By Ash Pavesio
What is Space Tea?
When I saw a beverage called Space Tea in The Other Path CBD store fridge (and that it was brewed with mushrooms), I got a visual of psychedelic patterns and peace signs. I even read reviews to see what everyone was saying about them. There were hundreds of people across multiple sites with the same general consensus.
The top recurring sentiments were that 1) it tasted great 2) it gave them a sense of calm and 3) it helped with the all-too-common, cotton mouth. None of the reviews were about seeing kaleidoscoping carpets or getting lost in a mirror, so I figured I was safe.
Of course, after that research, I took one home to try it myself. I decided to start with the Original flavor which is similar to an Arnold Palmer – iced tea and lemonade. I took it home and let it sit in my fridge to get nice and cool. I waited until I took the bong rip that sent me over the edge coughing and craving some water.
Instead of water, I took one big swig of Space Tea. Immediately I felt a kind of coating around my tongue that soothed the dryness I had been feeling moments before. I picked up the can and inspected it to see if any ingredients stood out and that’s when it hit me – I didn’t actually know what causes cotton mouth.
What actually causes cotton mouth?
Research shows that some cannabinoids, particularly THC & CBD, attach to areas of the brain that normally send messages to your parasympathetic nervous system to produce saliva, essentially slowing it down. This slowdown quickly results in a saliva shortage followed by the feeling of dryness that we call ‘cotton mouth’. Ingredients with high levels of acidity actually do the exact opposite! Ingredients like lemon increase saliva production, which could hypothetically cancel out the drying effects of CBD and THC! Very clever of Space Tea to select fairly acidic flavors such as lemon, strawberry, and mango! As for the taste of the original flavor, it was the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Delicious!
What about the mushrooms, are they psychedelic?
Space Tea has reishi and lion’s mane, both popular adaptogenic mushrooms. Neither of which is known to have psychoactive effects! Their benefits are detailed in medical studies and journals across time. Notably, Lion’s Mane is known to support brain health, improve mood, and boost focus. Could it be that Space Tea reviewers were feeling the Lion’s Mane calming effects? Reishi has polysaccharides that also have a beneficial neurological impact. And, although medical trials are pending, anecdotal evidence suggests that Reishi mushrooms reduced depression and anxiety-associated behaviors!
We’re obviously huge fans of mushrooms at The Other Path, and Space Tea slides right into its own beautiful, non-psychedelic category that further aids cannabis smokers with the ancillary effects of smoking and consuming cannabis THC.
If you want a mood-boosting, cotton-mouth-fighting drink, look no further! I cannot wait to try the other flavors!
These are the full flavor profiles:
Original Flavor
Iced Tea and Lemonade brewed with non-psychoactive, functional, and adaptogenic reishi and lion’s mane mushrooms.
Golden Mango
We went to the sun to get our new flavor, Golden Mango! Bring some sunshine into your day with our uplifting blend of iced tea + mango lemonade.
Summer Watermelon
Introducing the perfect summer drink, the ultra-refreshing Summer Watermelon! Bask in the sunlight and sip a delicious and uplifting blend of iced tea + watermelon lemonade.
All Space Teas are “Brewed with non-psychoactive, functional, and adaptogenic reishi and lion’s mane mushrooms for uplifting energy, calm focus, mood-boosting, and mental clarity.”
Get yours shipped to you or come pick it up at 14084 Ventura Blvd. You can even place a pickup order here.