There aren’t that many ways for people to take their herb and supplement powders. But kratom is a perfect example of an herbal powder that needs special consideration.

Kratom is a leaf from a tree in Indonesia that’s dried, ground into powder and imported to be resold in the USA. It contains two alkaloids that work on our pain receptors, making it popular for pain relief.

Why People Have Problems Taking Kratom

The issue is, a usual dose of this kratom powder ranges from about 2 to 6 grams at a time. Meanwhile, most pre-capsuled versions contain 500mg in each. This means that a normal dose in capsules ranges from 4 to 12 caps.

That’s a lot of capsules to take multiple times a day.

But people who take this herb complain about the taste. So they have to find a way to address that and the other problems that come along with it.

I've spent years doing exactly that. I'll run through the main pros and cons of each method so you won't have to learn the hard way.

These are the the top methods for taking kratom. But most of these hold true for other herbs and supplements too.

Mixing Kratom in Liquid

This method is obvious and easy for anyone to do, but it’s not the most pleasant. That’s because you taste it, which is what most people want to avoid.

Being straightforward, directions aren’t necessary. The most common liquids we see people mixing with kratom include water, orange juice and chocolate milk.

The bad:

• Strong Taste - Holding your breath helps, but the aftertaste will be there.

• Chunky Texture - Kratom doesn’t dissolve very well. So unless you’ve got a frother that can stir it well, expect chunks.

• Expensive - OJ or chocolate milk many times a day will be more expensive than other methods long-term.

• Absorption - You may not feel it as much if you have foods in your stomach that absorb the liquid.

• Not Enjoyable* - OJ or chocolate milk may help you deal with the taste somewhat, but it ruins the drink itself.

• Weight Gain* - You’re consuming a ton of calories in sugar to take this powder. And sugar-free is much, much worse.

The Good:

• Easy - Water is free and accessible.

• More Effect* - Orange juice is acidic, which is said to boost the effects of the kratom alkaloids.

• Quick Setup - It doesn’t take very long to prepare.

*In OJ or Chocolate Milk

Verdict:

If I personally had to do it this way, I would mix the kratom powder into a small shooter with about 2-3 oz of water. Then, I would pour another shooter next to it of orange juice. Ya’ll went to college.. you know where I’m going with this.

Hold your breath, and remember: the less liquid, the quicker the absorption time.

Kratom in Capsules

Capsules work well, but it can take quite a few of them to get the desired effects. The common way to do this is to buy capsules pre-filled. They usually contain 500mg-850mg of kratom powder depending on the capsule size:

• Size 000: ~850mg

• Size 00 ~750mg

• Size 0: ~500mg

Another way is to buy empty capsules and fill them yourself.

Directions: How to Make Your Own Kratom Capsules

1. Purchase empty capsules and a capsule-filling device

2. Separate each empty capsule

3. Put the top-halves in the top peg-holes one by one

   *Only some machines. All of our machines have parts that drop the capsules into their holes automatically.

4. Put the bottom-halves in the bottom pegs-holes one by one

   **Again, on some.

5. Pour some powder over the bottom-half rack

6. Sweep it into all the caps (Be careful, this can get messy)

7. Use the packer to pack them down

8. Add more powder

9. Sweep and pack again

10. Then put the top peg rack on

11. Press the capsules together

12. Remove the filled caps

13. Clean all the parts

Learn how to use our capsule filling machines by watching our instructional videos on our How to Use page.

The bad:

• Expensive - If you buy them pre-filled, they're expensive compared to buying powders in bulk. This is true of all herbs and supplements. Bulk powder will always save you money.

• Time Consuming - If you make them yourself you’ll save money, but it takes a lot of time. One by one is the worst. Capsule-filling machines are better, but it still takes a long time.

• Low Capacity - The most the largest capsule size can hold when filled with the most dense powder is about one gram.

• Hard Texture - When swallowing, they’re very hard. If you’re one that has trouble swallowing capsules, you’ll have to do one at a time.

• Ingredients - Many capsules are made from animal parts and manufactured in China where it’s cheaper. There have been very concerning issues with gelatin capsules from China in the past..

  • BlateCo gelatin capsules are never produced in China, but rather Europe, South America, and India. Additionally, our vegan capsules are made from pullulan gum, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, unlike nearly every other vegan capsule sold on the market today. These are better for you, the environment, and they even outperform all other capsule ingredients.

The good:

• No Taste - This is the best attribute.

• Portable - They’re easy to take with you. You’ll still have to bring them in a baggie or bottle of some sort though (putting naked capsules in your pocket is unsanitary and they can break if you move around too much or get wet/hot).

• DIY Cost - Depending on the kind, empty capsules can be reasonably priced. Pair this with bulk powder and you’ll save on the cost of buying pre-filled.

• No Calories - Each capsule has little to no calories.

Verdict

Having capsules is great if you’re traveling or in a rush and need a quick, hassle-free way to take kratom. They can also be great if you don’t mind spending a little more money and buying them already capsulized.

But for the majority of kratom users who care about their time and income, buying pre-filled is not the best long-term option: Making them yourself is the better way to do it.

Filling by hand isn’t feasible though, as it takes patience and a great deal of time and effort. Using a capsule filler makes it much easier.

Be aware though that not all capsule-fillers are created equal; some only make 24 at a time, make you put each capsule half in one by one, and/or don’t press the tops on for you. It’s important you learn how to choose the best capsule filling machine for what you need.

Otherwise it could take you 10-15 minutes to fill 24 capsules… then depending on your dose, you just might then use them all at once!

After testing all the machines on the market, the best capsule machine for making kratom capsules tends to be:

• For home use: Core Series 100 or 400 Hole

• For business use: Pro Series 100, 400 or 800 Hole (The BEAST™)

• For scaling businesses, R&D, etc.: Pro-Op Series 100 or 300 (with auto-orienter)

Making Kratom Tea

To be frank, I don’t like this method. I don’t feel that kratom was meant to be enjoyed as a tea.. it tastes like dirty trees.

No matter how much honey, lemon, etcetera you add to it, it just won’t be enjoyable like other herbal tea blends.

Some people say they do enjoy it though, and that’s awesome! But in my personal opinion, that’s because their mind has grown to associate that dirty tree taste with the soon-to-come-on effect of the kratom alkaloids.. not because it actually tastes good.

With that said, these directions come from a post on reddit made by u/GoldenRoadBotanicals.

Ingredients and Materials for 1 cup of Kratom Tea

• Saucepan or kettle with a pouring lip

• Small whisk or spoon

• 8 oz water

• Quality Kratom powder (your dosage)

• Strainer or coffee filter

• 1 small lemon/ lemon juice or Apple Cider Vinegar

• Honey, sugar, agave juice, or maple syrup (optional)

Directions: How to Make Kratom Tea

1. Place water in the saucepan or kettle and heat until hot, but not boiling.

2. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the water, then add your dose of powder or crushed leaves.

3. Stir vigorously until it is distributed evenly. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Place a strainer or coffee filter over your cup and pour in the tea. This collects powder residue that did not dissolve.

5. Stir in your choice of sweetener. Drink immediately.

The bad:

• Strong Taste - Like mixing in water, kratom tea tastes terrible. Don’t get me wrong, some herbs taste okay, but kratom is not one of those.

• Time-Consuming - Tea takes a long time to prepare and clean up. That means boiling water too. So you won't be making tea while away from home. And portability is low without a thermos.

• Precision Needed - You’ll want to ensure the right temperature for optimal alkaloid extraction.

• Requires Equipment - You need some sort tea-pot and a proper filtration system to take out the leftover powder sludge.

• Wasted Kratom or Crazy Sludge Hoarder - Alkaloids get left behind in the sludge you filtered out. So you won’t get everything you paid for. But storing that sludge in your fridge for a second steep later makes you look like a crazy hoarder of green goop.

• Inconsistent Dosing - Your dosage can vary based on how you brew it each time.

• Calories - Most add honey, another sweetener and/or creamer to mask the taste, which means extra calories.

• Toxic Chemical Exposure - Most tea and coffee equipment use plastic. All plastic is toxic when used with boiling or very hot water! Few people realize that BPA is only one of the many toxins released by plastic. This includes dioxins, phthalates, and other phytoestrogens. They all cause harm in the body, especially on the reproductive system! I recommend not ever pouring hot water into a plastic cup, thermos, tea pot, a French press with plastic filters, etc.

The good:

• No Excess Fiber - This filters out the powdered plant material. Some say it hurts their stomach with prolonged use of high dosages.

• Adjustable Strength - You can adjust the brew strength (not to an exact dosage, though).

• Lemon Boost - If lemon is added, it’s said that the citric acid may potentiate (boost) the effect of the kratom.

Verdict

We tend to feel that the only real upside here is the removal of plant fiber for those that find they have stomach issues with that. From personal experience, we’ve never found that drinking tea produces a stronger effect than taking powder.

However, we’ve felt that it may give the illusion of being stronger because it works more quickly, depending on what’s in your stomach upon consumption. But in these cases the effects tend to wear off just as rapidly.

Bonus: The Red Bubble Tea Method (New)

This is an interesting method that uses freezing to get more alkaloids out of the kratom and into the tea. However, it takes a lot time and effort. Nonetheless, it may be worth a try if your heart is set on trying it.

This procedure was taken from a reddit post by u/legalizeverhthing:

1. 7g of White Maeng Da kratom was placed into the freezer overnight

2. The frozen kratom was removed from the freezer, and 50g of cool lemon juice was weighed on top of the kratom powder. Using a spoon, I gently mixed the juice and powder together until it was a thick paste.

3. The container was allowed to sit at room temp for 24 hours with frequent agitation.

4. Hot, but not boiling water was poured on top of the mixture.* The original procedure I was working off of recommended boiling water, but I opted for cooler water as to not destroy alkaloids with high temps.

5. The entire container was placed into the freezer after cooling on the countertop. The freezing causes the plant matter to freeze to the bottom of the container, making separation of the liquid and solid much easier.

6. The liquid portion was allowed to thaw and then was filtered through a Kimwipe inside a monster pipette. This removed all of the solids from the extract and left only the amber colored, sweet-tea smelling liquid.

7. This liquid was allowed to evaporate for several hours, reducing its volume by around half. After it had been concentrated to my liking, I bottled it in a small mason jar and placed it in the fridge.

   *Note about the container: We highly recommend using ceramic or a broscillate glass container instead of any plastic one. There is a significant body of evidence on how microplastics have invaded our bodies. Dr. Sarah Swann, one of the leading scientists studying this phenomenon, was recently on Joe Rogan’s podcast discussing how it leads not only to reproductive issues, but how continuous exposure can cause your soon-to-be-born son’s you-know-what to be SMALLER. For the sake of your future children, don’t mix plastic with hot foodstuffs! Or better yet, consider stopping the use of plastic with your food altogether.

Kratom Extracts (New)

Extracts have been around and growing for many years now. This is often one of the forms you'll find in gas stations and smoke shops because it’s relatively easy to use and it packs the hardest “punch,” you might say.

What is an extract?

An extract is any substance that has been concentrated from its original form to make it stronger. The goal is basically to reduce the amount of the substance that is necessary to acheive the desired result.

In regard to kratom, the goal of an extract is to increase the amount of the two main chemicals known for producing the effects it gives: Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine.

So while a product containing plain powdered leaf kratom may have .8% to 2% mitragynine and advertise a serving size of 2 grams, an extract's label would instead say something like “150mg of mitragynine per serving.”

It’s possible to make this yourself, but doing so requires a lot of time, effort and sacrifice.

Important Note: Doing the math, you’ll quickly realize the significant difference in strength between the two products; plain kratom at 1.5% mitragynine content contains only 30mg of mitragynine in a 2 gram (2000mg) serving. Meanwhile, some extracts out there contain over 300mg per serving! That is much more than a novice would wish to consume!

Taking Extracts - Powder vs Liquid

Extracts are sold most often in one of three forms

• Powdered Extracts: This is just like plain leaf powder, but there might by upwards of 5-10% mitragynine, as well as a higher 7-Hydroxymitragynine*

• Liquid Extracts: These are often in little shots, similar to those 5-hour energy bottles. They’re also the most strong and expensive. These hit very quickly, because there is a lot of the main alkaloids in a very small amount of liquid.

• Pill/Capsule Extracts: These will also generally give the milligram amount of each main alkaloid found in the kratom.

The bad:

• Can be TOO Strong - This is the most worrying and highly debated “issue” with extracts: They’re simply too strong for people who don't take them often. But they’re also one of the most widely available forms locally for most people. This causes quick tolerances, which can quickly lead to physical withdrawal syndrome upon stopping their use after long periods!

• Most Expensive - These are the most expensive forms of kratom, even coming it at a whopping $20 - $30+ per serving! Some people take multiple shots a day, adding up fast!

• Taste (Liquids & Powders)- If traveling when using this method, you’ll need to bring your powder too, usually in a baggie or container. Then you’ll want to scoop it onto the business card with something. You can pour it into the card, but that’s very easy to mess up and get ALL OVER YOUR LAP AND CAR INTERIOR (just saying).

• Synthetic Additives, Fillers, Plastic, etc.- Extract shots come with tons of preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, and more potentially harmful chemicals within them. They’re also stored in plastic bottles, leaching PFAs into the suspension over time.

The good:

• Quick - It doesn’t take much time to consume a small amount of the substance in pill or liquid form.

• Less Powder- If you're tolerance is high, and you’re having trouble consuming as much powder as it takes you to reach your dosage level, using a powdered extract could reduce amount you have to take without breaking the bank too much (from the right source).

• No Mess - If you throw away that business card then (hopefully) there’s nothing to clean up.

• Little to No Calories - Being only the substance and/or chemical additives, there are little to no calories in extracts

Verdict

There is a time and a place for extracts.. but in our opinion, the most popular extracts are the worst for you… and just so expensive. There are some sources that offer extracts at better prices, and with no additives, but you’ll likely have to go searching and won’t find them locally, if that’s what you prefer.

In regards to making them yourself, there’s very little benefit to making your own extract when you can take the plain leaf powder, or even (dare I say it…) make a tea in much less time!

But most importantly among the rest of the points is that extracts will quickly raise your tolerance level if consuming them regularly. This is something that everyone should hope to avoid, as it’s causing a problem for you down the road that you’re not going to enjoy.

For these reasons, we strongly feel that extracts should be consumed with care, in moderation and on rare occasions.

*7-Hydroxymitragynine extracts are becoming more widespread. At one of the recent Champs Trade Shows we exhibited last year in 2023, we received samples of such extracts. To be honest, we did not enjoy them. They were much too strong.. weird too, in a way.

Toss and Wash Method

This is a method known well in the kratom community, but it works for all other herbs and powders. It consists of throwing powder in your mouth and drinking it down before tasting it.

It’s just like dry-scooping pre-workout powder. However, most people don’t know there’s a “correct” way to do it.

Directions: How to Toss and Wash Kratom

1. Put your dose of powder into a long-ways folded business card or something similar

2. Take a decent-sized sip of liquid (usually one with sugar and flavor). Drink enough to tilt your head back and hold the liquid in your mouth.

3. Take the business card holding the kratom or powdered herb and pour it all into your mouth, atop the liquid.

4. Immediately drink more juice or water and swallow the mixture in your mouth.

   *Technically, you should call it a “wash, toss, wash” rather than a “toss and wash.”

The bad:

• Learning Curve - This method requires practice. First timers can mess up, choke, and even breathe in powder if done wrong.

• Not Perfect - It doesn’t always work. Experienced “tossers” still taste the powder every few times.. even getting it stuck in the back of their throats. This has happened to me before, right in that spot at the back of your throat that makes your eyes tear up. FYI, it hurts and you can’t seem to reach it.

• Low Portability - If traveling when using this method, you’ll need to bring your powder too, usually in a baggie or container. Then you’ll want to scoop it onto the business card with something. You can pour it into the card, but that’s very easy to mess up and get ALL OVER YOUR LAP AND CAR INTERIOR (just saying).

• Looks Odd - If you do it in public, you’ll likely have to explain what you’re taking and why you’re doing it that way.

• Medium Capacity - The capacity for one swallow isn’t that high, but it depends on the person. Generally, if doing more than 2 grams you’ll want to split it into multiple tosses. Otherwise it gets easier to mess up.

The good:

• No Taste - When done the right way and without too much at once, you can avoid the tasting the powder.

• Free - If done with water, it’s free.

• Quick - It doesn’t take much time to perform.

• No Mess - If you throw away that business card then (hopefully) there’s nothing to clean up.

• No Calories - Unless you use juice or another caloric drink.

Verdict

When done right, it can be a great experience. But when done wrong, ugh. And it’s free.

Edible Gel Films

Edible gel films, or just “gel films,” are made of gelatinized potato starch. That doesn’t mean they’re made with gelatin, but rather that the starch is mixed in water and heated until it forms a gel. This gel is then pressed, dried, and formed into the shapes here.

Like capsules, they keep you from tasting anything. However, you dip these in water before swallowing, which makes them soft and gel-like, forming to the shape of your throat as you swallow.

They come in either square-shaped sheets or cone-shaped pouches.

Squares hold the most powder. Generally, the most kratom you can do is around 5 grams in one square. But denser powders (such as crystalized supplements) can see more than that.

Pouches hold between 2 and 4 grams of kratom, but they're easier to use; you just add powder and go. They come with a couple stands and a wooden spoon to fill them up with.

These edible films are very unique and designed specifically for taking all kinds of herb, supplement and medication powders.

Directions: How to Take Kratom with Gel Films

1. Fill with powder

2. Dip in water (or seal it)

3. Swallow with water

The bad:

• Requires Dry Hands - Your hands must be dry before using them. Any moisture will make the starch film start becoming a gel too early.

• Personal Limits - Some people may have a personal limit on how much powder they can take or are comfortable taking.

• Not Free - It’s not expensive, but still must be purchased.

The good:

• No Taste - You don’t taste anything when swallowing.

• Most Pleasant - It’s the easiest to swallow. Even at high doses you barely notice it.

• No Calories - Each pape is under a calorie.

• High Capacity - You can take more than 5x the amount in the average capsule.

• Very Quick - It takes less than a few seconds to fill it up and swallow.

• Portable - You can pre-seal and take them with you like capsules (in a plastic bag or container), except you’ll only need to bring one.

• Inconspicuous - It’s easy to take a pre-sealed pape in public without drawing attention.

• No Equipment Necessary - But you may want a scale to make sure you dose accurately.

• Low Prep and No Clean Up - You swallow everything the powder touches but the spoon.

• Easy - Papes require the least amount of work.

Verdict

These have the most advantages in terms of a powder consumption product. Although they’re not free, they’re more convenient than the rest.

Final Verdict and Comparison

Comparing all the methods to each other, we’ve listed the methods in order from best to worst:

Winner: Gel Films

I know, I know.. here’s a company saying their product is the best. Of course it looks shady. But in all seriousness, edible films consistently perform the same over time while being more pleasant, easier to use, and quicker than every other method (of preparing and taking the powder).

Edible films and capsules are the only two methods that allow no taste every time. But edible gel films hold more, they swallow easier and they don’t require as much time or as much money to use.

Although they may not be the best fit for everyone, gel films are the most efficient and consistently reliable product for taking kratom powder.

Second Place: Toss and Washing

Although it doesn’t work perfectly every time, it’s hard to beat free. In fact, the only thing that ever beats free, is easy. But toss and wash is a good balance between free and quick (once you figure it out). However, mid to high doses will need multiple tosses and you’ll still taste the powder sometimes. Just don’t expect to do it in public without getting weird looks.

Third Place: Capsules

Capsules have their place. People enjoy the simplicity of just buying a product and swallowing it with no taste. But we recommend filling them yourself to save money and ensure you know what you’re getting.

Fourth Place: Mixing in Liquid

This is a good method to have in a bind. But really, how many people enjoy the taste of alcohol? Well, mixologist is still a profession. But I wouldn’t expect to see any life-changing kratom recipes anytime soon.

Fifth Place: Extracts

These can be great in a pinch, but consumption on a regular basis is asking for trouble. The artificial ingredients and cost are also huge negatives that we suggest considering. Although it’s hard to quanitify this against the rest, since extracts can come in many different forms, the increased likelihood of developing a tolerance for new or consistent users with the most popular extractrs was enough for us to give it this rating.

Last Place: Brewing Tea

This is all around the worst: It takes the longest, you waste more powder than other methods, your dosage can vary widely, and after all that, it still tastes terrible. But hey, to each their own.