First time drinking Jaba Juice? What to expect

Jaba Juice is a khat drink. Khat, or miraa, is a plant that has been chewed in this part of the world for a very long time, and what we sell is the cold-pressed version of the same thing in a bottle. If you have chewed miraa before, you already know the territory. If you have not, this is what to expect.

Start with less than you think

Half a 500ml bottle is a sensible first sitting. You can always drink the rest; you cannot undrink it. People who dislike their first experience have almost always had too much too quickly, usually on an empty stomach, usually late at night.

The Premium bottle is six times more potent than the standard range. It is not a starting point, and treating it like one is the most common mistake we see.

When it kicks in, and for how long

Slower than coffee and longer than coffee. You will not get the sharp ten-minute jolt of an espresso; it comes on gradually and then stays. Plan the evening around that rather than around a quick lift, and do not judge the bottle five minutes after opening it.

The practical consequence is sleep. If you drink it late, expect to be awake late. That is the effect working, not a defect.

What it is good for

The honest answer is long nights: driving, studying, a shift that runs past midnight, or a night out you want to stay present for. It is a stimulant and it is good at being one.

We are careful not to make health claims for it. It is a natural drink made from a plant, and it is not medicine.

The downsides, plainly

You may not sleep well. You may not be hungry. Some people find their mouth dry and drink less water than they should, so keep water nearby. And like anything with a kick, it is easy to make a habit of it without noticing.

It is for adults over 18. Not recommended if you are pregnant or nursing, and if you are on medication or managing a heart condition, ask a doctor rather than asking us.

Keeping it

These are fresh, perishable drinks with no preservatives holding them together. Keep bottles cold and drink them promptly. If a bottle has been sitting warm in a car all afternoon, do not push your luck with it.

Khat is legal in Kenya, and it is worth knowing that it is not legal everywhere, so do not travel with it. Our khat guide covers the law, the effects and how it compares to coffee in more depth than a blog post can.