Does TikTok’s ’Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ Actually Work? I Tried It

This cherry concoction might be the recipe for a good night's sleep.

A new trend has taken my TikTok FYP by storm over the past few weeks and I’m proud to say this time it isn’t a dance. Among the countless cleaning hacks and living room makeovers I witness daily on the ol’ clock app, there’s a specific type of video that keeps reappearing – and for good reason.

The ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ was first introduced to FYPs in early 2023 when a user by the name of Calee Shea posted it to their account, but it wasn’t until late 2024 when user Gracie Norton shared the drink with her 1.1 million followers catapulting this booze-free nightcap into a viral sensation.

But what makes the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ more enduring than other trends we’ve seen on the app? Well, my guess is it has something to do with it offering aid to a universal problem – falling asleep.

So, with this viral recipe plastered all over my FYP, and the inability to fall asleep easily under my belt, I thought I’d be the perfect candidate to trial it for a week and put its sleep-inducing qualities to the test.

What is the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’?

The trending libation consists of 100% tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and a probiotic sparkling drink (which can be swapped out for soda water), mixed together with ice and enjoyed 1-2 hours before bed.

For many people (especially those living in Australia), sourcing the tart cherry juice will be the most challenging part of trying this recipe out for yourself. It took me two trips to separate chemists, along with a drive to the farmer’s market to track down a bottle – a struggle I blame on the drink’s growing popularity on TikTok.

When selecting the juice, be sure to get the tart one as this has higher levels of tryptophan – an essential amino acid that assists the body in making melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy).

How does it work?

Contrary to popular belief, there is science behind pandemonium occurring on our feeds when it comes to the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’. Combining the tryptophan of the cherry juice, and the relaxing qualities of magnesium, sipping on this drink 2 hours before bed (when your body begins to naturally release melatonin) may actually help you fall asleep.

“I don’t think that it’s necessarily going to be like a magic bullet the minute you consume it, but I do think that the ingredients in it can support healthy sleep,” said registered dietitian Samantha Cassetty. “People’s responses will vary, but the research supports these ingredients for better sleep.”

Take into consideration

Thinking of trying the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ for yourself? By all means go ahead! But there are a few things to take into consideration before you start sipping the sleep elixir:

1. Timing Be sure to enjoy your ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ no later than 2 hours before your regular bedtime – this will give you enough time to enjoy the benefits of the melatonin being produced, as well as allow you to go to the bathroom so you don’t wake up during the night.

2. Consistency Trial the drink for a few nights. Space them out or do them consecutively, so you can see if you notice a difference in your sleep quality.

3. Maximum magnesium The recommended daily maximum amounts are 420 mg for adult males and 320 mg for adult females – make sure you aren’t exceeding this as it can lead to other health problems.

4. Sugar If you choose to mix your cherry juice and magnesium powder with a probiotic soda, make sure it is low in sugar or better yet, has zero sugar. Consuming sugar too close to your bedtime will disrupt your body's production of melatonin and make it harder for you to fall asleep.

5. Sleep environment While the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ can assist in falling asleep, making sure you have good sleep hygiene and a proper wind down/evening routine before bed all comes into play. Limit the use of technological devices before bed, and reduce bright lights to maximise the effectiveness of the drink.

The takeaway

So, with all of this information in mind – here’s what I took away from sipping on the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ before bed for the past seven days.

1. Placebo or not, falling asleep was slightly easier over the past week – but that could’ve been due to how I was spending my days. I exercise after work and eat dinner around 7 pm, which could have played a role in how quickly I fell asleep.

2. I woke up feeling tired. This also may have been due to exercising in the evening, but I did feel slightly more lethargic when I woke up – but this was quickly fixed with a morning dog walk and an iced latte!

3. I looked forward to going to sleep! Now don’t get me wrong, I always love going to sleep. But enjoying the ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’ two hours before bed got me into a wind down routine I otherwise wouldn’t have had.

So, will I continue to sip on this sleepy concoction before bed? I will if finding cherry juice becomes any easier! But for now, I'm going to stick to my mouth tape and Sleepy Time Tea to drift me off to sleep.

If you are concerned about your health, wellbeing or sleep, your first port of call should be your GP, who will advise a correct treatment plan.