The science of winding down
No proprietary blends. No fairy dust. Four ingredients, clinically studied doses, and an honest account of what the research shows — and what it doesn't.
We wrote this page for the person who reads the 1-star reviews first. (Respect. So do we.)
How to read this page
Each ingredient below gets the same treatment:
- What it is — plain-English origin story.
- Why this form and this dose — because form and dose are where most supplements quietly cut corners.
- What the research shows — human studies, summarized honestly.
- What we won't claim — the line we don't cross, in writing.
Blue Hour is a dietary supplement. It supports normal, healthy function — it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or nursing, or take medication, talk with your healthcare provider first.
Magnesium Bisglycinate — 300 mg elemental
What it is. Magnesium is a mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic processes in the body, including those supporting normal muscle and nervous-system function. National dietary surveys suggest many adults don't reach the recommended daily intake from food alone.
Why this form. Bisglycinate (glycinate) is magnesium bound to glycine, an amino acid. It's the form we chose for one blunt reason: gentleness. Cheaper forms like magnesium citrate and oxide are known for their laxative effect — the 3am bathroom trip nobody puts on the label. Bisglycinate is widely regarded as one of the gentlest, well-absorbed forms.
Why 300 mg. Studies of magnesium and evening wind-down have typically used elemental doses in the 225–500 mg range. We dose at 300 mg elemental — squarely inside the studied range, and comfortably under the 350 mg supplemental upper intake level set for adults.
What the research shows. Human trials suggest supplemental magnesium may support relaxation and restful sleep, particularly in adults with low dietary magnesium intake. Effects in the research are modest and build with consistent use — which is exactly how we tell you to use it.
What we won't claim. That magnesium is a knockout pill, that it works in one night, or that it treats any condition. It doesn't, it usually doesn't, and it isn't meant to.
Tart Cherry Extract — 480 mg
What it is. Montmorency tart cherries, concentrated. Tart cherry is one of the most-studied fruits in sports-recovery and evening-routine research, and it's why Blue Hour tastes like something you'd order at a bar instead of something you'd stir into oatmeal.
Why this dose. 480 mg of concentrated extract reflects the concentrated-supplement arm used in published tart cherry research, standing in for the juice protocols used in earlier studies.
What the research shows. Small human trials suggest tart cherry may support restful sleep and normal exercise recovery. Researchers attribute this to its naturally occurring anthocyanins and other polyphenols. Study sizes are small and results are modest — we're comfortable saying "supports," and no more.
The melatonin question, answered honestly. Tart cherries — like bananas, oats, and many plants — contain trace amounts of naturally occurring melatonin, measured in nanograms. For perspective, that's on the order of thousands of times less than even the smallest melatonin supplement. Blue Hour adds zero melatonin, and the trace dietary amount in fruit is not a hormone dose. We'd rather explain the nuance than hide it.
What we won't claim. That tart cherry is "nature's sleeping pill." It's a fruit with promising, modest human research. That's enough.
L-Theanine — 200 mg
What it is. An amino acid found almost nowhere in nature except tea leaves — it's part of why a cup of tea feels different from a cup of coffee.
Why this dose. 200 mg is the most common dose in published human research on relaxation without drowsiness. Not 50 mg sprinkled for the label. The studied dose.
What the research shows. In human studies, L-theanine has been associated with markers of relaxation — including alpha-band brain-wave activity — without drowsiness. Participants stay alert; they just feel more settled. That's the "wind down, don't knock out" idea in a single molecule.
What we won't claim. Anything about mood disorders or medical conditions. L-theanine supports relaxation. Full stop.
Glycine — 2 g
What it is. The smallest amino acid, and one of the most abundant in the human body — a building block of collagen and a workhorse in dozens of normal processes. It's also mildly sweet, which is part of how Blue Hour stays zero-sugar without tasting like a chemistry set.
Why this dose. Human evening-routine studies of glycine have most commonly used 3 g. Blue Hour provides 2 g of added glycine, alongside the additional glycine delivered naturally by the magnesium bisglycinate molecule itself.
What the research shows. Small human trials where participants took glycine before bed reported support for restful sleep and next-morning freshness — subjective ratings of waking up clear-headed. One proposed mechanism involves glycine's role in the body's normal temperature regulation during the night. The studies are small; the signal is consistent.
What we won't claim. Numbers. No "wake up 43% clearer." The research reports subjective improvements, so that's what we report.
What's NOT in the jar
| Not included | Why |
|---|---|
| Melatonin | It's a hormone. Our entire brand is the alternative to it. |
| Sugar | Zero grams. Sweetness comes from glycine and a touch of natural flavor. |
| Botanical "blends" | If we can't state the milligrams, we don't put it in the jar. |
| Artificial colors | The cherry color is the cherry. |
| Anything undisclosed | The label is the formula. The whole formula. |
Every jar. Every batch. Third-party tested.
Scan the QR code on any Blue Hour jar and you'll land on that batch's Certificate of Analysis from an independent lab — identity, potency, heavy metals, and microbial testing. Not a badge that says "lab tested." The actual document.
Certificates of analysis for each production batch will be published on this page as batches are released.
Honest expectations, one more time
The ritual works the first night — ten screen-free minutes and a cold fizzy drink are underrated technology. The ingredients are best judged over 14 consistent nights. Give it the two weeks. If it's not for you, the 30-Night Guarantee has your back.
See the full formula — Wind-Down Cherry →
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.