The Plant That’s Been Around for Centuries—and the Brand Making It Cool Again

I’ll be honest: the first time someone mentioned kanna to me, I nodded along like I knew what they were talking about and then immediately Googled it under the table.

Turns out, kanna—botanically known as Sceletium tortuosum—is a succulent plant native to South Africa, and it has been used by indigenous communities there for hundreds of years.

Traditionally chewed or brewed into tea, it was prized for its ability to lift mood, ease stress, and make social situations feel a little more natural. Think of it as the original feel-good plant, long before the supplement industry caught on.

And yet, for most of us in the US wellness space, kanna is still flying under the radar. That’s starting to change—and a brand called Ferris Wheel is doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

How a centuries-old plant ended up in a Blue Razz gummy

Ferris Wheel whole premise is pretty simple: take something that genuinely works, make it beautiful, and get it into people’s hands in a format they’ll actually enjoy. No clinical-looking capsules, no chalky powders you have to hold your nose to finish. Instead, they’ve built a lineup of kanna tablets and gummies that come in flavors like Juicy Apple, Pink Stardust, Watermelon, and Sour Cherry.

It sounds playful—and it is—but there’s real substance behind the branding. Every product is made with 100% natural ingredients, federally legal in the US, and third-party lab tested. For anyone who pays attention to what goes into their body (I’m definitely one of those people), that last part matters a lot.

The tablets, which they call Party Tablets, are designed for a more energizing, immersive experience. The Daily Mood Gummies lean toward something gentler—a steady, feel-good lift that’s built more for regular use than for Saturday nights. Two different vibes, same thoughtful approach to the source ingredient.

What kanna actually feels like

This is the part people always want to know, so I’ll just tell you what the research and the community tend to describe.

Kanna works primarily through the serotonergic system—it acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which is a fancy way of saying it supports mood, reduces anxiety, and makes social situations feel easier to navigate.

The effects are typically described as a smooth, warm uplift rather than anything stimulating or edgy. People who use Ferris Wheel’s products consistently mention a few things: elevated mood, a sense of ease in social settings, cleaner focus without jitteriness, and—this one comes up a lot—waking up the next morning feeling completely fine. No grogginess, no crash, no fog.

One reviewer put it simply: “No crash, no fog. Exit the ride feeling refreshed, not wrecked.”

That last point is probably what separates kanna from a lot of other social wellness options. It occupies a genuinely interesting space—more than a cup of coffee, more grounding than alcohol, and without the complicated aftermath that tends to follow both.

The people actually using it

What struck me looking through the Ferris Wheel community is how diverse the use cases are. Jessica brings the tablets on trail hikes with friends and says they’ve completely replaced pre-workout and coffee for her group.

Michelle takes them on nights out and appreciates how smooth and steady the feeling is. Amanda, who describes herself as selective about ingredients, loved that the experience felt clean and that she woke up “totally refreshed.”

There’s something telling about a product that gets used equally on hiking trails and dinner dates. It suggests Ferris Wheel has landed on something genuinely versatile—a mood and energy supplement that adapts to whatever you’re doing rather than locking you into one specific experience.

The reviews back this up in sheer volume, too. The Party Blend Bundle alone has accumulated over 5,000 reviews, which, for a wellness brand operating in a still-emerging category, is a meaningful signal.

Why the timing feels right

Kanna is federally legal in the US, though it’s worth checking your specific state’s regulations before ordering. It’s not a controlled substance, it’s not synthetic, and it doesn’t have the same cultural baggage as some other plant-based options. For a lot of people who want something that genuinely shifts their mood or energy without the downsides of alcohol or other substances, it hits a sweet spot that’s been pretty empty until recently.

Ferris Wheel seems to understand this moment. The brand doesn’t oversell the plant or make wild health claims—they position it honestly, back it with lab testing, and let the experience speak for itself. That kind of restraint is actually kind of rare in the supplement space, where the temptation to overstate is constant.

They’re also clearly thinking about format and experience in a way that most wellness brands don’t bother with. Choosing between a Citrus Twist tablet for a night out and a Sour Apple gummy for a Tuesday afternoon is a small thing, but it signals that Ferris Wheel is designing for real life, not for a clinical context.

Worth knowing before you try it

If you’re curious about kanna and thinking about trying Ferris Wheel for the first time, a few practical notes worth keeping in mind:

Effects typically kick in within 15 to 45 minutes, and for most people, they last somewhere between two and four hours. The recommended starting dose is one tablet or gummy—wait at least an hour before deciding whether you want a second. And if you’re on any medication, it’s worth a quick conversation with your doctor first, since kanna does interact with the serotonergic system.

The subscription pricing comes with 25% off, which makes regular use a lot more approachable if you decide it’s something you want to build into your routine.

Worth trying if you’ve been curious about plant-based mood support

Kanna isn’t going to be for everyone—nothing in wellness ever is. But for people who’ve been searching for something that genuinely supports mood and social energy without the downsides, it’s one of the more interesting options to emerge in recent years. And Ferris Wheel is, so far, doing the best job I’ve seen of making it accessible, trustworthy, and honestly kind of fun.

If you’ve been kanna-curious, this is probably a good place to start.

FAQ

Is kanna legal in the US?

Kanna is not a controlled substance under federal law in the US. State and local laws can vary, so it’s worth a quick check for your specific location before ordering.

How is kanna different from CBD or other wellness supplements?

Kanna works primarily through the serotonergic system, supporting mood and social ease in a way that’s distinct from CBD (which works through the endocannabinoid system) or adaptogens (which tend to focus on stress response over time). The effects are typically felt within 30–45 minutes and are more immediate than most traditional adaptogens.

Do Ferris Wheel products cause a hangover or crash?

Based on customer reviews and the nature of the ingredient, no. One of the most consistently mentioned benefits is waking up feeling clear and refreshed, with no crash or foggy aftermath.

What’s the difference between the Party Tablets and the Daily Mood Gummies?

The Party Tablets are designed for a more elevated, energizing experience—great for social situations or events. The Daily Mood Gummies are formulated for a gentler, more consistent lift suited to everyday use.