NuWave Botanicals: Overcame A Flood of Skepticism

Many aspects of NuWave Botanicals are, without question, done well. The webpage could use a few design tweaks since it doesn’t look the best, though, and the navigation is terrible: no matter whether you choose to filter by brand, product type, or price, it shows the same unorganized list.

Aside from that, how does one rate a distributor of different vendors? By the products they sell, even though they don’t make them themselves? If that’s the case, NuWave’s rating is all over the place since some of its products don’t measure up.

And yet the intention behind the site is pure. Chris himself recently posted several videos from his 16th trip to Indonesia. Here, he sources kratom from a remote village that’s only accessible via a two-hour boat ride following a half dozen hours of travel through rugged terrain. Much of his profit goes to helping provide infrastructure for the budding village.

This humanitarian effort alone bumps NuWave into the upper echelons of kratom vendors. Few people have mustered the dedication that Chris has shown to the people of Indonesia, and he delights in sharing his time and energy with the lovely people he meets.

Plus, the only products Chris is allegedly responsible for producing — EXP or Experience Kratom — are top-notch and adored by his followers. So in light of Chris’ fantastic efforts and commitment to the cause, NuWave earns at least a 4/5.

Top Alternatives

About the Company

NuWave Botanicals is a hub for numerous vendors to hawk their wares. Numerous bulk distributors like this provide kratom to brick-and-mortar head shops across the country. NuWave is one of the few you can order from as an individual.

NuWave works with a number of different brands, all of which choose not to sell products through their website and instead redistribute them through bulk vendors such as this.

Chris Jepsen also seems to own one of the companies he distributes via NuWave Botanicals, EXP, or Experience Premium Kratom. This creates a bit of confusion because it’s hard to determine whether these are separate companies.

While EXP focuses on selling their renowned kratom capsules that are significantly stronger than the average, Experience sells a genuinely massive variety of kratom powder. Tracking down the Experience website reveals that they are the same company as EXP, but it does not offer any conclusive evidence that Chris owns them.

However, his name is tied to EXP Kratom in some social media posts, and the NuWave blog makes it sound like he’s the owner.

We are still unsure why EXP and Experience are marketed as separate companies.

Product Reviews

So many different products are available on this website that it would take pages to describe them all. Likewise, individually evaluating the two dozen brands would take just as long.

We will list the products as usual to save space and make it easier for you. In addition, in each section, we will list the brands that offer said product alongside the different variations (flavors, blends) provided by each brand.

1. Kratom Leaf Powder

Generally considered the most common form of kratom, this is usually the least common type found on bulk distribution sites like NuWave.

However, largely thanks to Mr. Chris Jepsen’s and Experience Kratom’s dedicated sourcing, there is a whole selection of different powders on NuWave that are much stronger than what you would find at a regular vendor.

Experience Kratom

This is technically the same company as EXP Kratom, although they use this name to market and distribute their kratom powder. This stuff comes from a remote village that can only be accessed by boat and is personally overseen by the owner of NuWave Botanicals.

Remarkable Herbs Kratom Powder

A lot of companies have laid claim to the title of America’s first kratom vendor. However, maybe Remarkable Herbs is the title holder. First established in 2001, they claim to have provided more than 15,000 vendors, both in brick-and-mortar shops across the US and online marketplaces, with their kratom.

OPMS Silver

OPMS is known for making the first extract that received widespread acclaim in the kratom world.

In a time when the most potent extracts were known to be adulterated with untested research chemicals, OPMS quickly cemented a name for itself due to its products’ potency without being associated with any shady business.

• OPMS Silver Thai
• OPMS Silver White Vein
• OPMS Silver Super Green Borneo
• OPMS Silver Red Sumatra
• OPMS Silver Red Maeng Da
• OPMS Silver Malay
• OPMS Silver Green Maeng Da

Nowadays, they also sell kratom powder as part of a product lineup called OPMS Silver.

It is all fine-screened to remove any particulate matter. This screening process uses state-of-the-art technology to increase kratom’s surface area, making it more bioavailable. In addition, this allows them to jam more of it into capsules.

2. Kratom Capsules

Kratom capsules are an increasingly popular method of consuming kratom. The average supplement user doesn’t want to expose themselves to the vulgar taste of kratom, so more companies are developing kratom capsules. Capsules are usually ideal because they allow you to measure a dose on the go.

In the case of NuWave Botanicals, capsules usually come with warnings rather than recommendations due to their incredible potency. Bulk sites like these usually focus on selling “extract capsules,” which pack enough isolated alkaloids into a capsule to provide the equivalent dose of anywhere from 8–15 grams of kratom.

OPMS

All of the strains listed above are also available in capsule form for a slightly increased price. They also offer a number of their extracts in capsules. OPMS claims their extraction method is different from the typical method of simply using hot water or a common solvent like alcohol.

Their method involves using cold water and high pressure to force out a higher concentration of alkaloids and preserve them in a more stable condition. Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing it right because OPMS has been at the top of the ladder in regard to extract vendors for years.

• OPMS Silver Thai Capsules
• OPMS Silver White Vein Capsules
• OPMS Silver Super Green Borneo Capsules
• OPMS Silver Red vein Sumatra Capsules
• OPMS Silver Red Maeng Da Capsules
• OPMS Silver Malay Capsules
• OPMS Silver Green Maeng Da Capsules
• OPMS Premium Extract Capsules
• OPMS Black Extract Capsules
• OPMS Gold Extract Capsules

Whole Herbs Kratom Capsules

Whole Herbs is one of the many websites that claim to be the number one kratom distributor in the US. There are no criteria to define what they mean by number one, so there’s no way to verify this. Nonetheless, they are a successful wholesale distributor whose products reside in hundreds of head shops as well as online marketplaces like NuWave.

• Whole Herbs Yellow Indo Capsules
• Whole Herbs Maeng Da Capsules
• Whole Herbs Green Indo Capsules
• Whole Herbs Red Vein Bali Capsules

RelaxAid

RelaxAid aims to provide users with isolated alkaloids from kratom.

Here is a quick breakdown of the ingredients in their 600 mg caps:

• Mitragynine, isolated through a chemical process 
• 7-Hydroxymitragynine, isolated in a similar manner
• 5-Hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is included in supplements that gained popularity as something that supposedly helped ecstasy users replenish their serotonin levels. Although it is necessary for the synthesis of serotonin, the body makes plenty, and the supplement cannot pass into the brain, making it effectively useless when taken orally.
• Y-L-Glutamylethylamide is the ridiculously long-form name that nobody will recognize for a common amino acid, L-theanine. L-theanine is found in green tea and sold independently for its relaxing, nootropic benefits.
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter produced by the brain and used to prevent the over-excitation of stimulating neurotransmitters. However, the supplement form, much like 5-HTP, can’t pass into the brain and is inert.
• Titanium Dioxide
• FD&C Blue #1, because nobody would’ve bought these capsules if they weren’t artificially colored blue by a carcinogenic ingredient somehow approved by the FDA.

Pure Infinity

Premium Blue Lotus Extract  

A nice change from the typical kratom extract, which is often loaded with inactive precursors to chemicals our body is already making, Pure Infinity only includes active ingredients.

In their Premium Blue Lotus Extract, you’ll find mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, of course, as well as 45 mg of mesembrine. Researchers have identified it as the main compound in the blue lotus flower.

Blue lotus flowers are revered for promoting a relaxing and meditative state of mind.

With the stimulation and focus boost from mitragynine, these capsules work almost like a cheat code for meditation: they clear the mind before you start meditating. Thus, your meditation sessions are always relatively painless and quite enjoyable after taking one.

Pure Infinity Silver & Gold

The Silver caps come in packages of 10; the Gold in packs of 6.

• Pure Infinity Silver contains 15 mg of mitragynine and 1.015 mg of 7-hydroxymitragynine
• Pure Infinity Gold contains 45 mg of mitragynine and 1.015 mg of 7-hydroxymitragynine

Addall

These capsules are just about the opposite from the ones described above. Made to mimic Adderall,  a prescription amphetamine prescribed to kids and teenagers with ADHD, expect some strong stimulation and enhanced focus for the duration of the experience.

No synthetic chemicals are included in the mix, but that didn’t stop the dozens of positive reviews posted by customers who were satisfied with the enhanced focus and motivation. They come in packs of two.

EXP Premium Capsules

As a brand, EXP Premium has been hailed as the Holy Grail of kratom vendors. Their original notoriety came from providing an indisputably powerful and consistent product and yet refusing to operate their website.

They have since rebranded, or rather, double-branded themselves. Under the tutelage of Chris Jepsen, owner of NuWave, EXP Premium is the label for the company’s capsules and premium blends. Experience is the arm of the company dealing with kratom powder.

EXP Premium offers the following capsules:

• EXP Premium Green Maeng Da Blend, a mixture of Green Maeng Da and two other “exotic strains”
• EXP Premium White Kratom Blend, a mixture of White Maeng Da and two other “exotic strains”
• EXP Premium Red Kratom Blend, their most popular blend for many years
• EXP Premium Menage a Trois Capsules seems to be the new favorite. It combines all three of the previously mentioned blends into one massively potent blend

Kryptic Kratom

Although Kryptic Kratom is mostly known for Liquid K Shots, they’re wise enough not to pass up on the trend of capsules. They started shoveling their proprietary extracts into capsules and offered us the following:

• Kryptic Kratom Extract Capsules – 2 ct

3. Kratom Tinctures

Kratom tinctures generally refer to any liquid-based kratom extract and very rarely to actual tinctures, which are alcohol-based extracts. Since kratom alkaloids are already highly soluble in water, there’s little need to make an alcohol-based extraction unless you make tinctures at home for long-term use.

Kratom tinctures are notorious for being falsely marketed and relying on bad science to make absurd claims. However, the recent trend of organic, naturally made extracts brings into question what exactly manufacturers are using.

OPMS Kratom played a huge role in this. Once people realized that a professional company wasn’t messing around, they had to improve their game.

K-Chill

K-Chill is a company that we reviewed months ago. We concluded they were sketchy due to conflicting information and negative user feedback.

However, since then, they’ve managed to clean up their act somewhat. Their products are still overpriced and filled with ingredients that nobody needs, but they seem to produce positive effects.

Zion Botanicals 

This is another company that hides behind layers of friends and business names. If you trace them back to their website, you’ll find that it’s actually another bulk distributor, just like NuWave. They sell their products, but also have another half dozen brands and no information about who they are or what they stand for.

Like NuWave, Zion is certified as both a vendor and a GMP facility. Their extracts include:

• 24k Gold Extract made with mitragynine and lemon juice.
• Speciosa Shot contains mitragynine, like the previous extract, and a whole bunch of preservatives and sugars.

Sample Packs

If you have a hard time choosing between the extreme amount of delicious options, don’t worry. Here’s the perfect option for you. You can choose one of the three sample packs, each delivering a variety of different liquid shots for a discounted price.

Sample Pack 1 – $138

• 1-OPMs Gold Tincture
• 1- K Shot
• 1- Ultra Enhanced 3X
• 1- Ultra Enhanced Gold
• 1- Viva Zen Max
• 1- Mit 45 2X
• 1- K Chill 2oz
• 1- Kryptic 2oz
• 1- Zion Herbals Gold Reserve
• 1- Super K Purple
• 1- E2s

Sample Pack 2 – $83

• 1-OPMS Gold Tincture
• 1-E2
• 1- Mit 45
• 1- Hush Ultra
• 1-Zion Herbals Speciosa Shot
• 1-Mit45 2X

Sample Pack 3 – $158

• 1- Chief Kratom
• 1-HUsh Ultra
• 1- Zion Herbals Gold Reserve
• 1- Zion Herbals Lucky 80
• 1- Zen Tutti Fruiti
• 1- Zen Orange
• 1- Zen Lemon lime
• 1- Zen Apple
• 1- Zen Mango
• 1- Zen Peppermint
• 1-E1
• 1-E2

4. Kratom Extracts

Kratom extracts are the same products used to fill the capsules or make the liquid shots described above. Most of the listed companies sell their extracts individually and pack them into capsules. 

Is NuWave Botanicals Legit?

NuWave is legit, although some of the brands on board are questionable. Nonetheless, many remain certified by the American Kratom Association (AKA), and Chris seems determined to include only the strongest and most powerful products on his website.

In between running the site, he makes thrice-annual trips to Indonesia to check in on the plantations. He’s basically sponsoring an entire village by purchasing kratom there and funneling a lot of the profits back into building local infrastructure for the farmers and their families.

Though there isn’t much to be said about NuWave elsewhere besides their own social media channels, there are a lot of religious followers. And, unlike with some other companies, these people have tried out many other vendors and settled on NuWave thanks largely to Chris and his awesome curation and customer service.

What You Can Expect To Pay

The prices on NuWave vary from as little as a buck to well over three thousand dollars. As a bulk distributor, they’re happy to sell cheap samples to curious individuals. But they’re also equipped to sell crates of extract shots to head shops. Prices can truly be all over the map.

Of course, you’ll spend less per item when buying larger quantities. This is the same just about anywhere, whether you’re buying powder from a local vendor or high-potency extracts from a lab.

The prices listed in the previous sections are the range of prices for single-package purchases. In other words, Zion Botanicals’ price range ($16.89–$320) includes the price range for a single extract up to a 24-case flat, but if you order several flats, the average price-per-unit will be lower.

Since they don’t ship outside the United States, you don’t have to worry about exorbitant shipping prices.

Accepted Payment Options

According to Chris himself, “we take mobile app payments, Zelle, and we also have a payment link attached to the invoice we send you after order is put in.”

But the main website seems to have all major credit cards listed as approved payments, monitored by WAAVE.

NuWave Botanicals Coupon Codes

The only code we’ve found at this time is the one that Chris offers you — somewhat desperately — when you first open up the NuWave website. A chat window pops up and says:

“Hold on! A little discount never hurts. Get 5% off your purchase with a code ( DONTLEAVE)!”

What Other Customers Say About This Brand

On Reddit, there are only a couple of mentions of NuWave Botanicals. In one, a user mentions Chris Jepsen also happens to run Experience Kratom. In the other, a user — mysteriously named Chris_kratom — comments that NuWave is a great vendor with quality powder.

Their website is flooded with positive reviews, with some products maintaining a 4.5 to 5-star rating despite 300 reviews. This suggests that NuWave might be hiring people to write false positive reviews. When you look at the reviews and see that they’re all written in the same style, with the same grammar, saying basically the same thing, it’s obvious.

Their Facebook page isn’t quite so popular, with 2,200 followers. Here, though, you can find reviews from all sorts of satisfied customers; you can confirm a real human writes these simply by clicking on their profile.

“I have been using EXP Green Maeng Da for my extreme neck, arthritis pain and nerve pain for about six months. Your customer service and products are the best by far. I’m so glad I was able to find out about this great pain relief and your company. Thank you so much!”

“Product is absolutely great and the information on shipping was kept updated from the moment I purchased it. Discounts have been offered and a free sample was included with my order. Also a nice key chain that has a flashlight included.I am very pleased all the way around.”

“Look no further. This place is the best deal in town. I love the high quality products and reasonable prices. They always include some nice gifts and samples. Outstanding customer service and shipping speed.”

“I’ve been on Kratom therapy for about 4 years and this is definitely THE best vendor I’ve ever purchased from. Prices are half of what I pay in local venues; Nuwave responds almost immediately and delivers practically overnight. I definitely recommend them to everyone!”

Granted, most of these reviews seem to be written by people who were either turned on to kratom immediately after using pharmaceuticals or who only have experience using head shop kratom. Not much of a frame of reference for an objective review of the quality of the kratom, but Chris’ top-notch customer service and dedication can’t be ignored.

Shipping & Returns

NuWave’s shipping policy is pretty standard. They’ll ship your order the same day if you place it before 2 p.m. PST. Some people have reported receiving their orders overnight.

As for returns, they offer 100% customer satisfaction. They’ll accept returns and work with you to provide a solution, whether that means a refund or a replacement, for any reason. They say they’ll credit a refund on any unused product.

Returns must be sent back within 30 days of receipt to qualify, and the customer must cover shipping costs.

Best Alternative Kratom Vendors

NuWave Botanicals stocks just about everything you could ever want, and at any quantity, from individual units to massive bulk supplies.

Still, NuWave isn’t perfect. If you’re looking for something more, check out these three verified vendors that are a few of our favorites.

Star Kratom

Star Kratom has had as many years of experience in the kratom space as Chris Jepsen. In those few years, they’ve focused on developing a single brand name rather than a distribution hub and have made as much of an impact as some vendors have in decades.

One advantage they have over NuWave is their lab-tested products. Another is their speedy shipping. Otherwise, they have a lot of variety and reasonable prices, take pride in their focus on customer service and ease of access, and even have a money-back guarantee.

Pros

• Good variety
• Decent prices
• Good customer service
• Fast shipping
• 100% Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Limited selection

VIP Kratom

VIP Kratom offers the highest quality kratom, that’s for sure, and you’re paying a premium price for it. Their customers keep returning because they know it’s worth every cent.

If you don’t agree, you can get your money back thanks to their satisfaction guarantee. The selection is great; customer service can help with any questions or problems. You’ll get your order fast, as they have same-day shipping.

Pros:

• Simple website, easy to navigate
• High-quality kratom
• Money-back guarantee
• Fast shipping
• Good selection
• Lab-tested and high-quality kratom

Cons:

• Can’t buy small amounts (smallest order is 250 g)
• Expensive

Kona Kratom

Kona Kratom was one of the first companies to become known for attending personally to the kratom plantations in Indonesia. Nowadays, it’s a sort of trend, a marketing venture, to inform customers that you’re actually involved with the farmers themselves. But Kona was doing it before it was cool.

It also has a good selection of products, a money-back guarantee, and competitive pricing.

Pros

• Great customer service
• Works directly with farmers
• Ethical
• Decent prices
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Cons

• Slower shipping

Final Thoughts: Pretty Decent, Stands Out for Its Commitment

At first, it was hard to put a finger on NuWave Botanicals, what with Chris operating Experience Kratom without attaching his name to it. This makes Experience Kratom look like another shady vendor; the fact that many of the products stocked on NuWave are from shady vendors didn’t do much for the site’s credibility initially.

However, looking deeper into the history and maintenance of NuWave reveals a much better story. Chris is extremely dedicated to engaging with people, including those growing and shipping kratom from Indonesia.

The story of Chris’ commitment to his clients can be seen by watching the videos he posts on his Facebook and Instagram pages. It’s truly wonderful to see someone this excited about kratom traveling to and from its birthplace multiple times a year to ensure that Americans can have the best of the best.

If you’re unsure about NuWave, check out other kratom vendors that go out of their way to source the best kratom ethically, like Kona Kratom.