Key Takeaways
- Kava and kratom are two different plants that are often confused.
- Kava comes from Piper methysticum; kratom is a different plant entirely.
- Uchie is made with kava only and contains no kratom.
- If you are choosing between them, know they are not interchangeable.
Written by Maya Ellison, Uchie Editorial. Last updated July 17, 2026.
Are kava and kratom the same thing?
No. Kava and kratom are two entirely different plants that get grouped together because both are botanicals sold in the wellness and beverage space. Kava comes from the root of Piper methysticum, a South Pacific plant with centuries of traditional social use.
Kratom is a separate plant with a different origin and a different profile. The two are not interchangeable, and it is worth knowing which one you are actually buying.
What is Uchie made with?
Uchie is made with kava only. It contains no kratom. We build every can on noble kava from the South Pacific, then blend in magnesium and L-theanine for a low-sugar sparkling seltzer.
We are deliberate about this. If you are looking specifically for a kava drink, and specifically not for kratom, Uchie is a clear, honest choice.
Why do people confuse kava and kratom?
They often sit near each other in stores and online, and both are talked about as botanicals for relaxing or unwinding, so shoppers lump them together. But their plants, traditions, and effects are distinct.
The takeaway: read the label. A product that says kava is not the same as one that contains kratom, and the difference matters.
Which should you choose?
That depends on what you are looking for, and we will stay in our lane here: Uchie is a kava drink, and we think a great one. It is non-alcoholic, low in sugar, and made for a clear-headed, social kind of unwind.
If kava is what you want, in a modern sparkling format with no kratom, that is exactly what Uchie is. For adults 18+.
Sources
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) — Kava.