Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom, is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia from the coffee family. Kratom plants can be found in the forests of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Papa New Guinea. All kratom imported to the United States comes from Indonesia. The leaves are harvested from mature trees, dried, and crushed. Kratom leaves have been used by the locals of Southeast Asia for centuries.
Yes! All of our products are tested in small batches by an accredited third-party lab. We test for heavy metals, contaminants, and adulterants. To ensure microbial safety we test for salmonella, e. coli and coliforms, yeast, mold, and aerobic plate count. Testing is also performed for Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury. We also provide a full-spectrum panel of 9 different alkaloids.
The colors of kratom strains refer to the different hues of kratom powder. When kratom is harvest and dried, different drying techniques can cause the powder to change color. “Red” kratom tends to have a deeper, darker shade from drying the leaves in direct sunlight for longer periods of time. “White” and “Green” kratom are lighter or brighter shades of green, and are typically dried indoors away from direct sunlight.
These drying techniques can help the kratom produce different effects. Green kratom can be more energizing, Red kratom is used for relaxation and white kratom can be used for clarity and concentration.
Kratom can be taken in many different ways. You can mix your desired serving size in water or fruit juice. You can also make a tea by steeping the kratom in hot water for 15 minutes. We offer kratom in capsules as well if you are not fond of the taste.
The recommended serving size for kratom is 1 teaspoon (about 2.4 grams). We recommend starting small, than gradually increasing your serving size until you find your desired effect.
Kratom leaves contain two compounds which set it apart from other leaves:
- Mitragynine
- 7-hydroxymitragynine
Both of these compounds are active alkaloids that occur naturally in kratom leaves, and they may have specific effects in the body when kratom leaves are consumed. Due to the recent popularity of kratom and limitations of research, these compounds aren’t as thoroughly studied as compounds like CBD and THC that are found in another plant, marijuana.
Still, there are a few things that are known about how alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine appear in kratom leaves and how they may affect the body.
Kratom Leaf Variation
Different kratom plants have different amounts of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in their leaves. The primary alkaloid, mitragynine, is usually present in amounts of up to 2%, while 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, shows up in much smaller concentrations.
Soil components, nitrogen availability, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and sun exposure can all have an effect on the alkaloid level in kratom trees. Like any plant, changing the environment the tree grows in will change how it forms.
Depending on how kratom is grown, what the conditions are, and how it is harvested, the amount of alkaloid concentration present in the final, dried leaf may vary. These variations allow for different varieties and strains of kratom to make their way to the market, and they can all have very different chemical compositions.
Kratom’s Potential Effects
While there are some limitations on what we can and cannot say about kratom due to its status as a food and tea product, we can share why people choose to use kratom.
Kratom is used around the world by many different kinds of people for many different reasons.