Som Sleep is a pleasant, low-calorie drink mix built around a modest 3 mg dose of melatonin plus magnesium, vitamin B6, L-theanine and GABA. It suits people who like a bedtime ritual and want something gentler than sedating sleep aids. Because every main powder contains melatonin, it is not for everyone, and buying the ingredients separately is cheaper.
What we like
- Short, familiar ingredient list with a stated 3 mg melatonin dose
- About 10 calories and zero sugar per stick, sweetened with monk fruit and stevia
- NSF Certified for Sport on key products
- Single-serve sticks are easy to travel with
- Several flavors and subscription savings
Keep in mind
- All main powders contain melatonin, which does not suit everyone
- Magnesium dose is small at about 40 mg per stick
- Costs more than buying melatonin, magnesium and L-theanine separately
- Amounts of L-theanine and GABA are not prominently listed in reviews
Som Sleep began as a ready-to-drink canned sleep beverage and has since shifted its focus to powder sticks you stir into water. The pitch is a calm, tasty bedtime ritual that helps you relax and wake up without grogginess, using a handful of well-known ingredients rather than a long proprietary blend.
We looked at what is actually in each stick, how the doses compare with standard supplements and who is likely to get the most out of it.
The people and idea behind Som
Som Sleep was founded by John Shegerian, Abdul Khan and Cristine Khan. The brand started with canned drinks, which still appear at some retailers, before introducing powder sticks as an on-the-go format. Its positioning is clear: non-habit-forming, drug-free relaxation support that tastes good and fits easily into an evening routine.
The brand says its team spent more than a year refining both taste and effectiveness before launch. The result is deliberately simple. Instead of packing in a dozen botanicals at small doses, Som uses five ingredients that are widely used for sleep and relaxation, which makes it easier to understand what you are taking and to judge whether it agrees with you.
What is in a stick
Each 10 g stick is mixed with water and taken about 30 minutes before bed. The key ingredients are:
- Melatonin, 3 mg: the hormone your body releases in the evening to signal sleep. Three milligrams is a common over-the-counter dose, though research suggests many people respond to less.
- Vitamin B6, 2 mg (118% DV): involved in producing neurotransmitters, including serotonin.
- Magnesium, 40 mg (10% DV): a modest amount. It contributes to your daily intake but is far below the doses in standalone magnesium supplements.
- L-theanine: an amino acid from tea associated with calm, relaxed alertness.
- GABA: a calming neurotransmitter, included as a supplement ingredient.
Each stick is about 10 calories with zero sugar, sweetened with monk fruit and stevia. The brand describes the products as vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free, and key products carry NSF Certified for Sport status, which means they are tested for banned substances and label accuracy.
See Som Sleep's current range
Flavors, formats and price
The powder comes in Berry, Cherry, Mango and Tangerine, in packs of 10, 20 and 30 servings, with variety packs such as Mango plus Tangerine. A one-time 10-serving pack has been listed at $19.99, or about $2 a serving, and subscribing brings the cost down to roughly $1.69 a serving. The brand store offers free shipping on all orders.
That is more than you would pay for basic melatonin tablets, and you are paying partly for convenience, taste and the ritual of a warm or cool drink before bed.
To put that in perspective, a month of nightly use on subscription works out to roughly $50. If you only need help on the occasional difficult night, such as before travel or after a late event, a 10-pack can last a long time and the per-serving premium matters much less.
How to use it well
A sleep drink works best alongside good habits rather than in place of them.
- Take it at a consistent time, about 30 minutes before you plan to sleep.
- Start with half a stick if you are sensitive to melatonin or worry about morning grogginess.
- Avoid combining it with other melatonin products, alcohol or sedating medication.
- Use it as a cue: dim the lights and put screens away while you drink it.
- Reassess after two weeks. If you see no change, the ingredients may not be what is holding your sleep back.
For jet lag and occasional late nights, the travel-friendly sticks are particularly handy.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
Som Sleep suits adults who want gentle support for occasional sleeplessness, prefer a drink over pills or gummies, and like a clean, low-sugar label. Athletes may appreciate the NSF certification.
It is not the right choice if you want to avoid melatonin, need a higher magnesium dose, are on a tight budget or expect a strong knockout effect. It also contains no herbal ingredients such as chamomile or valerian, if those are what you are looking for. If your main issue is noise or light rather than winding down, a mask from Manta Sleep or sleep earbuds from Ozlo may help more.
How it compares with other sleep supplements
Compared with a basic melatonin tablet, Som adds magnesium, B6, L-theanine and GABA in a pleasant drink. Compared with magnesium-focused products, it supplies much less magnesium but more of a sleep-timing signal from melatonin. If you only want magnesium, a dedicated supplement or a magnesium bath soak such as Flewd is a different approach. If you want a stress-focused product for daytime calm, look at L-theanine on its own rather than a melatonin drink.
Our verdict
Som Sleep is a well-made, transparent and enjoyable sleep drink with sensible doses and third-party testing on key products. Its reliance on melatonin and modest magnesium content limit how widely we would recommend it, and it is pricier than DIY alternatives. For people who like the ritual and respond well to melatonin, it is a good option.
Our advice is to treat it as a tool for occasional use, such as jet lag, a disrupted schedule or a stressful week, rather than a permanent nightly habit. If you find you need help falling asleep most nights for more than a few weeks, that is worth raising with a doctor, as ongoing insomnia often responds well to approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
Som Sleep products at a glance
| Product | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Som Sleep Powder Sticks (10-pack) | Single-serve sleep drink mix with 3 mg melatonin, magnesium, B6, L-theanine and GABA. | $19.99 |
| Som Sleep Variety Pack | Mixed flavors, such as Mango and Tangerine, in a 20-stick pack. | — |
| Som Sleep subscription | Recurring delivery that lowers the cost to roughly $1.69 per serving. | about $1.69/serving |
| Som Sleep ready-to-drink cans | The original canned format, available through some retailers. | — |
Prices as listed on the brand's site at the time of our research and may change. Check the store for current pricing.
Som Sleep FAQs
How much melatonin is in Som Sleep?
Each stick contains 3 mg of melatonin, a common over-the-counter dose. Some people do well with less, so you can start with half a stick.
Is Som Sleep habit-forming?
The brand describes it as non-habit-forming. Melatonin is not considered addictive, but it is still best used thoughtfully and not as a nightly fix for an ongoing sleep problem.
How many calories are in Som Sleep?
About 10 calories per stick, with zero sugar. It is sweetened with monk fruit and stevia.
Is Som Sleep third-party tested?
Key Som Sleep products carry NSF Certified for Sport status, which involves testing for banned substances and label claims.
When should I drink Som Sleep?
Mix one stick with water and drink it about 30 minutes before bed.
Adults who want a gentle, travel-friendly bedtime drink instead of pills
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