Our blog has covered the history of kratom, as well as the similarities and differences between kratom and coffee (another plant of the same family). Now it’s time to turn our attention to the next piece of the puzzle:
How is kratom processed? Where does it come from? How does it get into those big bags and convenient capsules?
You’ve come to the right place. We’ll discuss all the elements of kratom processing, from growing to grinding to getting it delivered right to your door.
Growing Kratom
Kratom powder is derived from the leaves of the kratom tree (also known as Mitragyna speciosa). It is a tropical evergreen tree that is native to the hot and humid forests of Southeast Asia. These aren’t little trees, mind you. They are known to tower 80+ feet in the air, and the abundant shiny, green, oval leaves are about the size of your hand or larger.
How kratom is grown affects how kratom is processed. Because of the chemical compounds present within its leaves, kratom has been carefully cultivated and farmed for hundreds of years, primarily in areas like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The tree withers in dry and/or cold locations, so kratom farms must all be located in areas of similar moist and marshy climate.
Harvesting Kratom
Both the maturity of the tree and the age of the leaves have a direct impact on the levels of the many alkaloids within any given leaf. Alkaloids are what give kratom its physiological effects (think caffeine in coffee), so leaves are harvested at specific times of their life cycle in order to produce different types (or “strains”) of kratom.
Simply put, how kratom is processed also depends on when kratom leaves are picked.
Kratom processing is guided at this stage by the color of the veins and the age of the leaves. White vein and green vein leaves are younger leaves, growing closer to the bottom of the tree, as opposed to the older red vein leaves. Each color has a unique balance of alkaloids which produces a unique blend of effects, from energizing buzzes to a sedating, calming feeling.
Drying Kratom
After they’re picked, the leaves are then inspected for quality, washed clean of dirt and debris, and dried. Special care goes into even this step, as kratom leaves are selectively dried in the sun, in the shade, or in some combination of the two. Different types of kratom powder can be produced depending on the specific conditions and duration of drying.
In this way, kratom is processed how coffee is processed — dried and then ground.
Grinding Kratom
Once dry, the leaves are then shredded and ground into the fine powder with which you are no doubt familiar. Traditionally, this was done by hand, with a mortar and pestle. These days, however, industrial grinders result in a finer powder than ever before.
Thanks to modern technology, top-quality kratom powders now have the consistency and texture of flour.
Packaging Kratom
Near the end phases of processing kratom, a decision must be made in regards to how the kratom is to be packaged and sold. The easiest method, naturally, is to leave the powder as-is and simply measure it out in varying quantities to be loaded into bags or containers. In other cases, the powder is sold in capsules for ease of access
There is another alternative to how kratom is processed, however, that is more elaborate…
Extracting Kratom
There are a number of methods for getting the chemical contents out of kratom leaves, but the end result is the same: a denser, more potent concentrate of kratom. These concentrates come in different forms, such as liquid extract shots.
Regardless of their strain (or strains), kratom extracts have a significantly higher amount of alkaloids in a significantly smaller package.
Buying Quality Kratom
At last we’ve arrived at the final step. You now know how kratom is processed. All that’s left is to determine where to get your kratom to ensure the best-quality product and experience.
At Greg’s Botanical, we grow kratom on our own domestic kratom farm in order to offer our customers fine, fresh kratom strains. On top of that, every batch is tested by third-party labs to eliminate any possibility of contaminates or toxins in any of our products.
Head over to our shop and see our fantastic collection of home-grown, hand-picked kratom. And if you ever have any questions about kratom processing or purchasing, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help!