Natural Drinks for Anxiety Relief: What Actually Works in 2025 (New Zealand Guide)
The Anxiety-Shelf Mirage
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week (6–12 October 2025) is shining a spotlight on community - the quiet reminder that none of us are meant to do this alone. It’s fitting, because right now one in four Kiwis are living with anxiety, a figure up 30% since 2020. That’s not just a stat bomb - it’s a national reality check.
Pop into any New World or health store and you’ll see it: aisles packed with “calming” drinks. Shimmering cans with pastel branding, promising to soothe your racing mind or gift you serenity in a bottle. It sounds magical.
Here’s the kicker: most of them don’t work. Or at least, not in the way they claim. The majority contain laughably tiny amounts of “active” compounds - just enough to get away with the claim on the label, not enough to actually make a difference.
That’s the dirty secret of the wellness drinks market. You’re essentially paying $6 - $9 for flavoured water with marketing sparkle.
This guide? We’re cutting through the noise. No pseudoscience, no exaggerated promises. Just real talk about which natural drinks for anxiety actually work, which are overpriced placebo water, and how to pick what’s right for your particular brand of anxiety (because social anxiety at a party ≠ 2am brain spirals in bed).
We’re not doctors - but we’ve done the homework. And if you’re reading this at 2am because your brain won’t shut up, we see you.
Why We’re All So Bloody Anxious (And Why It Matters)
The Anxiety Epidemic: Why Kiwis Are Reaching for Solutions
Let’s start local. According to the Mental Health Foundation, anxiety now affects 1 in 4 New Zealanders - with numbers climbing fastest among young adults. Workplace surveys show 13% of Kiwi workers have told their boss they’re struggling, and that’s just the ones brave enough to admit it.
Why? A cocktail of pressures:
Cost of living crisis - rent, mortgages, food prices rising faster than wages.
Climate anxiety - especially for younger generations staring down a changing Aotearoa.
The post-pandemic hangover - three years of stress left a lingering baseline of worry.
Housing instability - home ownership feels like a pipe dream for many.
Against this backdrop, it’s no wonder people are seeking solutions. But here’s the twist: many don’t want alcohol as their escape anymore. The “sober curious” movement has exploded in NZ, with non-alcoholic drink sales up year-on-year. For many, alcohol feels like pouring petrol on anxiety’s fire: momentary relief, then the dreaded “hangxiety” rebound.
So, why drinks at all? Ritual. Accessibility. Comfort. When you hold a drink - alcoholic or not - you’re signalling to your brain: this is my wind-down. It’s non-pharmaceutical, socially acceptable, and easy to build into daily routines.
This guide isn’t about “curing” anxiety (if only). It’s about better tools for your kit - functional drinks that actually deliver, so you’re not left sipping false promises.
You can read about the rise of Alcohol Free drinks here
The Science Bit (Without the Boring)
Your Brain on Stress: A Very Brief Tour
Anxiety isn’t just “feeling stressed.” It’s your body’s alarm system stuck on high alert. Cortisol (the stress hormone) floods your system, while your neurotransmitters - GABA, serotonin, dopamine - fall out of balance.
GABA: your brain’s brake pedal. Low levels = racing thoughts.
Serotonin: mood stabiliser. Deficiency = mood dips.
Dopamine: motivation and reward. Too low or too high = unease.
Some compounds can calm this chaos by enhancing GABA (e.g. chamomile), modulating cortisol (ashwagandha), or gently balancing serotonin/dopamine (terpenes like linalool, limonene).
But not everything you sip crosses the blood-brain barrier. And even if it does, dose matters. A sprinkle ≠ an effect.
The Ingredients That Actually Work (And How Much You Need)
Here’s the big one: effective doses.
The Dirty Secret: Most “calming drinks” in supermarkets have 5–50mg of adaptogens. That’s like expecting one grain of sugar to sweeten your flat white.
The Brutally Honest Review - 12 Drinks That Actually Work (or Don’t)
12 Anxiety-Relief Drinks: The No-BS Breakdown
We tested, researched, and analysed functional drinks available in New Zealand. Some are brilliant. Some are overpriced fairy water. Here’s our ranking, with full transparency.
1/ Terps & Co. UnWind (Biased? Sure. But Here’s Why)
Price Point: $48 (12-pack)
Where to Buy: Terps & Co website + selected NZ stockists
What’s Actually In It: 40 botanical terpenes (including linalool + myrcene at functional doses)
Tasting Notes: Blueberry upfront, mango sweetness, crisp juniper bite. Not sugary, just clean.
Does It Work for Anxiety? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 anxious minds)
Best For: Bedtime anxiety, general relaxation
Verdict: This isn’t fairy dust. Unlike drinks hiding behind “proprietary blends,” UnWind actually discloses doses. Customers report it’s the first alcohol free drink that feels like winding down with 2–3 wines—without the brutal morning-after.
2/ Recess (CBD Soda – limited NZ availability)
Price: $8–$10/can
Ingredients: 10–15mg hemp-derived CBD, ginseng, L-theanine
Does It Work? ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – CBD is effective, but NZ regulations mean access is limited.
3/ Kin Euphorics (Adaptogen blend)
Ashwagandha, L-theanine, caffeine-free. Decent doses, but pricey imports. ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5).
4/ Dromme Calm (US import)
Ginger-forward with adaptogens. ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) – tasty, but NZ access is patchy.
5/ Aplos (Hemp spirit alternative)
CBD-focused. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) if you can find it in NZ.
6/ Curious Elixirs (Ashwagandha-based mocktails)
400mg+ ashwagandha in some blends. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5). Strong contender, but $$$.
7/ Lyre’s Spirits + Tonic
No functional ingredients beyond the ritual. ⭐⭐ (2/5). Good for social anxiety situations, not biology.
8/ Chamomile Tea (Traditional)
Dirt cheap, and yes, effective if brewed strong. ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5).
9/ Magnesium Powder Drinks (Nutra-Life, Natural Chemist)
Solid doses (200–300mg). ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5). Great for bedtime.
10/ Homemade Golden Milk
Turmeric + warm milk + honey. Ritual > biology, but soothing. ⭐⭐ (2/5).
11/ Traditional Kava (Pacific remedy)
Proven anxiolytic. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5). But must be prepared properly; not a casual sip.
12/ The “Don’t Bother” Category
Skip anything that says “proprietary blend” without doses, or “relaxation soda” with 5mg ashwagandha. That’s expensive placebo fizz.
Matching Drinks to Your Anxiety Type
Morning Anxiety (The Sunday Scaries Start on Monday)
Best: L-theanine + light caffeine blends. Avoid heavy sedatives.Social Anxiety (When You’d Rather Be Anywhere Else)
Best: UnWind mocktails, Lyre’s alternatives. Ritual matters—having a fancy glass in hand is half the battle.Work Stress & Inbox Hell
Best: Focus blends (L-theanine + gentle caffeine). Avoid sugar bombs.Bedtime Anxiety (Brain Won’t Shut Up)
Best: UnWind, chamomile, magnesium powders.Panic Attack Recovery
Best: Water + magnesium. Avoid caffeine, sugar.
If anxiety is wrecking your life, please see your GP. Call 1737 anytime to talk with someone.
Three UnWind Mocktails
1. The “Pre-Party Calm Down”
50ml UnWind, sparkling water, lemon juice, lavender sprig.
2. The “Decompression Chamber”
60ml UnWind, tonic + soda, cucumber ribbon.
3. The “2AM Brain Spiral Stopper”
40ml UnWind, warm water, honey, cinnamon.
Things That Make Anxiety Worse
Caffeine: 200mg+ can tip you into jitters.
Sugar bombs: cortisol rollercoaster.
Alcohol: anxiety rebound + sleep disruption.
Extreme detox juices: spike cortisol, crash mood.
Beyond the Bottle
Functional drinks help, but they’re tools, not cures. Cold water, breathing, sunlight, movement, talking to mates—all equally vital.
NZ Resources: Mental Health Foundation, Helplines, GP services.
The Terps & Co Difference
Unlike brands hiding behind “proprietary blends,” Terps & Co shows every dose. 40 botanical terpenes, functional concentrations, third-party tested, made in NZ.
Next time you’re staring at a $7 “relaxation drink,” flip the can. If the doses aren’t there? Put it back.
Conclusion: Anxiety Relief Without the Bullshit
Most calming drinks? Fairy water. The few that work? Backed by real science and functional doses. Match the drink to your anxiety type, combine it with other tools, and remember: you’re not alone in this.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, try something that actually works. UnWind by Terps & Co: 40 botanical terpenes, real doses, no bullshit.
