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Ashwagandha is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine, and it’s one that’s made its way into mainstream wellness culture in Western countries. According to registered dietitian Sydney Lappe, who wrote our guide to the best ashwagandha supplements, this herb has been used for youthfulness and health for more than 6,000 years.
It could, according to Sydney, offer benefits like stress relief, increased energy levels, and improved cognitive function. Those are all things promised by the subject of this article, and we’ll vet those claims in our KOS Kiss Your Blues Away review.
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Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
More than 10 Ashwagandha Supplements Tested
For our aforementioned guide to the best ashwagandha supplements, our roster of product testers, which include personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and athletes, tried more than 10 options on the market. We’ve also consulted registered dietitian nutritionists and doctoral experts in nutrition to inform our coverage of this supplement category.
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
Product Highlights
- Powdered drink made of blue spirulina, organic blueberries, ashwagandha, and reishi mushrooms
- Claims to calm and soothe the body and mind
- Coconut Cooler flavor
- Certified organic
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Customers like the taste
- Alternative way to take ashwagandha if you don't like pills
- Certified organic
Cons
- Considerably more expensive than other ashwagandha supplements
- Some reviewers did not find it effective
Bottom Line
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away is a blend of blue spirulina, organic blueberries, ashwagandha, and reishi mushrooms said to promote calmness and recovery. It provides an alternative way to take ashwagandha if you don't like pills, so that's a plus, and overall, customer reviews on the taste are positive. However, some reviewers found that they didn't notice any difference after taking this.
A Quick Look at KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away is an ashwagandha supplement that also contains a few other “superfoods,” including spirulina, antioxidant-rich organic blueberries, reishi mushroom powder, and a vitamin B complex, among other things.
It’s meant to be an uplifting concoction, with KOS claiming it can help you chill out and enjoy the moment. Specifically, the website reads, “Shrooms soothe with adaptogenic stress relief, lemon balm dials down your blabbermouth brain, and vibrant blue spirulina [is there] for a sigh of relief.”
If that sounds a little bit woo-woo to you, you’re not alone. But, there could be some merit to these claims, based on research on ashwagandha1, Ganoderma lucidum2 (reishi), lemon balm3, and spirulina3.
Before You Buy
- This is a blend, so it’s impossible to tell how much of each ingredient is included.
- This product doesn’t seem to be third-party tested for banned substances in sports, so athletes may want to look elsewhere for an ashwagandha supplement.
- There is currently a minor discrepancy between the product information on the KOS website and on Amazon. On Amazon, the product listing says that the powder contains 70 milligrams of caffeine per serving, but that information isn’t on the product page on the KOS site.
- Also, on Amazon, the product is listed as “Calming Blue Spirulina Blend.” This is the same product, but with slightly different branding.
Is KOS Kiss Your Blues Away Worth It?
Every product is worth it for the right person. KOS Kiss Your Blues Away could be a good option for people who struggle with daily stress levels or have trouble focusing and want a natural, caffeine-free, and drug-free way to help reduce symptoms.
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Good for:
- People looking for a calming supplement
- Individuals who need help focusing without caffeine
- Those looking to increase their B vitamin intake
Not recommended for:
- People with tree nut allergies
- People on a budget, as it’s somewhat expensive compared to other ashwagandha supplements
- Those who don’t like coconut flavor
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away Specs
| Price per serving | $39.99 list price/28 servings = $1.43/serving |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (8.9 g) |
| Calories per serving | 25 |
| Formula | Organic blue spirulina, organic ashwagandha root, organic red reishi mushroom, organic lemon balm leaf, organic passion flower extract |
| Other ingredients | Organic VitaFiber, organic coconut sugar, organic blackberry flavor, malic acid, organic coconut flavor, organic monk fruit extract |
| Flavors() | Berry Coconut Cooler |
| Sugar per serving | 2 g (2 g added) |
| Sweeteners | Monk fruit extract |
| Third-party testing | No, cGMP facility |
Experience Using KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
Kate Meier, GGR Head of Content, product tester, and fitness expert, tried KOS Kiss Your Blues Away along with members of her Olympic weightlifting team.
She dissolved the powder in plain water to get the full effect of the taste, which she loved because she likes coconut. (It’s very coconutty.) Jacob, a member of her team, didn’t like the taste so much and ended up mixing it with juice as opposed to water.
Both product testers struggled to pinpoint any effects of the supplement, with Kate noting, “We’ve taken this for a few days in a row, but I think it’s hard to point to any one supplement for effects, to be honest.”
That’s something I agree with, especially for herbal supplements, since a lot of things can affect daily stress levels, focus, and mental acuity.
Price Per Serving
At its list price of $39.99 for a tub of 28 servings, KOS Kiss Your Blues Away costs about $1.43 per serving. If you take a look at our guide to the best ashwagandha supplements, you’ll notice that that’s quite expensive, with almost all of our other top picks falling below $1 per serving.
However, this is a blend with multiple ingredients, not just ashwagandha, so that may justify the cost for some people.
Formulation
The active ingredients in KOS Kiss Your Blues Away are found in the KOS Calm and Relax Blend. The entire blend is 1 gram, and the ingredients include:
- Organic blue spirulina
- Organic ashwagandha root
- Organic red reishi mushroom
- Organic lemon balm leaf
- Organic passion flower extract
Unfortunately, because this is a blend, we can’t tell how much of each ingredient is present. Being that the entire blend is 1 gram and it includes five ingredients, the amounts logically can’t be large.
That said, there isn’t currently a standardized dose for ashwagandha recommended by nutrition professionals, according to registered dietitian Sydney Lappe. Evidence suggests that doses of 240 to 600 milligrams of ashwagandha are effective, and the National Library of Medicine4 states that up to 1,000 milligrams per day is a common dose.
Likewise, there aren’t standard dosing recommendations for the other active ingredients, either. Since there’s not enough evidence one way or the other, it’s impossible to conclude whether or not this blend is objectively good.
The remaining ingredients include:
- Organic VitaFiber (isomaltooligosaccharide)
- Organic coconut sugar
- Organic blackberry flavor
- Malic acid
- Organic coconut flavor
- Organic monk fruit extract
These are all for flavor and sweetness, with the exception of the fiber.
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Taste and Solubility
This product tastes VERY coconutty, Kate says, which is not surprising given the Berry Coconut Cooler flavor.
“We tried this mixed with just ice water, and if you don’t like coconut, you really won’t like this. I love coconut, and this tasted very much like coconut water to me. Jacob, who doesn’t love coconut, mixed it with some orange juice and cranberry juice and said it was much more palatable that way.”
It mixes well, Kate says, dissolving easily in cold water and turning into a bright blue solution.
Side Effects
Sydney says that herbal supplements should be “approached with caution,” especially for people who are managing chronic health conditions, even though many, including ashwagandha, appear safe for healthy individuals5.
People taking prescription medications should consult with their doctor before use, as should people with known or suspected allergies. Herbal supplements can interact with medications and cause allergic reactions.
For those with known allergies, while this product is gluten-free, it is made in a facility that may process allergens such as wheat products and peanuts.
One thing to note that’s universal and can happen to anyone is a side effect of excess B vitamin intake. Over-consuming water-soluble vitamins can turn your urine bright yellow, neon almost, as your body excretes what it doesn’t need. This isn’t cause for alarm; it’s just your body doing its job, but if you have neon yellow urine every day after starting to take this supplement, you might want to dial back your water-soluble vitamin intake one way or another.
Finally, it’s possible that this product could make you feel sleepy, since the ingredients have down-regulating effects.
Third-Party Testing
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away does not seem to be third-party tested. It is produced in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-certified facility, but doesn’t appear to be specifically screened for banned substances, heavy metals, allergens, contaminants, etc.
General language on the website indicates that “nearly every ingredient is certified organic and made without hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, artificial sweeteners, colors, and GMOs.”
Additionally, KOS products are manufactured in California and its ingredients are certified USDA Organic and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) organization.
KOS is a reputable brand and one we commonly recommend, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about, but if you are an athlete subject to drug testing, it’s wisest to stick to screened supplements.
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away vs Moon Juice Ashwagandha Extract Powder
Moon Juice Ashwagandha Extract Powder
Moon Juice Ashwagandha Root Powder Extract
Product Highlights
- 600 mg KSM-66 ashwagandha (withania somnifera)
- 15:1 full-spectrum root extract
- Single-ingredient product
- Eco-conscious packaging
- Organic, non-GMO, vegan, and gluten free
Pros & Cons
Pros
- KSM-66 ashwagandha
- Gluten free and vegan
- Organic and non-GMO
- 100% traceable ingredients
- Subscribe and save 10%
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Eco-conscious packaging
Cons
- Limited customer reviews
- Extremely mixed reviews on taste
- Customer reviews indicate it does not mix well
Bottom Line
Moon Juice Ashwagandha Powder contains 600 milligrams of KSM-66 ashwagandha per serving. Moon Juice states that their powder can help reduce stress, regulate cortisol levels, enhance focus and mental stamina, and reduce irritability. Customer reviews vary extensively on taste—ranging from “easily hidden” to “impossible to cover”—with numerous customers not finishing their supplement because of the taste.
Moon Juice Ashwagandha Extract Powder is another ashwagandha supplement in powder form. It differs from Kiss Your Blues Away in that it’s straight-up ashwagandha powder, specifically KSM-66, which is considered one of the best forms of ashwagandha, according to a 2022 review in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition6.
There are no other ingredients in this Moon Juice supplement, which means the earthy flavor of ashwagandha root isn’t masked. Product tester and GGR editor Frieda Johnson says the powder is “not unpleasant, but a bit earthier than I would want to drink just mixed with water.” Moon Juice recommends mixing it with other potent flavors like chocolate, coffee, and maple.
| KOS Kiss Your Blues Away | Moon Juice Ashwagandha Extract Powder | |
| Price per serving | $39.99 list price/28 servings = $1.43/serving | $34.20/72 servings = $0.47/serving |
| Serving size | 1 scoop | ¼ teaspoon (about 0.5 g) |
| Calories per serving | 25 | 0 |
| Formula | Organic blue spirulina, organic ashwagandha root, organic red reishi mushroom, organic lemon balm leaf, organic passion flower extract | 600 mg KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract |
| Other ingredients | Organic VitaFiber, organic coconut sugar, organic blackberry flavor, malic acid, organic coconut flavor, organic monk fruit extract | None |
| Flavor(s) | Berry Coconut Cooler | Unflavored |
| Sugar per serving | 2 g (2 g added) | 0 g |
| Sweeteners | Monk fruit extract | None |
| Third-party testing | No, cGMP facility | 2 rounds of “identity testing” and screening for bioactive compounds, heavy metals, mycotoxins (naturally occurring toxins in fungi), and pesticides |
Customer Experience
One thing I really love about KOS is their 60-day satisfaction guarantee, which the brand calls a “happiness guarantee.” You can return the product at any time within 60 days of ordering for any reason if you don’t like it, and KOS will offer a full refund. This isn’t something many brands offer, and it stands out as a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. This guarantee is only for purchases made on the KOS website, though.
Ordering KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
The main places to buy KOS Kiss Your Blues Away are right from the KOS website and from Amazon. It’s also available online from Walmart. You may be able to find it in stock at your local supplements store, too. When ordering online, be sure to look for subscribe-and-save options at checkout if you plan on buying it more than once.
Customer Reviews
On the KOS website, the product has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars out of 65 reviews. On Amazon, it has 4.4 out of 5 stars out of more than 3,000 ratings.
Most of the customer reviews on Amazon have a similar sentiment: The supplement is expensive and kind of smelly, but seems to be working. There are some complaints of gastrointestinal discomfort after consuming it, but such effects are highly individual.
One very enthusiastic customer wrote, “It actually does work, but the taste is not my preference. I’m going to still finish the jar though, because hey, it does work—I just have to chug my cup and give myself emotional encouragement before I let a drop hit my tongue. It tastes like someone took cough medicine then sneezed in your face, but dang does that sneeze calm you down and put you to a good sleep, I tell you what.”
“I always have trouble going and falling asleep, and I decided to try out KOS since melatonin actually gives me the most wild dreams,” the reviewer continued. “I took this product at around 7 p.m. and by 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., I felt like going to bed on my own free will—not super drowsy but feeling like a bed would sound good as heck. I was able to do my own bedtime routine too so it doesn’t affect too much function. I recommend it for calming and sleeping abilities! Each person has different tastes so I still think if you’re interested in it, give it a try.”
Final Verdict of Our KOS Kiss Your Blues Away Review
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away is an adaptogenic supplement containing ashwagandha, reishi mushroom, lemon balm, B vitamins, and spirulina. These ingredients have been shown via clinical trials to reduce stress, promote focus and mental acuity, and calm nerves.
However, effects of herbal supplements are highly individual and it’s often tough to pinpoint the effects. This is one of those products that I’d encourage you to try if interested to see if it works for you, especially since KOS offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away Full Rating
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away
Our KOS Kiss Your Blues Away review analyzes the nutrient facts of this popular superfood supplement. Is it any good? Find out here.
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 27
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.6
KOS Kiss Your Blues Away FAQs
To wrap up, here are some FAQs about Kiss Your Blues Away and ashwagandha as a dietary supplement.
Does ashwagandha actually work?
Some research shows ashwagandha supplements to be effective at reducing stress7, improving sleep quality8, enhancing physical performance9 and post-exercise recovery10, increasing cognition and improving memory11, strengthening the immune system12, and reducing bodily inflammation13.
What does spirulina do?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae with a potent antioxidant profile. It has been studied somewhat extensively and results of clinical trials show that spirulina can protect body cells against oxidative damage14; it may help lower cholesterol15 and triglyceride16 levels; it could have anticancer properties17; and may reduce blood pressure18, among other benefits. Most studies aren’t conclusive.
Are herbal supplements safe?
While ashwagandha and similar items are generally considered safe to consume for healthy individuals, people who are managing chronic health conditions, including allergies, and/or taking prescription medication(s), or those who are pregnant or nursing should check with their doctor before taking any herbal supplements.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34(3):255-262. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.106022
- Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
- Scholey A, Gibbs A, Neale C, et al. Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients. 2014;6(11):4805-4821. Published 2014 Oct 30. doi:10.3390/nu6114805
- Karkos PD, Leong SC, Karkos CD, Sivaji N, Assimakopoulos DA. Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:531053. doi:10.1093/ecam/nen058
- National Library of Medicine. Ashwagandha. Medline Plus.
- Verma N, Gupta SK, Tiwari S, et al. Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, study in Healthy Volunteers. Complement Ther Med. 2021;57:102642. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102642
- Yang L, Chen X, Gao Y. Efficacy of Different Concentrations of Withanolides in Ashwagandha Supplements for Insomnia and Enhancing Energy Level. Curr Dev Nutr. 2022;6:881. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac067.001
- Remenapp A, Coyle K, Orange T, et al. Efficacy of Withania somnifera supplementation on adult’s cognition and mood. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022;13(2):100510. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2021.08.003
- Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R. Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021;16(9):e0257843. Published 2021 Sep 24. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0257843
- Bonilla DA, Moreno Y, Gho C, Petro JL, Odriozola-Martínez A, Kreider RB. Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021;6(1):20. Published 2021 Feb 11. doi:10.3390/jfmk6010020
- Wang J, Zhang H, Kaul A, Li K, Priyandoko D, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. Effect of Ashwagandha Withanolides on Muscle Cell Differentiation. Biomolecules. 2021; 11(10):1454. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11101454
- Dnyanraj Choudhary, Sauvik Bhattacharyya & Sekhar Bose (2017) Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions, Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14:6, 599-612, DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2017.1284970
- Tharakan A, Shukla H, Benny IR, Tharakan M, George L, Koshy S. Immunomodulatory Effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) Extract-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial with an Open Label Extension on Healthy Participants. J Clin Med. 2021;10(16):3644. Published 2021 Aug 18. doi:10.3390/jcm10163644
- Logie E, Vanden Berghe W. Tackling Chronic Inflammation with Withanolide Phytochemicals-A Withaferin a Perspective. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(11):1107. Published 2020 Nov 10. doi:10.3390/antiox9111107
- Naeini F, Zarezadeh M, Mohiti S, Tutunchi H, Ebrahimi Mamaghani M, Ostadrahimi A. Spirulina supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in enhancement of antioxidant capacity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(10):e14618. doi:10.1111/ijcp.14618
- Serban MC, Sahebkar A, Dragan S, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of Spirulina supplementation on plasma lipid concentrations. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(4):842-851. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2015.09.007
- Hamedifard Z, Milajerdi A, Reiner Ž, Taghizadeh M, Kolahdooz F, Asemi Z. The effects of spirulina on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2019;33(10):2609-2621. doi:10.1002/ptr.6441
- Subramaiam H, Chu WL, Radhakrishnan AK, Chakravarthi S, Selvaduray KR, Kok YY. Evaluating Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Effects of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis and Gamma-Tocotrienol Supplementation in a Syngeneic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2320. Published 2021 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/nu13072320
- Machowiec P, Ręka G, Maksymowicz M, Piecewicz-Szczęsna H, Smoleń A. Effect of Spirulina Supplementation on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3054. Published 2021 Aug 31. doi:10.3390/nu13093054
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Ashwagandha is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine, and it’s one that’s made its way into mainstream wellness culture in Western countries. According to registered dietitian Sydney Lappe, who wrote our guide to the best ashwagandha supplements, this herb has been used for youthfulness and health for more than 6,000 years. It could, according to Sydney, offer benefits like stress relief, increased energy levels, and improved cognitive function. Those are all things promised by the subject of this article, » Read more about: KOS Kiss Your Blues Away Review (2024): A Magic Wellness Potion or Another Gimmick? » Read more
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