The world of Kratom can be a confusing place. There’s so much information out there that it can be hard to determine where to start. Today Kats Botanicals is tackling a big topic – Kratom extract vs powder. These are two popular ways to take Kratom, but they are often misunderstood or shrouded in misinformation. This article is for Kratom users of any experience level – whether you’re new to Kratom or here to learn more. We’ll discuss Kratom extracts vs Kratom powders:
- Key distinctions between Kratom liquid extract vs powder, versatility & uses
- How each is sourced from the Kratom tree, Mitragyna speciosa.
- Potency & benefits
- & More!
Understanding how to use different Kratom powder vs extract products properly can make your Kratom journey all the more impactful. Let’s dive right in.
WHAT IS KRATOM?
Kratom is an herbal supplement enjoyed around the world for its potential wellness benefits. Kratom comes from an evergreen tree in the tropics.
Potential benefits may include (and may vary from person to person):
- Enhanced motivation
- Support for post-workout recovery
- Support for calm for nightime routine
- Feelings of optimism and inner balance
- Improved sociability
- Stress management
- Support for general wellness
Let’s take a peek into the jungles, see where the powders and extracts get their start, then we’ll compare them so you know what to put on your supplement shopping list today.
WHERE DOES KRATOM COME FROM?
Kratom is available in many forms, like extract or powder, but all come from one Kratom plant. The tropical, evergreen Kratom tree is indigenous to Southeast Asia, growing in tropical forests, flood plains, and along riverbanks. Kratom can be found in Borneo, Thailand, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with a small Southern China population. Most Kratom found in the West is sourced from the islands of Indonesia. Kratom trees like rich, nutrient-dense soils and rainforest conditions, making them well-suited to Southeast Asian climates. Kratom trees can grow to a towering 80-100 feet high with smooth, gray trunks up to three feet in diameter. These trees produce nutrient-rich Kratom leaves which vary in size and coloration depending on growing conditions.
KRATOM’S RICH HISTORY
In 1859, George Darby Haviland renamed and reclassified the Kratom plant from Stephegyne speciosa to Mitragyna speciosa. Though it goes by many common names, Kratom is the most commonly used term in the West. Locals of Southeast Asia use Kratom for anything from fatigue to spiritual enlightenment. Some people pluck the leaves straight from the tree and chew them. The leaves are also used to brew Kratom tea. Today, Kratom is enjoyed in many formats including Kratom powders, Kratom extracts, Kratom capsules, and Kratom gummies.
Kratom is not legal in some areas. See if Kratom is legal where you live.
KRATOM LEAVES AND COLOR VENATION
Some Kratom leaves are wide and floppy, resembling elephant ears. (Fun fact: This is where we get our Dark Elephant Kratom powder!) Other leaves are shorter or have different coloring. Most Kratom leaves are oval and develop in a distinct, opposite growth pattern. Each Kratom leaf can display 12 to 14 veins. Kratom comes in three different vein colorations – Red, White, and Green – and has vein-specific benefits to the user. Vein coloration can develop on the trees or by careful post-harvest drying and handling procedures. Leaves from the Kratom tree are harvested at precisely the right point in their growing cycle and processed using long-established methods.
RED VEIN KRATOM – Most widely used. May generate feelings of calm and promote body relief.
WHITE VEIN KRATOM – Most “boosting” and supportive of a busy day.
GREEN VEIN KRATOM – Most motivating and may influence an improved sense of well-being.
Note: Single-strain Red, Green, or White Vein Kratom strains are great for beginners. Always start with a lower-than-average dose to get a feel for how it affects you.
WHAT IS KRATOM POWDER?
Kratom powder is a finely ground version of Kratom leaf. To make Kratom powder, the leaves are hand-harvested and then cured to dry, either in or out of the sun. Kratom powders come in shades of beige, brown, red, green, yellow, or gold. These fine powders are the most versatile and popular way to consume Kratom. Powdered Kratom products are usually labeled with the contributing Kratom veins plus the regional strain name like Bali, Maeng Da, or Malay Kratom. There are also blends of Kratom in powder form combining veins and strains for a blended suite of benefits.
MAENG DA KRATOM – These naturally potent vein-dominant blends work best for moderate to experienced Kratom users.
BALI KRATOM – These generally relaxing strains are great for beginners. Some may even add a boost to daily well-being.
YELLOW OR GOLD KRATOM – These popular blends are pale in color and provide a blended effect between calm and optimism.
KRATOM BLENDS – Kratom blends produce a variety of nuanced experiences and offer tailor-made regimens for moderate to experienced users.
HOW DO I TAKE KRATOM POWDER?
The simplest way to take Kratom powder is the toss-and-wash method. Powders can also be immersed into a liquid to create a “tea”. Powders vary in potency depending on the strain used and dosage. Regular Kratom powders can be made more potent when they are mixed with potentiators like citrus fruits, chamomile, or apple cider vinegar.
WHAT IS KRATOM EXTRACT?
Compared to powder, Kratom extracts are far more potent and are generally suited to more experienced Kratom users. You don’t need to take as much to get the same, lasting effects of Kratom. Use Kratom extracts in a liquid shot form alone or add them to your Kratom powder mixtures for a potent boost in benefits. Kratom extract products are made by isolating, extracting, and concentrating the plant’s active compounds, called alkaloids. The alkaloids are then put into a liquid for drinking. This concentrated form of Kratom makes for a powerful, fast-acting, and lasting way to enjoy the effects of Kratom without consuming the rest of the plant materials.
Kratom extract comes in a few forms:
- Pre-made Kratom teas – Kratom essence pre-mixed into teas
- Liquid-based shot drinks – Water-based extractions suspended into a drinkable (often flavored) liquid Kratom “shot”
- Resin – Thicker, viscous pastes or semi-liquids (not as commonly used)
Here at Kats, we carry Kratom shots because they are portable, easy to use, and can be flavored to mask the bitterness of Kratom.We also use extracts in the making of some of our enhanced products to make them stronger. Kratom extracts are often labeled in terms of their potency as compared to regular Kratom powders. Read more on Kratom extract potency.
HOW KRATOM EXTRACTS ARE MADE
To make the extract, the leaves of the Kratom tree are not dried but immersed in a water or water + ethanol solution. The solution is allowed to soak, driving the alkaloids from the plant material without compromising their potency or vibrancy. Over a few weeks, the liquids evaporate and the alkaloids are retained to add to a flavored, drinkable beverage. The resulting Kratom extract products are very strong. It’s important to follow manufacturers’ guidance on the amount of extract you should take per dose and day.
HOW DO I TAKE KRATOM EXTRACTS?
One of the main differences between Kratom extract and powder is that you don’t have to mix the extracts with anything to enjoy them; you can sip them straight from the bottle. You can measure out your dose more precisely, add to a beverage, or sprinkle it onto food. Another popular way to enjoy Kratom extracts is by sublingual absorption, which allows blood vessels under the tongue to absorb it quickly.
WHAT ARE KRATOM ALKALOIDS?
Both Kratom powder and Kratom extracts contain powerful alkaloids from raw Kratom leaf powders – but in very different makeup and concentrations. These active phytochemicals are what give us the feelings associated with Kratom use. You’ll find a variety of the (approximate) 25 different alkaloids, along with other plant matter and terpenes, in Kratom powders. This brings the essence of the strains along with the full contribution of plant materials. Many people believe this offers an entourage effect, similar to what’s found in cannabis compounds.
In regular Kratom powder, you’ll find:
- Mostly MIT (Mitragynine) – accounts for 66% or more of the entire Kratom plant’s active compounds.
- Another important alkaloid, 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine).
And lesser alkaloids like:
- Paynantheine
- Mitraphylline
- Speciogynine
- Rhynchophylline
When consuming Kratom powder you get the nuanced experiences influenced by strains and veins + the effects of the active ingredients present. With Kratom extracts, however, the two most influential alkaloids (MIT and 7-OH) are in high concentration (one or both). And, there are no other plant materials, therefore, the strain used is irrelevant. While more palatable, Kratom extract products are astronomically more potent. You’re not likely to see information about region, strain, or vein on an extract product, but you should pay close attention to dosage instructions.
Shop Kratom Liquid Extract Shots or Enhanced Kratom Powders.
KRATOM POTENCY FACTORS
The potency of Kratom trees influences how we select the right trees for creating different Kratom strains for powders, and which trees are best to use for creating extracts. For Kratom powders, the potency and alkaloid profile contribute to the enjoyment of the final product. For extracts, alkaloid-dense Kratom leaves make it easier to withdraw and isolate the active ingredients. Some trees can be used for both purposes. Either way, potent, healthy Kratom leaves deliver the best Kratom experience.
Here are other factors that affect the potency and chemical makeup of Kratom leaves:
- CLIMATE – Leaves exposed to just the right amount of sunlight and rain mature more reliably.
- HARVESTING FREQUENCY – Trees frequently harvested at regular intervals tend to produce higher alkaloid content.
- REGION – Alkaloid content in Kratom leaves can differ by region.
- PROCESSING PROCEDURES – Post-harvest handling (drying, fermenting, etc.) affects alkaloid makeup for powders.
- PURITY –Potency is directly related to product handling and purity measures taken. When you shop for Kratom leaf products of any kind, use vendors that follow cGMP practices and lab-test thoroughly for any impurities.
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KRATOM EXTRACT VS POWDER
| KRATOM POWDER | LIQUID KRATOM EXTRACT SHOTS |
| Versatile | Versatile and discreet |
| Potency varies by strain | Highly potent and may not suit new users |
| Comes in nuanced varieties (veins and strains) for a full-spectrum suite of benefits | Concentrated Mitragynine and or 7-Hydroxymitragynine for less versatile but far stronger benefits |
| Powdered form must be swallowed with a liquid chaser or mixed with liquid or food to ingest it | Liquid form for measuring, sipping, or dripping (onto food, into drink, or under the tongue) |
| Can be very bitter or earthy | Often flavored to cover up the bitter taste of Kratom |
| Control dosing with precise measuring of the powders | Dosing may be harder due to concentration |
| Comes in a resealable bag and needs to be kept dry | Resealable bottle usually does not need to be refrigerated |
STORING YOUR KRATOM TO PRESERVE POTENCY AND PURITY
Kratom has a shelf-life of about 8-12 weeks when stored properly:
- In a cool, dry place.
- Out of direct sunlight.
- As a reminder – out of the reach of children and pets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kratom powder and the different forms of Kratom extracts are popular and versatile ways to enjoy Kratom, once you get the hang of how to use them. For more information on using Kratom properly, refer to these helpful Kratom resources created by Kats Botanicals to help you master your Kratom wellness goals:
- Looking for the best Kratom? Look no further than our Shop All Kratom page!
- Learn to grow a Kratom tree or make Kratom recipes.
- Learn more about the benefits of Kratom extracts.
- Need help choosing the right Kratom strain or Kratom dosing?
- Learn more about the many forms of Kratom and how to maximize their benefits.
Contact us if you have any questions on how to use your Kratom powders or liquid Kratom shots.We are happy to be your approved Kratom vendor!
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