Feeling Social & Present Without Alcohol: Comparing Hiyo & MTE
People are looking for ways to be social and have fun without relying on excessive alcohol or caffeinated energy drinks. And the health and wellness market is answering that need.
Hiyo® and MTE are feel-good drinks that offer a natural alternative to alcohol and caffeine. They use ingredients that provide a similar feeling of calm energy, but without things like crash, fogginess, sleep disruption, or next-day hangxiety.
How Do MTE and Hiyo Create Their Feel-Good Effect?
Before we can talk about the benefits, we need to understand the mechanisms behind Hiyo and MTE’s pro-social, mood-boosting formulas. And while some of the active ingredients differ, both MTE and Hiyo use adaptogenic and nootropic plant compounds to provide what Hiyo calls “The Float”.
What are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens work by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body's stress response system. When the body is stressed, the HPA axis releases energizing hormones that help you handle the stressor.
These hormones help the body respond to stress by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. But these hormones also hurt the body when they’re chronically raised, which is why we don’t feel fun or social most of the time – without a little help.
Adaptogens can help reduce levels of stress-response hormones and increase levels of other hormones that have calming and relaxing effects. They can also support the body's ability to resist stress by modulating the HPA’s activity, helping you feel relaxed but not tired.
What are Nootropics?
Nootropics are compounds that can pass through the blood-brain barrier to directly affect brain health. They’re known to enhance brain function and provide support for cognitive health. Nootropics might be synthetic (Rx) or natural (caffeine is a nootropic), and operate via different pathways:
- Some nootropics directly modulate neurotransmitter activity. When neuronal communication is balanced, it helps you focus in a clear, serene way.
- Some nootropics improve blood flow and O2 delivery to the brain. This not only improves brain function in the moment, but protects cognitive health long-term.
- Some nootropics increase neurogenesis and have even shown abilities to reduce cognitive impairments in research settings. Increased production of new, healthy neurons also protects the brain from damage.
- Some nootropics reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, which creates space for feeling clear, focused, and on-point. This also adds long-term protection.
Hiyo vs MTE: Mind-Body Benefits for Morning or Night
What do each of these healthy alternatives for caffeine and alcohol claim to do?
Hiyo:
- Is a healthy alternative to alcohol
- Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
- Boosts focus and mood
And MTE:
- Promotes calm, focus
- Balances mood
- Boosts energy
- Fights stress
- Supports nighttime recovery
- Fights inflammation
- Supports gut health and immunity
What’s in Hiyo & MTE Formulations
Ashwagandha and L-theanine show up in both MTE and Hiyo because they are two of the most common ingredients in the adaptogen and nootropic space.
But the full formulas are built for different moments. Hiyo uses a blend of adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals, including ashwagandha, L-theanine, lion’s mane, lemon balm, passion flower, and ginger, to support what the brand calls “The Float,” a light, relaxed, mood-boosting lift meant for social moments.
MTE uses ashwagandha and L-theanine as well, but the formula goes wider for daily wellness support. It includes eight more adaptogens, nootropics, and superfoods designed to support steady energy, focus, mood, stress resilience, recovery, gut health, immunity, and overall daily wellness.
Ashwagandha
An adaptogen that’s been used for 5,000+ years of human history, this functional plant plays a major part in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its energy-boosting, stress-reducing effects. Ashwagandha acts on the body in several ways:
- Reduces stress and improves immunity by reducing byproducts of the stress chemical, like heat shock proteins and the harmful JNK-1 protein.
- Manages distress by lowering the reactivity of the brain's stress response axis.
- Boosts energy by optimizing the body’s use of oxygen.
- Reduces inflammation by targeting inflammatory pathways.
- Supports brain health and cognitive function by contributing to cell (re)generation.
L-theanine
A compound found in green tea, this nootropic is a water-soluble amino acid known for its health benefits and positive effect on focus and mood.
More than 75 years of research on the abilities of L-theanine has made it a common ingredient in healthy, caffeine-free energy drink powders. L-theanine:
- Helps manage stress by promoting the production of alpha brain waves.
- Supports mood by modulating neurotransmitters associated with affect, motivation, reward, and pleasure.
- Promotes focus and cognitive health by increasing theta brain waves.
- Supports recovery by balancing the activity of excitatory (wake up) vs inhibitory (calm down) neurochemicals.
Cost & Convenience: Logistics of MTE & Hiyo
Hiyo is a canned sparkling drink packed with natural flavor and zero alcohol. A subscription order of Hiyo comes in 12-can packs that break down to $3.19 per can. Subscriptions are customizable, and shipping is free.
MTE is a daily wellness powder without sugars and artificial sweeteners. It comes in 24 single-serve packets, which makes it easy to take to work, the gym, or on the go. A one-time purchase is currently $78, or $3.25 per serving. With a subscription, MTE is currently $62 for 24 packets, which comes to about $2.58 per serving, with free shipping every 24 days.
What Else Should You Know About MTE vs Hiyo Stress-Reducing Social Drinks?
A few last details about these innovative anti-stress drinks that boost energy and mood without sacrificing tranquility:
MTE:
- No sugar bombs or artificial sweeteners
- No caffeine
- Vegan
- Keto
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Kosher
- Halal
- Organic
Hiyo:
- USDA-certified organic
- 30 calories
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
Hiyo and MTE both speak to the same bigger shift: people want drinks that help them feel good without the usual tradeoffs.
Hiyo fits the social side of that shift. It’s made for moments when you want something fun, relaxing, and alcohol-free, without the foggy next morning or “why did I do that?” feeling.
MTE fits the daily energy side. It’s built for mornings, workdays, workouts, travel, and all the moments when you want steady energy, clearer focus, and better support without relying on caffeine, sugar, or a quick spike.
So, the choice depends on the moment. If you want an alcohol-free social sip, Hiyo makes sense. If you want a daily energy ritual that supports focus, mood, stress resilience, and recovery, MTE is the better fit.
Try MTE and feel what daily energy can be when it starts with steady support instead of a quick fix.