I, like many others, am (slightly) addicted to coffee. Maybe it's the quintessential morning smell, or the photogenic quality of the foam that sits on top of a latte. Whatever the cause, I have this thing with coffee. I love it. But it doesn't really love me back. Half of the time, drinking coffee doesn't even affect me until an hour later, at which point I become so jittery and anxious that I'm practically useless as a member of society. The other half of the time, I don't even feel any energizing effects. These are probably signs that I should have found an alternative to coffee drinks a while ago.

As summer comes to an end I'm filled with dread at the prospect of juggling a job that's located an hour away from me, a full course load, family, friends, and a committed relationship once school starts. How is one to do that??? Will I ever sleep? My classes start at 7:25am this semester. I probably won't get a break until 8pm most nights. I also want to have time for the gym...

The more I spell it out, the more daunting it seems. Given the enormous amount of stress I'm going to be under, I'm going to have to make some changes to my daily routine. Considering the fact that my body doesn't process coffee well, no matter how much I try to deny it for the sake of pretty Instagram posts, I should probably switch from something that makes me jittery, to something that provides me with natural and lasting energy. This new "something" is quite possibly Torii Awake, an all-natural tonic made to enhance focus and performance, without the upset stomach and hyper-sensitivity that coffee yields. 

The cloudy, amber-colored drink is slightly reminiscent of ginger ale, with an aftertaste that can't quite be placed. Perhaps it's the Goji berry, known for its calming effects. Whatever it is, this tonic is pretty good. The effects aren't dramatic, but I'd argue that a simple tonic with slightly enhancing effects is preferable over a highly-caffeinated drink that results in bodily discomfort, a few trips to the bathroom, and uncontrollable nerves.