If you’re just hearing about kratom now, you might be asking yourself what you’re supposed to do with it or how to use it. This fascinating herb can be used in a few different forms, but it’s exceedingly tough to find reliable information about it. Before you buy kratom powder, let’s talk about what kratom powder is, how to use it, and where to find the best, high-quality kratom powder online.
What is Kratom Powder?
Kratom has been used for millennia, but over the last 10 to 15 years it has become more popular outside of its homeland. All natural herbal kratom products are derived from leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa tree from Southeast Asia. The kratom tree, an evergreen and member of the coffee family, mostly grows in the friendly, tropical conditions of Indonesia where it can reach 80 feet tall. The tree is native to Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Thailand. More traditional users in Southeast Asia will chew kratom leaves or brew the leaves into kratom tea. American consumers are much more likely to use capsules or powderized kratom that can be mixed into drinks. People use kratom powder for all kinds of reasons, but most of them have to do with the naturally occurring alkaloids found within the leaves. Kratom leaves contain two compounds that are unique: Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Due to federal regulations, we’re unable to go into depth on any potential health benefits these alkaloids may have. We encourage anyone reading this to consult the available scientific research from credible sources such as
PubMed or
ScienceDirect. The levels of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in kratom plants can vary greatly. For example some kratom leaves can have 3 to 4 times more mitragynine than others. Although this subject isn’t well studied, it seems logical that environmental factors such as carbon dioxide levels, nitrogen availability, soil components, sun exposure, and temperature contribute to these variances. It’s also well documented in the kratom community that mature leaves are more alkaloid rich than younger leaves. The many differences in growing conditions and harvesting techniques all affect the chemical compounds we find in the final kratom product. It is probably these differences in chemical compositions that account for the different experiences one may have with one particular kratom product vs another one made using different leaves. Kratom has a somewhat controversial status as a supplement in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
warned about its use in the past and
expressed caution over salmonella contamination. But still, kratom users are growing in number and the American Kratom Association estimates over 15 million Americans are using kratom each day. [And remember, as with any natural supplement, don’t begin using it without consulting a healthcare professional about potential health risks and prescription drug interactions.]
Types of Kratom Products
In general, you can buy kratom as crushed kratom leaf, kratom extract, kratom capsules, kratom tea (whether loose leaf or in a tea bag), and kratom powder. You’ve probably seen sellers promoting countless strains of kratom. They are all appealing name and color combinations, and new blends are always bubbling up.
Kratom Vein Colors
The most popular kratom colors are red, green, white, and yellow. The color refers to drying techniques used after the leaves are harvested from kratom trees. It is thought by many in the kratom community that when the leaves are harvested, they are separated and categorized based on the color of their vein. Red vein kratom is the most mature, followed by green vein, and then white vein, which is the least mature. However, this isn’t really true and doesn’t make a ton of sense. You can find kratom leaves with different vein colors growing side by side on the same tree. Kratom that is classified as “yellow vein” usually means that the leaf is a combination of multiple strain colors and doesn’t represent one particular standalone strain. While many sellers market
kratom strains to have a particular effect on the user, they usually don’t offer any concrete evidence as to what makes one strain different from another.
Kratom Strain Origins
In addition to the vein color, you’ll also notice that kratom strains are usually classified by a location or region. The main varieties you’ll see are:
- Maeng Da
- Bali/Indo
- Green Malay
- Thai
- Borneo
As far as our “kratom strains” go, Super Speciosa is our most alkaloid rich variety and is guaranteed to test for 1.4% mitragynine at minimum. The next “tier” is Maeng Da kratom, and then Bali kratom powder/Thai kratom. The Maeng Da will generally test higher for mitragynine. It’s important to understand that this information doesn’t always mean that this is where your kratom came from. In fact, it doesn’t, because all of the kratom in the U.S. comes from Indonesia. These classifications refer to where specific characteristics of kratom leaves were discovered. Many of the countries where kratom was first discovered have since introduced bans on exporting the plant. So even though they’re not exported from those countries, the country name is used to classify those particular types of leaves. For example, if you buy something called Red Vein Thai kratom powder, it’s unlikely that your kratom actually came from Thailand. Why? Although kratom use in Thailand is prevalent, the plant is actually banned by the government and exports are not permitted. There is good news though. Thailand is reversing course and
legalizing kratom.
The Truth About Kratom Veins and Strain Origins
While the classifications of strains and vein color that we mentioned above are commonly used in the Kratom community, it’s important to take this information with a grain of salt. Because of the lack of regulation and quality control in many countries where kratom is harvested (mainly Indonesia), there is very little oversight on how strains are specifically categorized. Some scientists believe that kratom trees in different regions may produce genetically different kratom, but there isn’t substantial evidence proving this theory. This means that Kratom sellers have to take the word of their suppliers as to which strains are which, without consistent ways to verify that information. When buying kratom, look for brands that use good manufacturing practices (GMP) and brands that are transparent about the source of their products. Our goal at Super Speciosa is to be as transparent as possible with our customers and give you the necessary information to need to choose which type of kratom is right for you.
Kratom Powder
Of the multiple ways to prepare and consume kratom, kratom powder is among the most popular. This is probably because it actually leaves you with a few different options for consuming it. Understanding what kratom powder is can help users decide how best to enjoy it. Powdered kratom is versatile. It’s easy to “toss and wash” or add to a drink. . Some will use kratom powder to make their own DIY kratom capsules at a more affordable cost. Kratom powder is also very easy to buy in bulk.
How to Use Kratom Powder
Many kratom users simply mix the kratom powder into a drink, or they use a drink to swallow it down—the “toss and wash” method. Others mix it into food, turn kratom powder into tea like one would with matcha powder, or even add kratom powder to capsules when it’s more convenient.
Kratom Powder Pros:
- Very affordable in bulk
- Easy to store
- Easy to mix into drinks
- Versatile
Kratom Powder Cons:
- Can be messy
- Hard to measure
- Less convenient
Kratom powder is probably the most common product made from kratom leaves, likely due to exploding American demand and the convenience it offers users. The best way to use kratom powder is a matter of personal preference, but here are some common uses:
Use in Capsule Form
Buy empty capsules from
Amazon and fill them yourself if you are looking for convenience but want to save money or don’t mind the mess. Although it’s a tedious task, it’s easy to fill capsules with kratom powder. The main advantage is that the capsules offer a more convenient and consistent way of measuring servings.
Brew Kratom Tea
Brewing tea from kratom powder like you would matcha powder is an easy, popular technique. You can also add kratom powder to your favorite black, green, oolong, white, or herbal tea and let it steep to help cut down that strong kratom flavor. Combining kratom with tea is also a way to add the effects of caffeine, lavender, or any number of other plants or compounds.
Add Kratom Powder to Foods or Smoothies
Another great way to consume kratom powder is to add it to fruit juices or smoothies. Mixing kratom with food may be an option for adventurous chefs. Masking the earthy bitter taste of kratom is always challenging.
Toss and Wash
Warning: this isn’t recommended but it is popular amongst kratom users. If you’re feeling very bold or you’re an experienced kratom powder user, you may be able to do the “toss and wash” method: just put the kratom powder in your mouth and wash it down. Kratom powder is dry and can stick to your mouth, so you should have a large beverage on hand. This is a tough way to consume kratom, but it also delivers effects quickly if you can tolerate it. Not recommended for beginners!
Buy Kratom Powder of the Highest Quality
It is truly the Wild West out there when it comes to supplements like kratom powder. Fortunately, the
American Kratom Association (AKA) offers industry guidance in the form of their GMP standards program. FDA regulations promulgate GMP or good manufacturing practices, and anyone who markets dietary supplements must comply with them. These regulations don’t explicitly tell businesses how to operate, but they do provide a clear quality control framework for all distributors and manufacturers to follow. Kratom manufacturers that implement and follow GMP regulations are far better equipped to ensure the safety and quality of their products. Consumers (looking at you, reader!) should look for brands of kratom supplements that have a strong quality system and comply with GMP. The answer to where to buy high quality kratom online is right in front of you. Super Speciosa carefully sources its kratom from trusted harvesters practicing sustainable and clean methods in the jungles of Borneo. Most importantly, we are AKA GMP qualified and we were one of the first brands in the market to achieve these important consumer safety standards. Our leaf is dried indoors to protect against contamination and then milled into a fine powder. We perform an organic process developed in-house to gently treat the kratom and reduce contaminants, all while maintaining the integrity of the plant. Independent labs are used to test for impurities, contaminants, and adulterants. Our production facility and equipment is built to clean specifications–we don’t package anything by hand. Altogether, you get a truly natural product that you can trust!
