Happy Being is a pleasant, genuinely low-sugar functional drink: white tea with elderberry, turmeric, vitamin C and pterostilbene, at about 20 calories a can. It is a sensible swap for soda or a second coffee. Just keep expectations realistic, since a single can delivers modest amounts of its functional ingredients.
What we like
- About 20 calories and 3 g of natural sugar per can
- Caffeine-free per the brand, making it an easy afternoon drink
- White tea base with elderberry, turmeric, vitamin C and pterostilbene
- Still and sparkling versions in many fruit flavors
- Free US shipping, 25% off subscriptions and a 30-day guarantee
Keep in mind
- Flavors are subtle for people used to sweet tea or juice
- Functional doses in a can are modest
- Mainly sold in 16-can packs, so it takes fridge space
- Less third-party testing information than supplement brands
Happy Being makes canned white tea drinks designed for the moment many people reach for a soda, an energy drink or a third coffee: the mid-afternoon slump. Each can is built on white tea and adds elderberry, turmeric, vitamin C and pterostilbene, a blueberry-derived antioxidant, while keeping calories and sugar low.
The brand was started in Pennsylvania by Chris Conway, a long-time health and wellness business owner, together with co-founders Josemaria Silvestrini and Dutch Buckley. We looked at what is in the cans, how the still and sparkling versions differ, what it costs and who is most likely to enjoy it.
What is in a can
Happy Being's ingredient story revolves around a few functional components:
- White tea, the least processed form of tea, naturally rich in polyphenols such as EGCG.
- Elderberry, a berry traditionally used for immune support.
- Turmeric, the golden spice widely studied for its anti-inflammatory compounds.
- Pterostilbene, an antioxidant found in blueberries and related to resveratrol.
- Vitamin C, at 100% of the daily value.
Nutritionally, each can contains about 20 calories and 3 g of natural sugar, with minimal carbohydrates. The brand describes the drinks as caffeine-free, while noting that white tea naturally contains a minimal amount of caffeine, so very caffeine-sensitive people may still want to avoid drinking it late at night.
We found no CBD, hemp or other restricted ingredients in the range; this is a straightforward functional tea drink.
Flavors and formats
Happy Being comes in still and sparkling versions. Flavors have expanded over time and currently include Peach, Blueberry, Black Cherry, Strawberry Kiwi, Orange, Blackberry and Mango, available in both still and sparkling, plus Raspberry Lemon in sparkling only. Earlier lineups included Peach Rose and Cucumber Mint.
The taste is light and fruity rather than sweet. Reviewers describe the carbonation as soft and the fruit flavors as natural rather than syrupy. If you are coming from sugary iced tea or soda, the first can may taste subtle; by the third or fourth, most people adjust.
- Choose sparkling if you are replacing soda or sparkling water.
- Choose still if you want something closer to an iced tea with lunch.
See Happy Being's current range
Does a functional drink do anything?
It is worth being realistic. The ingredients in Happy Being have interesting research behind them, but the amounts in a single can are modest, and drinking it will not prevent colds or reverse inflammation. Claims about benefits such as better energy, gut health or mood come largely from the brand and its customers rather than from independent trials of the drink itself.
Where Happy Being clearly does help is in what it replaces. Swapping a 150-calorie soda or a sugary energy drink for a 20-calorie can with no caffeine spike is a sensible, measurable improvement. Seen that way, the functional botanicals are a bonus rather than the main event, and the low sugar is the feature that matters most day to day.
Pricing, packs and shipping
Happy Being is mainly sold in 16-can packs, either as a single flavor or as variety packs that mix flavors and still and sparkling formats. Listings we saw started from about $20 per pack, with larger variety bundles costing more; check the brand's site for current pricing, as packs and prices change.
Subscribe and Save takes 25% off, ships every 30 days and can be modified or cancelled at any time. The site advertises free US shipping on all orders, and a 30-day guarantee means you can contact the brand within that window for a full refund or exchange if you are not happy. Subscribers also get a happiness guarantee on recurring orders.
Who Happy Being suits
Happy Being suits people trying to cut back on soda, energy drinks or afternoon coffee, those who are caffeine-sensitive, and anyone who wants a low-calorie drink that feels a little more interesting than sparkling water. It is also an easy option for office fridges and lunchboxes.
It is less suited to people who want a strong flavor or a noticeable energy boost, and to anyone looking for clinically dosed supplements. If you want a functional tea with more extensive purity testing, Pique is worth comparing; if you want a warm, low-caffeine ritual instead of a can, MUD\WTR or Jade Leaf's hojicha are other options.
Tips for trying it
Start with a variety pack so you can compare still and sparkling and find your favorite flavors. Serve it very cold, or over ice with a squeeze of lemon or lime, which lifts the delicate white tea flavor. Some people like to mix the still version with sparkling water for a lighter spritz.
If you are using it to replace a daily soda, make the swap at the same time each day, such as straight after lunch. Habit replacement works best when the new option is ready and in the fridge at the moment the old craving usually hits.
Our verdict
Happy Being is a well-made, low-sugar functional drink that does its main job well: giving you a tasty, low-calorie, caffeine-free option for the afternoon. The functional ingredients add interest, but the bigger health win is what it replaces. With free shipping, subscription savings and a 30-day guarantee, it is easy to try.
Our rating reflects a good product from a smaller brand that publishes less detail than some competitors on ingredient amounts per can and third-party testing. If those details matter to you, contact the brand before ordering; the team lists a phone number and email on its site and responds during weekday business hours. For most people simply looking to drink less soda, though, Happy Being is a pleasant, low-risk switch.
Happy Being products at a glance
| Product | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling White Tea | Lightly carbonated white tea with elderberry, turmeric, vitamin C and pterostilbene. | from about $20 per pack |
| Still White Tea | The same functional white tea without carbonation, closer to an iced tea. | from about $20 per pack |
| Variety Pack (16 cans) | A mix of flavors across still and sparkling formats for first-time buyers. | — |
| Raspberry Lemon Sparkling | A sparkling-only flavor with a tart, lemonade-like profile. | — |
Prices as listed on the brand's site at the time of our research and may change. Check the store for current pricing.
Happy Being FAQs
Does Happy Being have caffeine?
The brand describes Happy Being as caffeine-free, while noting that white tea naturally contains a minimal amount of caffeine.
How much sugar is in Happy Being?
Each can contains about 3 g of natural sugar and about 20 calories.
Does Happy Being contain CBD?
No. Happy Being is a white tea drink with elderberry, turmeric, vitamin C and pterostilbene. It does not list CBD or hemp.
Does Happy Being offer free shipping?
The brand's site advertises free US shipping on all orders, and subscriptions save 25%.
What is Happy Being's return policy?
Contact the brand within 30 days of purchase for a full refund or exchange.
Soda and energy-drink drinkers who want a low-sugar, low-caffeine afternoon can
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