Kratom Powder 101: Guide to Buying & Using Kratom Powder

What is Kratom Powder?

Kratom powder is made from the dried pulverized leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant.

This herb grows as an evergreen tree closely related to coffee.

The tree can be found all over Southeast Asia, including in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

Kratom has been used for centuries for alleviating fatigue, brain fog, chronic pain, and more.

Back in the day, kratom leaves were typically chewed by laborers for their stimulating effects. It was useful for helping laborers get more work done during the day before tiring out.

The Pros & Cons of Kratom Powder

There are some pros and cons when it comes to using kratom powder.

The advantages of using kratom powder include:

• It’s the most cost-effective form of kratom
• It’s easy to use
• It enables precision dosing
• There is an incredibly wide range of kratom strains to choose from in the powdered form

The downsides to using kratom powder may include:

• It has a very bitter, earthy taste
• It’s not very discrete
• It’s not easy to take on the go

How To Use Kratom Powder

There are several different ways to take your kratom. Taking the loose powder with a glass of water or brewing your powder into a tea seem to be two of the more popular and common methods.

Here are the main methods people use to take kratom at home:

The Toss n’ Wash Method

As the name implies, the toss n’ wash method of ingestion is simply tossing your dose of kratom powder into your mouth and washing it down with a glass of water.

This method has fast-acting and strong results. It tastes pretty bad, but it’s over quickly as you wash everything down with some water, juice, or another beverage of your choice.

Related: Snorting Kratom: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

Brewing Kratom Tea

Brewing your kratom powder into a tea is a well-known and favored method.

While premade kratom tea bags are available, they aren’t as easily obtainable as a powder or crushed kratom leaf. To use your powder, you will mix the kratom with hot water and let it steep.

Avoid using boiling water and opt for water that’s just under boiling instead.

Some like to leave it steeping overnight; others believe you only have to wait 5-10 minutes. You can experiment and see what works better for you.

Once the tea is ready, you’ll probably want to remove the powder from the liquid, so it doesn’t give it a weird texture. However, removing the powder is not necessary.

Mixing Kratom Into Other Drinks

Like kratom tea, loose kratom powder can be mixed into virtually any other liquid. However, it’s highly recommended that you do not combine kratom with alcoholic beverages.

We are talking smoothies, coffee, orange or grapefruit juice, whatever you want to mix it with.

These three options are preferred among the kratom community as they do a good job of masking the harsh flavor.

Making DIY Capsules

You can purchase kratom capsules from various online vendors, but you can also make your own. Doing it yourself can usually save you a couple of bucks, but you’ll need a few tools to get the job done effectively.

Purchasing a capsule machine online is just a small investment when it comes to purchasing your kratom powder and capping them up yourself, and it may save you in the long run. These machines usually go for around $30 on Amazon. We like the “Cap-M-Quick” machine the best, but there are plenty of options. 

Baking or Cooking With Kratom

There are tons of awesome kratom recipes online —everything from chocolate banana kratom milkshakes, fruity overnight oats to tomato pasta sauce. If kratom is a huge part of your life, and you want to experiment with cooking or baking with kratom, this may be a good option.

Making Kratom Tinctures

You can also make a tincture with kratom powder using some vegetable glycerine and a little bit of vodka.

Prepare a mixture of 25% vodka and 75% vegetable glycerine.

Place your kratom powder into a jar, and just add enough vodka/vegetable glycerine to cover the powder. Give it a mix and let it settle for an hour or so. You will likely need to add a little bit more vegetable glycerine and alcohol mixture to ensure the powder is completely covered.

Let this sit for about 2 weeks, stirring at least once per day.

At the end of the two weeks, strain your mixture through a cheesecloth.

You’ve just made your own homemade kratom tincture!

Also see: How to Keep Kratom Powder From Foaming.

What’s the Dose of Kratom Powder?

The dose of kratom powder depends highly on what you want to get out of it. Low doses are best for the energizing and nootropic benefits; higher doses are better for the analgesic and sleep-supportive benefits.

The general dosage guidelines for kratom are as follows:

1. Anything lower than two grams is considered a microdose.
2. Anything between two and six is considered a low dose.
3. Anything over six is considered a high dose.
4. Anything higher than eight is considered a heavy dose.

Microdosing Kratom Powder

Microdosing is something users often do to feel continuously energized throughout their day. The effects are similar to caffeine.

Low Dose Kratom Powder

Low doses are favored for their stimulating and energizing effects. This is great for anyone who needs to stay focused and alert during the day but needs a little extra boost.

High Dose Kratom Powder

High doses are perfect for anyone who is seeking analgesic or relaxing effects. It’s also ideal for those who need something to help mitigate symptoms of insomnia or restlessness.

Heavy Dose Kratom Powder

Heavy doses can be incredibly overwhelming for those with a low tolerance. This is a dose someone would use for sedative effects.

Related: Can You Overdose on Kratom?

What Does Kratom Powder Taste Like?

The flavor of kratom is often described as sharp, bitter, and harsh. It has a very “green” flavor, sort of resembling kelp or spirulina.

This is why many users opt for capsules or the toss n’ wash method to take the dose quickly and tastelessly.

When mixed into water or other beverages, you can still taste it. However, using citrus juice or a strong flavor of smoothie may do a good job of masking the flavor. You can also mix it into other herbal teas to take the edge off.

If the flavor is a major issue for you, capsules are the best tasteless option. Kratom also has a distinctive grassy, leaf-like smell. Users often compare the smell to fresh lawn clippings.

What Are the Side Effects of Kratom Powder?

Individuals will sometimes experience side effects if they have sensitive stomachs, have low tolerance, or take too much.

Some of the more common side effects are headache, jitters, anxiety, dry mouth, dehydration, nausea, and vomiting.

Side effects can also be more prevalent in certain types of kratom than others.

For example, if you’re using a particularly sedating strain of kratom, you’re more likely to feel the side effects of fatigue and sedation than a more stimulating strain.

The potential side effects of kratom include:

• Agitation
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Increased heart rate
• Increased urination
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Paranoia
• Sedation

Beginners to kratom should always start with a very small dose and gradually work their way up to something higher if necessary.

Is Kratom Powder Addictive?

Kratom can be addictive if you’re using it in high doses for long periods.

If you are constantly increasing your dosage, it could result in some degree of dependency. If you feel that you have too high of tolerance and kratom isn’t working as well as it should anymore, you will have to give your body a tolerance break.

You can do this by using kratom for 3-4 days each week and then taking the other days off.

Beginners often complain of nausea when using kratom for the first time. If you notice that you are beginning to feel uneasy, sip on cold water and practice calming breathing techniques.

Related: How to quit kratom.

Types of Kratom Powder

One of the best parts of using kratom in powdered form is the large array of options available to you.

All kratom comes from the same plant — Mitragyna speciosa — but there are many different varieties, AKA kratom strains, available. Each strain has its own distinct set of effects.

Some strains are more stimulating; others are better for managing pain or anxiety.

Kratom strains can be broken down into a few main categories:

Red Vein Kratom Powder

Red vein kratom varieties produce potent sedating and relaxing effects that are perfect for individuals who are trying to manage chronic pain or sleep better.

White Vein Kratom Powder

White vein kratom varieties are by far the most energizing and stimulating. They also offer nootropic support, enhance mood, and reduce anxiety.

Green Vein Kratom Powder

Green vein kratom is considered the “middle ground” between white and red varieties. It offers the best of both worlds, a sense of energy, along with a relaxing, soothing calmness.

Yellow Vein Kratom Powder

Yellow vein kratom is similar to the green vein kratom varieties. It also offers energy and calmness, along with enhanced focus, anxiety relief, and improved mood.

Gold Vein Kratom Powder

Like yellow vein kratom, gold vein kratom is formulated with multiple strain varieties; therefore, you’ll get a little bit of everything the other colors have to offer.

The effects of these strains are hard to gauge because every manufacturer has their own blend they like to use for making a particular gold vein variety.

Where to Buy Kratom Powder

When it comes to finding premium, high-quality kratom powder, you’re going to want to order from a reputable online vendor. That’s why we’ve gathered all of our favorites for you to try out!

Kona Kratom

Kona Kratom is at the top of our list because they offer a money-back guarantee, their products are all lab-tested, and the company has deep-rooted connections with Southeast Asian farmers. This allows them to offer some high-grade, special kratom powder.

Star Kratom

Star kratom might be new to the market, but they are building a great reputation for being reliable, fast, and high-quality. If you need your kratom fast, Star is the best choice to go with.

VIP Kratom

VIP Kratom doesn’t mess around when it comes to quality.

This company has become a leading vendor of kratom and kratom products in the U.S., and they also offer their products worldwide.

VIP has been known to ship inventory back to Southeast Asia on their dime because the product wasn’t up to their incredibly high standards.

If you want a guaranteed premium kratom product, you’ll want to go with VIP Kratom.

Golden Monk

Golden Monk is favored for its attention to being discreet with its packaging. Kratom may be legal in many states and areas, but not everyone wants to be perfectly open about using it. They also give away free samples when you order one kilo or 1000 capsules.

Kat’s Botanicals

Kat’s Botanicals offers a large variety of kratom strains, and their products are 100% organic. They also have glowing reviews, which means they don’t fall short on keeping their customers satisfied and coming back for more.

Kraken Kratom

Part of the American Kratom Association, Kraken Kratom keeps quality at affordable prices a priority. Their prices are fair, and their products are potent, and this is why the kratom community loves them.

PA Botanicals

This company is family-owned and is one of the East coast’s largest and most known kratom vendors. PA Botanicals offers a wide variety of different kratom strains, display current lab results, and first-time customer discounts.

Happy Hippo

Happy Hippo is another great online kratom vendor. A bonus of using Happy Hippo is that you have access to many other exotic herbs they have in stock, such as Akuamma seed extract.

Kratom Powder Alternatives

If you aren’t interested in taking loose kratom powder, there are several different ways to ingest your dose of kratom.

Kratom Capsules

Kratom capsules are a great choice for anyone who wants a simple and discreet way to take their kratom dose. You can also avoid the bitter taste of kratom with capsules.

Premade capsules are a bit more expensive than powder, but you can always fill your capsules with powder yourself if that is something you’re interested in. Another thing about capsules is that you will have to take quite a few if you plan to take a high dose.

Kratom Extracts

Kratom extracts typically come in tablet, powder, paste, and tincture form. Users should use extreme caution when taking kratom extracts; dosing guidelines are not the same as powdered kratom leaf.

Taking too high of a dose of kratom extract will result in overwhelmingly sedating effects.

Kratom Tinctures

Kratom Tinctures are a type of kratom extract, so you should be extra cautious with your dose. Similar to CBD tinctures, kratom tinctures will come in a glass bottle with a dropper, and the liquid will be somewhat oily. Tinctures are used sublingually or placed under the tongue.

Kratom Shots

Kratom shots, or “K shots,” have been popping up at gas stations and smoke shops across the United States.

Liquid kratom shots can be compared to an energy drink of sorts.

These kratom shots will come in a small bottle and offer stimulating effects, and it’s important to keep in mind that they are not 100% all-natural kratom.

Final Thoughts: Why Most People Prefer Kratom Powder

Kratom powder has been used for years, and its legality in most of the U.S. makes it easy for people to obtain it. It’s the most cost-effective form of kratom available, it’s easy to use, and there are a ton of variety to choose from in the powdered kratom market.

If you’re in the market for some kratom, you can find reliable vendors, such as Kona Kratom, Start Kratom, VIP Kratom, and others to supply you with high-quality, premium kratom powder.