Botanic Tonics markets Feel Free as a kava drink that can help with relaxation, productivity and focus. Derived from a Pacific Island plant, kava is traditionally consumed in tea for relaxation. The nonalcoholic beverage category is booming: Kava beverages,
from brands like Leilo and Psychedelic Water, have surged in popularity across the U.S. in recent years, and there are nonalcoholic bars in the Bay Area devoted to kava.
But the lawsuit claims that Feel Free’s primary ingredient isn’t kava — it’s allegedly K@, an herbal substance produced from a Southeast Asian tree that can produce opioid-like effects. This gives the beverage the “potential to be highly addictive,” the lawsuit states.
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