As I stared down at the activated charcoal cocoa flavored Drink mix swirling around, blackening the sides my cup, all I could think was: Apparently I’ll try anything if it promises a little energy boost. And then I wondered if it was going to stick all in my teeth. For the record, it did not.

I agreed to try two different types of Sutra powder, black and gold. The first one pictured here is SUTRA black, described on the website as “a delicious activated charcoal detox drink that boosts energy naturally through the use of healing superfoods, without negative effects of caffeine and tastes like a smooth and flavorful hot cocoa.”

It was…interesting. You mix a packet of powder with hot water or milk and then it’s ready to drink. I chose water so I could really taste the flavor. My first try was in the microwave and the powder didn’t completely dissolve so it tasted a little gritty. The second try was with a kettle, so the water was boiling hot, and I got better results and a much smoother drink.

The taste overall is very mild, with a hint of cocoa. I think it gave me a little boost. I tried it during the afternoon slump hours, when my toddler is still going full force and I’m the one ready for a nap. I wasn’t bouncing off the walls, but did feel awake and alert.

By the way, what pops up first when you type “sutra black” into Google is NOT cocoa drink (NSFW, lol), so here’s their website: https://www.sipsutra.com

Experiment number two was with SUTRA Gold. This one is an antioxidant rich golden milk that is supposed to taste like a “smooth and flavorful chai latte.”

This one dissolved more easily, creating a golden liquid, and again my first worry was that it would be all in my teeth. (again, it was not)

I wasn’t a fan of gold and found it a little too warm overall. Possibly because it was 90 degrees out and I was drinking a hot spicy drink that made my belly feel all warm. I could see drinking this one on a chilly day, but I did not make it through the whole cup to really assess its benefits.

So will it replace my coffee? No, I still need that caffeinated morning jolt. But I could see drinking the SUTRA black in the late afternoon when I want a little pick-me-up and don’t want to worry about caffeine keeping me up later.