We Ranked Every Recess Sparkling Water, From Calm to Zen
Have you ever had Recess? No, not the hour spent on the playground in elementary school, or a judge calling a break in court. Recess is a brand of sparkling water drinks that are a healthy soda alternative comprised of mood-boosting magnesium—a vital mineral that's crucial for the brain and the body.
Not only is Recess lower in sugar, but it also contains functional adaptogens, electrolytes and calming CBD, making their cans the perfect zero-proof replacement for alcoholic seltzers.
They're so popular in fact, that their flavor range has tripled since launching. So we put called upon our taste testers to try every single Recess flavor—from their OG lineup to Mood and Zero Proof—to get to the bottom of the question: Which Recess flavor is best?
Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
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What is Recess?
Recess is a brand of sparkling CBD water that is infused with hemp and adaptogens, which are essential good-for-you herbs, roots and mushrooms that help promote a state of homeostasis (or balance) in the body.
In addition to their original flavors that contain hemp and adaptogens, the Recess Mood collection also contains magnesium L-threonate, a form of magnesium that's made with L-theanine and lemon balm. Altogether, this magnesium mixture has a calming effect on the body and is meant to increase the brain's magnesium levels.
Then, there's the latest from Recess, Zero Proof—a line of craft mocktail flavors designed to taste like the real thing, but without the booze. These mocktail flavors are still infused with adaptogens, so you're not just not getting alcohol; you're also getting a dose of healthy herbs, roots and mushrooms, too, which is more than other sparkling water brands can say.
Related: DIY CBD Cocktails That Will Make You Totally Zen
Does Recess have CBD in it?
Each can of Recess contains 10 milligrams of broad-spectrum hemp—AKA CBD. While the inclusion of cannabidiol does not have a hallucinogenic effect on the brain, CBD can promote calm and balance that may reduce negative feelings of anxiety or stress.
Does Recess drink have caffeine?
Most Recess beverages are caffeine-free and the company does not promote itself as an energy drink.
That being said, the Blackberry Chai flavor is the only drink in the OG line that's made with black tea. And according to the Recess website, they did this to closely replicate the true taste and function of chai tea, saying "This particular flavor may contain a minuscule amount of naturally occurring caffeine."
Additionally, each can of Recess Zero Proof—that's the company's alcohol-free mocktail collection—contains 10 milligrams of naturally occurring caffeine from guayusa, a type of holly tree that's native to the Amazon Rainforest.
Now that you have the 411 on what Recess is made up of, here's a ranking of their best drink flavors of all time.
Best Recess Sparkling Water Flavors Ranked
17. Strawberry Rose Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Strawberry Rose, 12 Pack)
If you enjoy a floral essence to your beverage, then this blend might be just what you're looking for. While it tastes like something close to rosé—yep, like the wine—our main criticism would be that it's not fruity enough. (Although, if you put this in a flight next to some other blush wines, we probably wouldn't notice.)
16. Coconut Lime
Brewed with real dried coconut and lime zest, the Coconut Lime Recess tastes like it could very easily be adapted into the Zero Proof line. Maybe an alcohol-free take on a rum drink? It's definitely giving summertime, island vibes.
15. Grapefruit Tangerine Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, Lemon Balm for Calm, Relax, Stress Relief Support,12 Ounce, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Pack of 12 (Grapefruit Tangerine, 12 Pack) *New Flavors*
The Grapefruit Tangerine Mood is best drank early in the morning for two important reasons. First, you'll get that morning boost you may need to take on the day à la the "Mood" part of the drink; second, the grapefruit flavor is not subtle, so it's juicy and bright enough to startle you awake if nothing else.
14. Peach Ginger
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Peach Ginger, 12 Pack)
Brewed with real dried peaches and ginger, this Peach Ginger Recess makes a great mid-day pick-me-up. Even if peach and ginger aren't your favorite flavors in the world, you might be reminded of a half-and-half—that's half iced tea, half lemonade—while sipping this one.
13. Lime Citrus Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, Lemon Balm for Calm, Relax, Stress Relief Support, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Lime Citrus, 12 Pack) *New Flavors*
If you're in the "mood"—get it?—for a real citrusy beverage, this one has a lot of zing. On the first sip, we got a big punch of lime (after all, it's made with real lime zest). But soon after, the taste shifts to a more balanced taste with the help of other citruses like lemon and orange.
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12. Pomegranate Hibiscus
Pomegranate Hibiscus is another Recess flavor that has strong floral notes. If you can't get past that, then maybe hibiscus flavoring isn't for you. However, our testers found that it wasn't as strong as the Strawberry Rose flavor. It tastes tropical like it could be a slushy or even one of Starbucks Refreshers.
11. Grapefruit "Paloma"
Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails, Alcohol Free Drinks, With Adaptogens, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Mixer, Celebration, Party, (Grapefruit "Paloma", 12oz, Pack of 12)
Calling all grapefruit lovers! If you have a hankering for a sweet, citrusy drink, but don't want to deal with the hangover that tequila leaves behind, this is one of the best virgin takes on a paloma we've ever tasted. But be warned with this one—you have to like grapefruit! If you're a grapefruit hater, this is not going to be the drink to change your mind. For grapefruit enthusiasts, however, this drink is a citrusy dream!
10. Ginger Lime "Mule"
Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails, Alcohol Free Drinks, With Adaptogens, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Mixer, Celebration, Party, (Ginger Lime "Mule", 12oz, Pack of 12)
The traditional Moscow Mule can often leave your mouth feeling dry, making you thirstier. But the best part of the Ginger Lime "Mule," besides the perfect ginger-to-lime ratio, is that it won't leave your throat feeling scratchy. It's not as sharp as traditional ginger ales or as sweet as lemonade, but it does a good job of presenting you with the best of both worlds.
9. Raspberry Lemon Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, Lemon Balm for Calm, Relax, Stress Relief Support,12 Ounce, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Pack of 12 (Raspberry Lemon, 12 Pack)
It has all the refreshing qualities of a traditional lemonade, only with a hint of raspberry and of course, mood-lifting adaptogens for good vibes. The recipe includes real raspberries, which makes for a full-bodied flavor with just a hint of lemon. Any more of the lemon flavor would add too much acidity and would likely overpower the sweetness of the raspberry.
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8. Blood Orange
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Blood Orange, 12 Pack)
Zesty and bold, there's something brighter about Blood Orange than, say, regular orange flavor, which can err too much on the side of orange juice. This can is nothing like orange juice and more importantly, tastes more like a mocktail than an orange-flavored seltzer.
7. Black Cherry
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Black Cherry, 12 Pack)
Black Cherry—from the OG lineup—is one flavor we hope Recess never discontinues. The cherry is extremely subtle but in the best way possible. If you're unsure of which Recess to try first, this is the perfect introductory flavor to get you hooked.
6. Lime "Margarita"
Recess Zero Proof Sampler, Craft Mocktails, Alcohol Free Drinks, With Adaptogens, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Mixer, (12 pack sampler has 3 of each flavor: Lime "Margarita,” Grapefruit "Paloma")
Testers were surprised at just how authentic the Lime "Margarita" tastes to an actual margarita. For all intents and purposes, this craft mocktail could very well be a virgin margarita that you could order at any bar—at least in terms of taste. But the Lime "Margarita" is actually better than the sugary sour mix in the "real" thing. This can only have 5 grams of total sugar—4 grams of which are added. The rest of the ingredients include orange zest, lemon zest, agave and lemon balm powder.
Related: 85 Best Margarita Recipes for National Margarita Day
5. Peach Ginger Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Peach Ginger, 12 Pack)
The Peach Ginger Mood is a classic everyday drink that you'll never get tired of. The sharpness of the ginger and the sweetness of the peach balance each other out perfectly, and of course, you can never go wrong with a calming blend of adaptogens on the side.
4. Watermelon "Mojito"
Recess Zero Proof Craft Mocktails, Alcohol Free Drinks, With Adaptogens, Non-Alcoholic Beverage Replacement, Mixer, Celebration, Party, (Watermelon "Mojito", 12oz, Pack of 12)
Watermelon "Mojito" is the drink of the summer! While mojitos are technically citrusy and minty, this alcohol-free version tastes even juicier, thanks to the watermelon-flavored twist. It's sweeter than a standard mojito, which tends to fall on the sour end of the spectrum. It's bright and fresh, but not as minty as you might expect.
3. Blackberry Chai
Blackberry Chai is the only flavor from the original Recess line that contains caffeine, but it's such a small amount, you barely notice it's even there. And because it's brewed with real blackberry juice and chai tea, the flavor combo hits all the high notes in our book.
2. Blood Orange Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Blood Orange, 12 Pack)
Surprisingly, the Blood Orange Mood tastes slightly better than its original counterpart and we think it's the added blend of lemon balm and American ginseng that does the trick. The blood orange juice used to brew this can is definitely the star flavor here, but the real orange zest helps intensify the flavor. All around, it's a win.
1. Black Cherry Mood
Recess Mood Magnesium Supplement Drink Calming Beverage, 12 Ounce, Pack of 12 (Black Cherry, 12 Pack)
The best Recess of all is hands-down the Black Cherry Mood. The first thing you notice right off the bat is the strong-yet-not-artificial cherry flavor. Because Recess brews real dried cherries with cherry juice, it's not the typical syrupy type of "cherry" you might be used to. It's not as sweet, but it doesn't taste "too healthy" or watered-down either.
You might be thinking: Why does Black Cherry Mood taste better than the original Black Cherry? Well, the original Black Cherry doesn't have as many calming properties now, does it? Let's just say we feel extra zen when drinking this one.
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