Ingredients
Every ingredient. Every dose. Every reason.
Most pouch brands hide behind “proprietary blend.” We don’t. Here’s exactly what’s in each pouch, what it does, and why we chose the dose we did. If you can’t find an ingredient on this page, it’s not in our product.
Caffeine (Anhydrous)
Stimulant- Found in
- FOCUS (50mg)·ENERGY (75mg)
- Form
- Caffeine anhydrous — the same compound found in coffee, just without the water.
What it does
Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain — the receptors that make you feel sleepy. It also gently raises dopamine and norepinephrine, which is why you feel alert and motivated within 5-15 minutes of a pouch.
Why this dose
50mg in FOCUS roughly equals half a cup of coffee. 75mg in ENERGY equals about three-quarters. Both well within the 400mg daily ceiling the FDA considers safe for healthy adults. We deliberately keep doses lower than competitors — two pouches gets you to a full coffee, which is enough.
Studied at
40-300mg per dose, with cognitive benefits demonstrated at 40-100mg in combination with L-theanine. Higher isn’t better — past 200mg, anxiety and jitter outweigh the cognitive gains for most people.
The honest note
Caffeine is mildly habit-forming. Daily users develop tolerance over 2-3 weeks. We recommend taking weekends off occasionally to keep the effect sharp.
L-Theanine
Amino Acid- Found in
- FOCUS (40mg)·CALM (75mg)
- Form
- Pharmaceutical-grade L-theanine.
What it does
L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. It promotes alpha brain waves — the brain state associated with calm focus. Paired with caffeine, it produces the same alertness without the jitter spike that pure caffeine gives you.
Why this dose
40mg in FOCUS matches the 1:2 caffeine-to-theanine ratio used in the Haskell 2008 cognitive study (PMID 18006208). 75mg in CALM is our maximum dose for the pouch format — two CALM pouches puts you at 150mg, which is the lower edge of clinical relaxation studies.
Studied at
100-400mg per dose. Cognitive benefits documented at 100-200mg, relaxation benefits at 200-400mg. Higher doses are well-tolerated with no known side effects.
Ashwagandha
Adaptogen- Found in
- CALM (15mg)
What it does
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen — a class of herbs that help the body regulate its stress response. Specifically, it modulates cortisol (the stress hormone) over weeks of consistent use. The Chandrasekhar 2012 RCT showed a 27.9% cortisol reduction at 600mg/day.
Why this dose
Here’s the honest part. 15mg per pouch is sub-clinical — the studies use 300-600mg/day. We include ashwagandha at this dose because it contributes meaningfully to the flavor profile and provides supplemental adaptogen support within a stack. We’re not pretending 15mg per pouch will give you the clinical effect. Anyone claiming 300mg ashwagandha in a 0.6g pouch is lying about the math.
For a clinical dose
You’d need a capsule. We considered making CALM a slim 0.8g pouch to fit more, but we’d rather be honest about the constraint than misleading about the formula.
Lemon Balm Extract
Calming Herb- Found in
- CALM (25mg)
- Form
- 4:1 standardized extract — 25mg of extract represents 100mg of dried leaf equivalent.
What it does
Lemon balm is a gentle GABAergic herb — it modulates the GABA neurotransmitter system, which is the brain’s primary “off-switch” pathway. Subjectively: mild calm, reduced racing thoughts, slight reduction in restlessness.
Why this dose
25mg of 4:1 extract = 100mg dried-leaf equivalent. This is at the low end of effective range (studies use 300-600mg dried herb equivalent). Combined with the 75mg L-theanine and 15mg GABA in CALM, it stacks into a meaningful calm-supportive profile.
The honest note
Most users don’t feel lemon balm as a standalone ingredient — it works in the background. The pleasant herbal note in the CALM flavor comes partly from this.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
Neurotransmitter- Found in
- CALM (15mg)
- Form
- Synthetic-identical to the GABA your brain produces.
What it does
GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter — when GABA activity is high, you feel calm. When it’s low, you feel anxious. Whether oral GABA crosses the blood-brain barrier is scientifically debated.
Why this dose
15mg is symbolic. Honest framing: many CALM users report a subjective benefit from GABA in this kind of stack, even though the scientific mechanism is unclear. We include it because it adds to the formula without crowding out other ingredients. We won’t promise it’s the active driver.
The honest note
The L-theanine in CALM does most of the GABA-related work — L-theanine reliably crosses the blood-brain barrier and modulates GABA pathways. GABA itself is a supporting cast member.
Alpha-GPC
Choline / Nootropic- Found in
- FOCUS (20mg)
- Form
- L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, 50% strength.
What it does
Alpha-GPC is a choline source that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Your brain uses choline to make acetylcholine — the neurotransmitter behind memory, learning, and muscle activation.
Why this dose
20mg is below the clinical range (300-600mg). It contributes to the stack but isn’t the hero of FOCUS. We’re including it at this level because cramming a clinical dose would force us to remove either caffeine or L-theanine — and those two together are the proven combination. A future “FOCUS+” SKU at higher pouch weight could fit more.
The honest note
This is exactly the kind of ingredient most brands would slap on the front of the can and call “Cognitive Booster.” We’re telling you it’s sub-clinical because that’s the truth.
L-Tyrosine
Amino Acid- Found in
- ENERGY (40mg)
- Form
- Free-form amino acid.
What it does
L-tyrosine is the precursor your body uses to make dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine — the neurotransmitters behind drive, motivation, and acute stress response. Military research (Hase 2015, PMID 25797188) shows it supports cognitive performance under acute stress: sleep deprivation, cold exposure, intense exertion.
Why this dose
40mg is sub-clinical (studies use 100-300mg) but stacks well with caffeine in the energy pathway. The two together support the “pre-workout” use case of ENERGY without overloading the formula.
Studied at
100-300mg before stressful cognitive tasks. Higher doses for acute stress protocols (military, extreme conditions).
Niacin (Nicotinamide form)
Vitamin B3- Found in
- ENERGY (14 mg (88% DV))
- Form
- Nicotinamide — the non-flushing form of B3.
What it does
Niacin is essential for energy metabolism — specifically, the production of NAD+ and NADP+, which are the molecules your cells use to convert food into ATP (cellular energy). Low niacin means lethargy, brain fog, and poor exercise tolerance.
Why this dose
14mg is 88% of your daily value. Combined with B6 and B12, it forms the energy-metabolism trio that supports the “drive” claim of the ENERGY SKU.
Why nicotinamide specifically
Regular niacin (nicotinic acid) causes a hot, itchy flushing reaction at supplemental doses. Nicotinamide doesn’t. Same metabolic benefit, no awkward side effect.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
Vitamin / Cofactor- Found in
- FOCUS (500 mcg)·ENERGY (500 mcg)
- Form
- Methylcobalamin — the bioactive form, not the cheap cyanocobalamin.
What it does
B12 is essential for neurotransmitter synthesis, myelin production (the insulation around your nerves), and red blood cell formation. Deficiency causes fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, and in severe cases, neurological damage. Roughly 6% of US adults are actually deficient; many more are sub-optimal.
Why this dose
500 mcg is well above the daily requirement (2.4 mcg) but absorption through the cheek lining is partial. This is one of the few nutrients where pouch delivery genuinely outperforms swallowing — the FDA recognizes sublingual B12 absorption.
Why methylcobalamin specifically
Cyanocobalamin (the cheap form in most supplements) requires your liver to convert it into the active form. Methylcobalamin skips this step. Slightly more expensive; much more credible.
Vitamin B6 (P-5-P)
Vitamin / Cofactor- Found in
- FOCUS (1.7 mg (100% DV))·ENERGY (1.7 mg)·CALM (1.7 mg)
- Form
- P-5-P — the active form, not pyridoxine HCl.
What it does
B6 is the cofactor your body uses to synthesize most neurotransmitters — dopamine, serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine. Without enough B6, the rest of the formula has nothing to work with.
Why this dose
1.7 mg is 100% of your daily value. Present in all three SKUs because every formula depends on neurotransmitter synthesis.
Why P-5-P specifically
Pyridoxine HCl (the cheap form) requires liver conversion. P-5-P is already in the active form. Slightly more expensive; works immediately.
Chromium (Picolinate)
Trace Mineral- Found in
- ENERGY (30 mcg (85% DV))
- Form
- Picolinate-bound chromium for absorption.
What it does
Chromium supports insulin sensitivity — your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar smoothly. Steady blood sugar means steady energy, without the spike-and-crash pattern that comes from caffeine alone.
Why this dose
30 mcg is the standard supplemental dose. Costs almost no formulation real estate, supports the “no crash” claim of ENERGY.
Other ingredients
Not actives — the filler that holds the pouch together.
- Plant fiber (eucalyptus cellulose)
- The structural base of the pouch. Holds the formula in place, provides chew-feel.
- Xylitol
- Natural sugar alcohol. Provides sweetness without raising blood sugar. Also mildly antibacterial — supports oral health.
- Food-grade glycerin
- Humectant. Keeps the pouch moist and the actives bioavailable.
- Citric acid
- pH regulator. Standard food-grade.