I picked up a six-pack of Goodrays Raspberry & Guava and made it my evening drink for a week. One 250ml can a night, fridge-cold. I wanted to know if it was just a pretty can with a CBD number on it, or if it actually did something once you sat down with it.

Taste

A lot of CBD drinks leave a film in your mouth — that sour, herbal aftertaste that hangs around after the fruit has gone. This one didn't. Raspberry and guava come through first, then a bit of sparkle, then a light herbal edge at the end. It is not sweet-shop sweet. More like a grown-up seltzer.

I liked it. Plenty of people do not. Goodrays has a bit of a split reputation on flavour: some drinkers call the finish bitter or acidic and bounce straight back to Trip. Others like that slightly weird, grown-up taste and keep a case in the fridge as their evening ritual. If you want something that drinks like a regular soft drink, you might not get on with it. If you do not mind a little bitterness, it is one of the better CBD cans I have had.

How it felt

I was not expecting miracles from one can. After a few evenings I was waking less than usual and felt a bit more relaxed going to bed. Nothing dramatic — just a notch calmer, like the day had been turned down a little. That matches what a lot of regular drinkers say: it is an evening wind-down, not a knockout. Some people use it instead of a beer. I can see why.

It is still a soft drink, not a substitute for sleep or for how you actually manage stress. Take the chill as a bonus if you get it, not a promise.

Dose, flavours and the rest of the range

Each can has 30mg of CBD. That is the main reason people pay more than they would for Trip — you are getting about three times the CBD in the same size can. No added sugar, around 33 calories, a hit of vitamin D, and it is vegan. There is soy in the CBD isolate, which is worth knowing if that is a problem for you.

I only tried Raspberry & Guava. Goodrays also does Blood Orange & Grapefruit, Elderflower & Yuzu, and Passionfruit & Pomelo, in 6, 12 and 24 packs. If this flavour is not yours, there is room to shop around without leaving the brand.

Price

A six-pack is about £11.25, so just under £2 a can. That is a lot for 250ml of sparkling water, even with 30mg of CBD in it. Bigger cases and Subscribe & Save bring it down. If you are only curious, start with six. If it becomes a habit, buy the 12 or 24.

Verdict

I would buy it again, especially on a bulk deal. The taste held up, the evening effect was modest but real for me, and 30mg a can is a proper dose next to the lighter CBD sodas. Just do not expect it to floor you, and do not buy a six-pack if you are hunting for the cheapest can on the shelf.