Alpha (Nootropic Pouches) - Review. 24 April 2025.

Today, I have something completely different to talk about.  It's not snus.  It doesn't contain tobacco.  There's no nicotine in it.  It doesn't have any CBD.  These are nootropic pouches.  Nootropic pouches are this new, growing phenomenon of pouches containing beneficial ingredients that are good for cognition.  These are made by the folks that make Fully Loaded.  The can weighs in at 12 grams and contains 15 pouches, weighing 0.8g each.  The pouches contain a cellulose base.  In each pouch is 60mg of Alpha GPC (for memory and alertness), 60mg of L-Tyrosine (for mood/stress), and 20mg of Gaba (for a calming effect).  I noted on the can that they use Stevia and sucralose as a sweetner in these.  Before we get into the reviews, let's discuss what they have in common.

Commonalities

The Pouch - All of these pouches are large size, but not super full.  They have soft contents, and a soft pouch for a comfortable mouthfeel.

The Effect - I'm usually a pretty chill guy, so I'm not exactly the target demo for these.  I spent a few days with them, and didn't notice myself to be less stressed (but I'm usually not mega-stressed anyway).  I did notice a slight higher level of attention to detail in my writing.  I felt pretty chill the past few days, but I usually do anyway.  I'd be curious to hear from folks who have tried these how the affect you if you deal with stress on a regular basis.

The Flavor Longevity - These have about 30-40 minutes of flavor longevity to them, and a nice amount of presence to the flavor!

Now, let's discuss their differences:  aroma and flavor!

Alpha Nootropic:  Coffee

Description:  "A smooth and creamy coffee flavor with a hint of vanilla cream".

Review:  I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I do like the aroma of coffee.  Opening up these cans, I liked the way the smell came across.  The coffee presence is rich, slightly nutty, and has sweet hints of vanilla to it.  In the flavor profile, it is a little on the sweeter end, but not bad.  The coffee/vanilla combination is good, and I pick up subtle hints of nuttiness in the background.

Alpha Nootropic:  Coconut Banana

Description:  "A sweet and tropical flavor".

Review:  I really dig this one.  Opening up the can, I get a nice, tropical aroma of coconut with hints of banana and a mild sweetness.  The flavor is top notch.  The banana-coconut hybrid is very pleasant, and enjoyable.  It's slightly sweet, but not overly sweet.  All in all, pretty solid.

Alpha Nootropic:  Lime

Description:  "A sweet and refreshing flavor".

Review:  I am a big fan of citrus flavors, so when I got this order, lime was the first one I cracked into.  Opening up the can, you definitely encounter a tart, tangy aroma of lime.  The flavor is very much the same.   The lime flavor is front and center.  It's not overly sweet, and comes through in a tart, tangy way.  It's actually pretty tasty.  I like that this one isn't overburdened with sweetness, because you can often get that in citrus products and I don't think citrus needs to be overly sweet.

Rating and Final Thoughts

Back in 2020, I did an interview with Leo and Longevity (who is no longer with us).  He used to always talk about bio-hacking and nootropics, and I remember thinking back then that nootropic pouches could become a big deal.  I definitely look forward to seeing this category grow.  For me, Lime rated at 3.25/5, Coconut Banana at 3.08/5, and Coffee at 2.92/5.  Are these products for me?  Not really, but I don't have problems with focus/stress/etc.  I used to suffer from anxiety a lot, but CBD has helped with that.  However, I do know things like this can help people, so if you do have issues with stress/focus/etc and have tried these, leave a comment, because I'm curious to hear from others!