With up to 46% of adults not getting sufficient sleep, it's no wonder that people are turning to nighttime supplements to add to their evening routines. MoonBrew has been gaining popularity in the sleep-support space, offering the melatonin-free Magnesium Sleep Aid powder that targets getting to sleep faster and waking up without grogginess. But is the formula the most effective in helping people achieve these goals?
In this MoonBrew review, I've decided to take a deep dive into the product's ingredients, overall formula, taste, cost, and more, giving you a comprehensive understanding of its benefits and potential drawbacks. While it may help some individuals, I'd still recommend Live it Up Golden Hour to clients as a gentle, science-backed approach to support sleep and relaxation. I’ll share:
- Is MoonBrew Worth a Try?
- What Is MoonBrew?
- Purported Benefits
- Ingredients Breakdown
- Quality and Safety
- Cost Analysis
- Taste Review
- Why I Recommend Live it Up Golden Hour
MoonBrew Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Up to 5 minerals (depending on flavor), including iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, sodium, and potassium
- 7 "Calm Blend" ingredients (2.25g total), such as chamomile, L-tryptophan, and reishi extract
- Includes two different forms of magnesium (72mg total)
- L-theanine (150mg)
- Sweeteners: Monk fruit extract or cane sugar depending on flavor
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Flavors: Six options:
- Hot Cocoa
- Coconut Chocolate
- Mint Chocolate
- Vanilla Latte
- Vanilla
- Sleepy Berry
- Manufacturer health claims: Help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed
- Possible side effects: Magnesium may cause gastrointestinal issues in some individuals. Some flavors contain a very small amount of caffeine. Additionally, some MoonBrew ingredients may negatively interact with certain medications.
- Container size: 25 servings
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Serving size: Varies by flavor:
- Sleepy Berry: 1 scoop = 5g
- Hot Cocoa and Mint Chocolate: 1 scoop = 6g
- Coconut Chocolate: 2 scoops = 16.2g
- Vanilla Latte: 2 scoops = 17.2g
- Price: $48 for one container (or $38.40 with a subscription, $1.53 per serving)
- Shipping: Free for subscriptions and orders $60+
Bottom Line: Is MoonBrew Worth a Try?
MoonBrew offers a melatonin-free sleep aid that focuses on magnesium and L-theanine in a dessert-like drink. Though it’s third-party tested, my dietitian's take is that MoonBrew isn't worth it for a nighttime sleep aid. There are a few health claims where more research is needed, but more importantly, the formula contains the filler maltodextrin and added sugar in some flavors, plus it's expensive.
My top pick continues to be Live it Up Golden Hour, which is also free of melatonin but takes a different approach to relaxation and sleep support with research-backed ashwagandha and turmeric. It's an affordable, all-natural, cozy drink with no added sugar or fillers.
What Is MoonBrew?
MoonBrew cofounders Allen Shen and Andrew Case met in 2021 and got to talking about sleep-promoting supplements. What started as a seedling of an idea launched into a well-formulated product, with MoonBrew Magnesium Sleep Aid launching in 2022.
Two years later, in 2024, the MoonBrew team dropped the Hot Cocoa flavor, which became a hit. Since then, other flavor options have been released, along with Sleep + Vitamin Gummies and an Extra Strength version of the Magnesium Sleep Aid. The standard Magnesium Sleep Aid comes in six flavors, each of which has varying calorie and carbohydrate amounts:
- Calories: 15–70 (depending on flavor)
- Carbs: 3–12g
- Protein: 1–3g
- Fat: 0–1g
- Total sugars: 0–9g (depending on flavor)
- Sodium: 15–125mg
MoonBrew Pros
- Gluten-free
- Comes in six flavors
- No melatonin
- No artificial sweeteners
- Third-party lab-tested for purity
- Contains highly bioavailable forms of magnesium
- 60-day money-back guarantee
MoonBrew Cons
- Contains the filler maltodextrin, which may cause digestive upset
- L-tryptophan may negatively interact with certain medications
- Certain flavors contain up to 9g of added sugar
- Some flavors contain trace amounts of caffeine
- Zinc is double the recommended daily value
- Only 25 servings per container (not a full month’s supply)
- Cost is high compared to some other sleep drinks
MoonBrew Purported Benefits
MoonBrew lists quite a few potential benefits of its sleep aid, from supporting deeper sleep to promoting digestion and lessening inflammation. But for the purposes of this MoonBrew review, I thought I'd focus on the benefits that people are looking for when they turn to a nighttime supplement—and if MoonBrew's are backed by science.
#1: Supports Relaxation Before Bed
To support a relaxed state before bedtime, MoonBrew's formula features its proprietary Calming Blend (2.25g), composed of chamomile extract, L-tryptophan, jujube seed extract, arborvitae seed extract, polygala root extract, reishi extract, and silk tree bark extract. Some of these more well-known botanicals, like chamomile, have been shown to have a calming effect, while lesser-known ingredients, like polygala root, may have a sedative effect.
In addition to the Calming Blend, MoonBrew includes 150mg of L-theanine, an amino acid that has been linked to positive outcomes with stress levels and cognitive function. Found naturally in black and green tea leaves, L-theanine may help with relaxation, which may help individuals fall asleep easier. But findings show mixed results, with one study showing higher rates of relaxation only in people who had higher levels of stress.
I am surprised to see that the formula doesn't include ashwagandha, a powerful adaptogen that has been shown to support relaxation.
#2: Improves Sleep Quality and REM Cycles
There are several potential sleep-supporting ingredients in MoonBrew's formula. For instance, magnesium glycinate has shown sleep improvements in adults that had previously reported poor sleep quality, and in one animal study, jujube seed increased total sleep time (but it didn't show any effects on REM sleep).
Another interesting addition is L-tryptophan. Because the body doesn't produce this amino acid on its own, we must get it from food sources, such as turkey, chicken, milk, and canned tuna. It plays an essential role in the synthesis of serotonin, which can help you feel calm. This L-tryptophan/serotonin pathway helps to naturally produce melatonin, a hormone that supports sleep and drowsiness.
However, many of the MoonBrew reviews and complaints I read mention that MoonBrew helped some people fall asleep quickly but didn't keep them asleep.
#3: Promotes Muscle Relaxation
Magnesium plays a vital role in muscular health, helping your muscles recover from exercise and everyday activities. But the exact role it plays in helping with nocturnal muscle cramping isn't clear.
One research review lists several studies that assessed whether magnesium supplementation affects muscle cramps at night, noting that only one study showed positive results in terms of cramp frequency and intensity. All of the studies listed provided doses of 300g magnesium or higher (MoonBrew contains 72g magnesium).
#4: Helps You Wake Up Refreshed
Many MoonBrew customers back up this claim, noting that they wake up feeling less groggy, which could be due to reishi mushroom extract, which can act as a mood booster, and the relaxation- and sleep-supporting ingredients, such as magnesium, jujube seed, L-theanine, and others. L-theanine in particular, while promoting a more relaxed state in some people, doesn't have a sedative effect that may lead to morning grogginess.
MoonBrew Ingredients Breakdown
Here are more details on MoonBrew's ingredients:
- Minerals: In addition to magnesium, three MoonBrew flavors include potassium. Potassium has been shown to regulate overall muscle function and contribute to sleep duration. With these positive effects, it's strange why not all flavors contain this helpful mineral. All flavors include zinc at 205% DV, so be aware of how much zinc you’re getting in your diet and supplements, as MoonBrew already exceeds the recommendation.
- Amino acids: MoonBrew features L-theanine and L-tryptophan, which may help with relaxation and promote the production of melatonin for sleep. As I mentioned earlier, some individuals may need to watch their intake of L-tryptophan. But that may be difficult with MoonBrew because the exact amount of the amino acid isn't disclosed.
- Calming Blend: This is MoonBrew's proprietary blend (2.25g) of botanicals, superfoods, and an amino acid targeted for relaxation. Different areas of MoonBrew's product page mentions both 9 and 11 superfoods in its formula, but I only count 6 or 7. L-theanine and L-tryptophan are not superfoods, rather they're amino acids found in good-for-you foods.
- Other ingredients: Remaining ingredients vary by flavor. They may include coconut or whole milk powder, natural flavors, cane sugar, monk fruit extract, MCT oil powder, sea salt, cocoa powder, or instant decaf coffee. All flavors include the additive maltodextrin, which may lead to intestinal issues with prolonged use in some individuals.
MoonBrew Quality and Safety
MoonBrew sources its ingredients from high-quality supplies across the globe and manufactures its products in a GMP/FDA-compliant facility in the United States. The company also says that the MoonBrew sleep aid is approved by clinicians and third-party tested for purity. The formula is gluten-free.
MoonBrew Cost Analysis
When considering adding a new supplement to your nightly routine, cost is likely a factor in your decision. While MoonBrew might not be as expensive as, say, AGZ, it's still on the higher end in terms of per-serving cost. Here's a breakdown of MoonBrew pricing:
- One-time purchase: $48 for one container ($1.92 per serving)
- Subscription: $38.40 ($1.53 per serving)
- Bulk-order discounts: Save 26% with an order of two containers; save 35% with three containers
- Shipping: Free for subscriptions or orders $60+; $6 for one-time orders under $60
The company offers a 60-day return policy during which you can request a refund or an exchange for a different flavor. MoonBrew doesn't accept multiple returns of the same product. It's not clear whether they or customers cover return shipping costs.
Relaxing your body before bedtime shouldn't break the bank. For a more affordable nighttime option, check out Live it Up Golden Hour, which comes out to $1.33 per serving with a subscription and lasts an entire month (in contrast, MoonBrew is only 25 servings per container).
MoonBrew Taste Review
With MoonBrew, you can pick your own flavor adventure from six options:
- Hot Cocoa
- Mint Chocolate
- Coconut Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Vanilla Latte
- Sleepy Berry
Other sleep aids come in just a couple of flavors, so the variety here is a big plus. Most MoonBrew reviews of the hot chocolate flavor are positive, but in general, other flavors have mixed opinions.
But some of the reviews of MoonBrew flavors mention that they taste too milky, sweet, or bland. I also thought that some of them, particularly Vanilla Latte, had a strange, metallic-y aftertaste.
But one thing that customers—myself included—agree on after drinking MoonBrew is its dissolvability. It mixes well, doesn't leave clumps in the final drink, and doesn't require a frother (although, MoonBrew does include a free frother with subscriptions).
For people who complain of nighttime supplements being overly sweet or just not right for their tastes, I point them to Live it Up Golden Hour. It's like a warm hug in a mug (or a refreshing hug, depending on if you drink it hot or cold!). It offers just the right amount of spice and a whisper of vanilla to give you the most relaxing bedtime beverage.
Why I Recommend Live it Up Golden Hour
While MoonBrew may positively impact someone's nighttime routine, it may not be your cup of tea. I direct many clients to Live it Up Golden Hour, a creamy, warming treat to sip before bed. It offers up all of these possible benefits (and more!):
- Golden milk is rich in antioxidants and supports sleep quality, inflammation, and mood
- Adaptogens, superfoods, and other natural ingredients support relaxation, stress adaptation, and everyday calm
- A melatonin- and magnesium-free formula
- No caffeine, no added sugar, and no fillers
- A warming, perfectly spiced flavor that's a hit with customers
- Free of major allergens and maltodextrin
- Mixes well in hot water, cold water, or milk
- Third-party tested
- Affordable cost
Everyone's taste buds, health goals, and relaxation needs are different, but I still continue to recommend Golden Hour as my top choice for a nighttime ritual.
FAQs About MoonBrew
Expand your knowledge of MoonBrew with answers to these frequently asked questions.
Does MoonBrew help with cortisol levels?
MoonBrew may or may not help with cortisol levels. While one study shows that magnesium may be helpful for minimizing urinary cortisol excretion, the researchers acknowledge that more evidence for how magnesium lowers circulating cortisol levels is needed. Another study notes that magnesium has an indirect effect on cortisol levels. MoonBrew does note that it may take a few weeks to notice substantial results.
When should I drink MoonBrew?
You can enjoy MoonBrew nightly. The MoonBrew website suggests drinking the nighttime sleep aid about one to two hours before you plan on going to bed for the best sleep results.
Does MoonBrew have ashwagandha?
No, MoonBrew does not have ashwagandha. It does contain other adaptogens, though, including jujube seed, polygala root, reishi mushroom extract, and silk tree bark.
What does MoonBrew help with?
MoonBrew works to target relaxing before bed, having more quality sleep, and waking up feeling refreshed. The formula contains botanicals, amino acids, and minerals that may support these areas of sleep health. While some MoonBrew sleep reviews note that they had an easier time falling asleep, others mention that it's ineffective at supporting staying asleep longer.
What is comparable to MoonBrew?
There are many nighttime sleep supplements on the market that target relaxation, sleep quality, and feeling refreshed upon wakeup. But many formulas support these benefits in different ways. A comparable option to melatonin-free MoonBrew is Live it Up Golden Hour. Golden Hour is not only free of melatonin but also magnesium, instead targeting calmness, relaxation, a balanced stress response, and restorative sleep with ashwagandha and calming herbs and spices.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or individualized nutrition counseling. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to supplements or medications. Any product or brand mentions are for general information and don’t guarantee results.
References
- https://moonbrew.co/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7821302/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3672
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11227245/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12011773/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10745813
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623376028
- https://www.amazon.com/MoonBrew-Nighttime-Magnesium-Natural-Adults/dp/B0F7YX5Y9W
- https://www.reddit.com/r/sleep/comments/18mx7zx/experiences_with_moonbrew/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667142523001276
- https://www.healthline.com/health/l-theanine
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531724001684
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20347951/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12412596/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2908021/
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/melatonin-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/how-to-spot-and-prevent-serotonin-syndrome.html
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/reishi-mushroom-benefits-8727644
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11723131/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc-overdose-symptoms
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6409436/
- https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/adults-sleep-facts-and-stats.html
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