How to Make Leaf Kratom Tea: 6 Steps
Kratom has been popular for centuries in Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and the Philippines and is traditionally consumed as a tea, smoked, or chewed directly. Thanks to its stimulant characteristics, kratom is typically enjoyed as a way to combat fatigue or increase alertness and promote focus.[1] Kratom has more recently made its way to the Western world with numerous kratom products hitting the market, and despite the limited amount of medical research and lack of medical approval, kratom has been recognized for not only its traditional benefits, but also for its therapeutic potential.
Kratom leaf can have quite a harsh flavor profile, so drinking kratom tea can be a great way to experience the many benefits of kratom with a slightly more subtle taste. The best way to enjoy kratom depends on individual preferences, but kratom tea is a go-to form for many consumers. Discover our tips on how to make kratom tea to enjoy the benefits of this ancient herb.
What You Need to Know About Kratom
Traditionally used while working or during social events, kratom offers feelings of increased alertness, boosted energy, and improved focus, while also allowing you to maintain a relaxed and calm mindset. Kratom is a tropical plant found in Southeast Asia which has leaves that contain two primary bioactive alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These alkaloids activate certain receptors in your brain as they break down.
Legal Status of Kratom
If you currently consume kratom or you are thinking about adding kratom into your routine and find yourself asking, “is kratom legal,” it is important to understand the nuances of kratom legality. Although kratom is not classified as a scheduled drug in the US, the legality of kratom sale, possession, and use has been left to city and state legislation.[2] Due to the lack of research on the effects of long term kratom use and minimal FDA regulations set in place for kratom products, certain states and cities have placed restrictions on kratom and some have banned it altogether. It is important to consider these potential safety concerns when consuming kratom, which is why advocacy groups like The Global Kratom Coalition have formed with the intent to act as a resource for consumer education. Before brewing kratom tea, be sure to research your local laws and ordinances to avoid getting in any legal hot water.
Benefits of Kratom Tea
Despite the long-running debate surrounding kratom use, there are many ways to ensure you are consuming kratom carefully and responsibly in order to reap the many benefits. With kratom acting as a stimulant, it is known to provide an energy boost that combats feelings of fatigue.[3] Similarly, it can enhance mood due to its effects on serotonin and dopamine receptors in your brain.[4] While kratom is primarily known to boost energy and mood, its sedative nature can also create feelings of relaxation, providing a sense of relaxed alertness that can increase productivity and stamina. Unfortunately, the lack of human studies on kratom has limited any FDA approval for medical use as a treatment.
Importance of Kratom Serving Sizes
As with any supplement, it is important to understand the right serving for your individual body. With kratom products on the market offered in a variety of formats and servings ranging from capsules to powders, to mixed tonics, you will want to take a close look at packaging and utilize a kratom serving guide to ensure you are consuming each product correctly. While kratom has significantly less potential for dependency and addiction in comparison to other products of similar nature,[5] it is still important to be cautious of consistent use and stick to smaller servings in order to avoid any potential for habit formation. All that being said, responsible consumption of kratom is totally safe, and it can be a great supplement.
How to Make Kratom Tea: A Step-by-Step Guide
Kratom tea is one of the most traditional and easiest ways to enjoy kratom. It is very simple to make but there are a few things to keep in mind while you are mixing your tea. Although these alkaloids are generally stable in heat, extreme heat can affect the active alkaloids in kratom, so to ensure your tea will actually provide the benefits of kratom, be sure to use hot - not boiling - water, and drink your tea within a shorter period of time. Keep those two temperature cautions in mind and follow this step-by-step guide to prepare your kratom tea:[1]
What you’ll need:
- Saucepan
- Small whisk (matcha whisk preferred)
- 8 oz water
- Kratom powder or leaves
- Strainer or coffee filter
- 1 small lemon
- Sweetener of choice
Directions:
- Place water in a saucepan and heat until hot, but not boiling.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon into your water.
- Add kratom and mix vigorously with a whisk until smooth.
- Simmer for about 15 minutes, ensuring that the water never comes to a boil.
- Place a strainer or coffee filter over your cup and pour in your mixture.
- Add sweetener to taste (agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, etc.)
While this is the basic process for making kratom tea, there are a few other variations you can make. First, you can try different types of kratom to decide which one you like the most. Starting with leaf kratom powder is typically the easiest, but if you can find whole kratom leaves, you can also grind crushed leaves into a powder yourself. Take the dried leaves, place them in the mortar, and gently pestle them to express the herb. Then, add them to kratom tea bags for easy consumption. Regardless of which kratom product you decide to use, be sure to stick to the recommended serving size and understand that any variation you take will affect how you feel from the tea.
Stovetop is a great way to brew kratom tea, but you can also use a coffee filter or a French press to generate similar results. If you want to use a coffee maker, follow your typical coffee making process, but replace the coffee with the correct serving of crushed leaf kratom and be sure to include only one cup of water. When using a French press, ground dried leaves work the best because they are slightly more coarse. Simply put the leaves, lemon, and boiling water into your press and let it steep for 15 minutes. Press the filter down and enjoy. You could also experiment with different coffee and kratom beverages to find your ideal form of consumption.
Any kratom tea variation can be enjoyed cold as well, so if you are looking for more of a refreshing midday drink, simply let your tea steep, cool in the refrigerator, and pour over ice whenever you are ready to enjoy it.
Enhancing Your Kratom Tea Experience
Kratom tea has a tendency to get quite bitter, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate it. Adding sweetener is key to improving the flavor of your kratom tea. Agave nectar, honey, and maple syrup can add great flavor to your tea, but if you don’t have those, any other sweetener will work as well. Adding sour flavors like citrus, apple cider vinegar, or ginger juice can also be a great way to mitigate the bitterness of the kratom. If you are adding anything to your tea, it is important to remember that acids can affect the way the kratom’s active alkaloids break down, so you may want to start with a slightly smaller serving to learn exactly how your favorite tea mixture will affect your body.
To improve the taste of your kratom tea, you can also try mixing in other tea bags. Teas that will taste the best when combined with kratom tea are typically citrus blends, pomegranate, vanilla flavored teas, fruity teas, or sweet teas.[6] When mixing tea bags with kratom tea, we recommend using only decaffeinated teas to avoid mixing caffeine and kratom. For other variations, you can try mixing your favorite type of milk into your tea or even a hot cocoa mix!
Serving Size and Safety Tips
To determine how much kratom to include in your tea, it is usually best to start by reading the serving size and instructions on the kratom product’s packaging. It’s also important to note that some products, such as kratom capsules will take longer to digest than if you were to drink kratom tea. If it isn’t clear on your product, the recommended serving size is typically a range depending on your experience level with kratom, body size, and potency of the strain. If you haven’t had kratom before or if you are trying a new kratom product for the first time, it is recommended to stay within 2-3 grams of kratom leaf, however, if you are a more experienced kratom user, you will most likely want 3-5 grams to reach the desired effects.[7]
When deciding on the appropriate serving size for yourself, you want to be cautious of the potential side effects like nausea, dizziness, and headache.[8] Consuming kratom will affect everyone differently, so it’s always best to start slow and increase your serving size as needed. Because extracts can have altered potency and can be enhanced through other ingredients, keep in mind that the safest kratom use is typically with leaf kratom. Additionally, be sure to research which kratom strain is ideal for you, as they have slightly different effects.
Opt for a Tonic Instead with feel free
If you don’t want to worry about grinding the leaves or mixing the powder into a tea, there are great products on the market that have done the heavy lifting for you. Botanic Tonics feel free kava kratom tonic uses a thoughtful combination of kava root and leaf kratom, allowing you to feel the desired benefits of kava and kratom with minimal effort. If you are still craving a warm tea, you can always mix one serving of feel free CLASSIC with a warm cup of lemon water and sweetener for a taste that’s similar to the traditional kratom tea.
Ready to try kratom? Visit Botanic Tonics.
Sources:
- Kats Botanicals: How To Make Kratom Tea https://katsbotanicals.com/how-to-make-kratom-tea/
- Global Kratom Coalition https://globalkratomcoalition.org/
- WebMD: Health Benefits of Kratom https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-kratom
- National Library of Medicine: The Potential for Kratom as an Antidepressant and Antipsychotic https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7309668/
- American Addiction Centers: Is Kratom Addictive? https://americanaddictioncenters.org/kratom/addictive
- Kraken Kratom: How To Make Kratom Tea Taste Great https://krakenkratom.com/resources/how-to-make-kratom-tea-taste-great/
- SeattleMet: Kratom Dosage Guide: How Much Kratom Should You Take?
About The Author
Jamal Bouie is an accomplished professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Biomedicine at Salus University. Jamal has worked in several industries; he began his career in pharmaceutical manufacturing and transitioned to the cannabis industry, where he specialized in analytical testing and manufacturing, playing a vital role in ensuring product safety and compliance. Now, Jamal has turned his attention to the dietary supplement field, combining his scientific acumen with his passion for health and wellness.
