess? I‘m a fan. I think these colorful little cans are a fun, tasty and legit way to give yourself a moment of calm in the midst of a crazy day. The flavors are spot-on, the ingredients are clean and transparent, and the overall vibe just makes me smile.
Are they going to completely erase your stress and anxiety? Probably not. But they can be a nice complementary tool in your mental wellness routine, along with stuff like therapy, meditation, exercise and quality sleep.
Plus, let‘s be real: they‘re just pretty to look at. Those pastel ombre cans are total Instagram bait, and I‘m not mad about it. Wellness should be fun and aesthetically pleasing, don‘t you think?
As for the price, I‘ll admit that $5 per can is a little steep for a daily habit. But I think of Recess as more of a special treat or self-care splurge, like getting a fancy latte or sheet mask. It‘s not something I‘d necessarily drink every single day, but I love having a stash on hand for when I need a little extra dose of chill.
If you‘re a stressed-out fashionista like me, or just someone who‘s curious about the world of CBD and adaptogens, I definitely recommend giving Recess a try. Start with a variety pack to find your favorite flavors, and see how you feel after sipping on them for a week or so. Worst case scenario, you‘ll have a cute new drink to post on your feed. Best case scenario? You might just find your new secret weapon for staying calm, cool and collected in the face of whatever life (or the fashion industry) throws your way.
So go ahead, take a Recess. Your mind (and your Instagram) will thank you.
