Kratom Tea: A Unique and Enjoyable Way to Consume Kratom

You've heard about kratom, and now you're wondering which medium of use is best for you. With so many options, I don't blame you for feeling confused. Fortunately, I wrote this in-depth guide to help you determine whether kratom tea is right for you. 

Kratom tea is a beverage that contains the alkaloids, Mitrgynine and 7-Hydroximitragynine, which have been extracted from powder or crushed leaves with the intention of obtaining certain experiences. It produces a harsh bitter flavor that can be mitigated with sweeteners like honey or sugar, and is known to kick in faster than powder or capsules.  

However, kratom tea also has its downsides, which I'll thoroughly cover in this post. 

Kratom tea is a beverage made from the 80 ft kratom tree, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, that originates from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Kratom leaves contain alkaloids, which are responsible for its many amazing experiences. Two in particular, Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, bear the most responsibility, with the former even more so than the latter.

The higher the concentration of alkaloids per leaf, the more potent the strain.

When these plants reach a certain maturity, the leaves are harvested, dried in a process called curing, sometimes fermented (depending on the strain), and either grounded into a fine powder or cut into tiny pieces known as crushed leaves.

Both powder and crushed leaves can be used to make kratom tea.

Kratom can be found in four different colors, including:

• Red

• White

• Green

• Yellow / gold

Each color offers roughly the same experience, but will vary in potency.

Additionally, there are many strains within each color. For example, red strains can include Red Bali, Red Borneo, and Red Maeng Da.

The strain and color of your kratom tea is going to dictate what experience you obtain.

When you make kratom tea, the alkaloids in the powder or crushed leaves are extracted and released into the water, which can then be used as a beverage. 

Allow me to put things into perspective for you. I use kratom via the toss and wash about 90% of the time. In case you dont know, the toss and wash requires taking a spoonful of kratom powder, swirling it around your mouth with water, and gulping it down. 

The taste and texture is so unappealing that most people will shy away from kratom altogether. However, it's never been an issue for me. Kratom tea, on the other hand, is difficult for me to enjoy because of its strange bitter taste. 

Yes, you can add sweeteners like honey and sugar, but that only makes a minimal difference. If you don't enjoy harshly bitter and earthy flavors, kratom tea may not be right for you. Otherwise, feel free to give kratom tea a try. 

Want to avoid kratom tea's bitter flavor? If so, pills may be the better option for you. Check out this post I wrote titled, "Kratom Tea vs Pills: The Final Verdict," to learn more. 

Both powder and crushed leaves are perfectly okay for making kratom tea. However, if you have the time and patience to grind crushed leaves into a powder and then use that powder to make your tea, you may notice a slightly stronger experience.

Crushed leaves have less surface area exposed to elements like oxygen, humidity, sunlight, and heat, which are known to damage kratom alkaloids, and thus, reduce potency. Therefore, crushed leaves retain their potency better than powder, which means more alkaloids are released into the water during the extraction phase.

However, the difference is very minimal, and you’ll find that it might not be worth your time. Using kratom that was purchased in powdered form is nevertheless capable of producing a potent kratom tea, and is superior when compared to crushed leaves which have not been grinded into powder. 

After drinking your kratom tea, the alkaloids are absorbed into your bloodstream rather quickly and carried to the brain where they bind to the same receptors as opioids. Thus, producing very similar results.

From my experience, kratom tea kicks in as quickly as three to ten minutes, depending on how much food you have in your system.

Out of all the different ways you can use kratom, tea kicks in the fastest and is known to pack a powerful punch. However, the experience tends to be the shortest.

Fortunately, there are various ways to potentiate your tea using natural substances like: 

1. Cayenne Pepper

2. Turmeric

3. Vinegar

4. Citric Acid

5. Magnesium 

By using one or more of these potentiators, you can elongate the experience produced by kratom tea. 

Before I continue, however, check out this post I wrote, "How To Make Kratom Tea: My 3 Favorite Recipes," for more recipes and to learn how to potentaite your tea,  

A hot infusion is the typical tea made with hot water and steeping. To make this recipe, you'll need: 

1. Pot for boiling water

2. Container for steeping kratom 

3. Strainer 

4. Kratom powder or crushed leaves

5. Cup for drinking your tea

Optional: 

1. Scale

2. Sweetener 

3. Coffee filters for kratom in powdered form

Here is the step-by-step process: 

1. Bring water to a boil (dont boil kratom)

2. Pour it in the container with your kratom powder or leaves

3. Steep powder for 15 minutes or crushed leaves for 30 minutes

4. Filter out the powder or crushed leaves 

5. Optional: Add a sweetener

6. Enjoy

Sometimes, you may not want to drink your entire tea in one sitting. If so, feel free to refridgerate your tea, but only for so long, as you don't want drink expire tea.

Check out this post, "How Long Does Kratom Tea Last In The Fridge: Safety First," to learn more about how long kraotm tea lasts.  

Kratom tea has the potential to produce long or short-term side effects. The latter occurs for two reasons: 

1. You drank more tea than your body can handle

2. Not drinking enough water 

If you accidentally (or intentionally) drink more tea than your body can handle, the side effects include: 

1. Nausea

2. Vomiting

Do not underestimate how unpleasant kratom's nausea can be. If severe, it may result in vomiting. 

I've had the misfortune of experiencing the nauseas effect, as have some of my friends. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to make it go away faster, but on the brightside, it's not life threatening, and will go away on its own within a couple of hours. 

If you fail to drink enough water, other short-term side effects can include: 

1. Constipation 

2. Dry Mouth

I've had the misfortune of also experiencing both constipation and a dry mouth. Luckily, you can decrease their duration by drinking multiple cups of water to rehydrate your body. 

Long-term side effects are caused by using kratom consistently for many years. Although there's a huge lack of studies in this particular field, long-term effects include: 

1. Psychosis

2. Hyperpigmentation (darkening of facial skin)

3. Weight loss

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should never drink kratom tea. Always consult your doctor before using kratom. 

For more info on kratom tea's side effects, check out this post I wrote titled, "Kratom Tea Side Effects & How To Avoid Them."

However, states and local governments have the right to take further action if they believe kratom is a threat to their residents, and due to the huge lack of understanding between kratom and policy makers, many have. 

As of February 2023, kratom is illegal in the following six states: 

1. Wisconsin

2. Rhode Island

3. Indiana

4. Alabama

5. Arkansas

6. Vermont 

Always make sure to check your jurisdiction's policies regarding kratom legality before purchasing kratom for your tea, as breaking the law can result in serious legal problems.