On the Brightside

On the Brightside

Key Products

On the Brightside Feel-Good Soda: Kanna Science in a Zero-Proof Can

On the Brightside Feel-Good Soda: Kanna Science in a Zero-Proof Can

About On the Brightside

On the Brightside is a zero-sugar, zero-calorie, caffeine-free sparkling soda from Brighter Beverages, Inc., built around one active ingredient: Zembrin, a standardized kanna extract, at 15mg per can.[1][2]

The One-Ingredient Pitch

The non-alcoholic "feel-good" shelf is crowded with ashwagandha blends, adaptogen stacks, and low-dose psychoactive seltzers. On the Brightside skips the stack. Its argument is that one standardized botanical beats a pile of under-studied ones, and the brand says so plainly: one thing done right over ten done vaguely.[3]

Zembrin is PLT Health Solutions' patented extract of a specific Sceletium tortuosum (kanna) cultivar, a South African succulent with a long history of traditional use.[1] The brand says every plant is traceable from seed, and each harvest is checked against a set alkaloid profile before production.[3] That matters because generic kanna extracts vary widely from batch to batch. The brand also says Zembrin carries the endorsement of the South African San Council, and that the San community receives a royalty on every unit sold.[2]

Who's Behind It

Co-founder and CEO Adam Terry previously co-founded Cantrip, one of the earlier hemp-derived beverage brands.[1] He has described Zembrin as a "connectogen," meant to quiet enough mental noise that it's easier to be present with the people in front of you.[1]

What's in the Can

The formula is simple. Carbonated water, fruit flavors, citric and malic acids, vegetable juice for color, and Zembrin. Sweetness comes from Onosweet, a fermented Reb M, rather than stevia extract or anything artificial.[3] The brand says every batch is third-party tested, and the drinks are vegan and gluten-free.[3]

Zembrin is self-affirmed GRAS for beverage use at up to 50mg per day.[3] Its activity overlaps with SSRIs, SNRIs, and MAOIs, so anyone on those medications should check with a doctor first.[1]

On the Brightside is for the sober-curious, the moderation crowd, and anyone who wants an afternoon reset without more caffeine. It's a focused, one-ingredient play in a category that mostly runs on long labels.

References

  1. PricePlow. "On the Brightside Soda." PricePlow Blog. https://blog.priceplow.com/supplement-news/on-the-brightside-soda

  2. On the Brightside. "The Plant." drinkbrightside.com.

  3. On the Brightside. "FAQ." drinkbrightside.com.