Is Kratom Tea Stronger Than Powder? Don't let Them Fool You
May 28, 2021
You’ve probably been taking kratom either as a tea or in its powdered form, but now you want to switch things up a bit. If you’ve been wondering wether kratom tea is better than taking a spoonful of powder, this article is just for you.
Kratom tea is not stronger than directly consuming kratom powder, also known as the toss and wash method. When preparing tea, the alkaloids 7-hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine responsible for kratom’s benefits are lost due to the intense heat from the boiling water.
There are a couple of things you can do to reduce the amount of alkaloids lost to the heat when preparing tea. However, if you’re trying to obtain the strongest kratom effects, I highly suggest the toss and wash method.
Kratom Tea vs Powder: The Ultimate Face Off
There are a variety of reasons why the toss and wash method is superior to drinking kratom tea. For example, the toss and wash guarantees alkaloids won’t be lost, a faster absorption rate, and more potent effects.
I’ve tried tea a bunch and simple toss and wash is superior in that it’s quicker, and I feel you may lose alkaloids when making tea.
Reddit User Lurker72365 2017
Let’s go over each of the reasons why taking kratom powder is more effective.
Kratom Tea Destroys Alkaloids
Kratom contains a vast number of alkaloids. The more important ones, 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine, are the main alkaloids responsible for producing kratom’s many effects.
7-hydroxymitragynine is known to be more potent than its counterpart and plays a key role in physical discomfort. Unfortunately, 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine are not heat resistant.
Boiling water, which occurs at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, destroys most of the alkaloids and thus reduces the potency of kratom.
When you use the toss and wash method nothing is heated so you can expect to experience the full effect of kraotm powder. The alkaloids are extracted and absorbed in your stomach. Thus, toss and wash is superior to kratom tea.
Kratom Tea and Powder Initial Effects
Because there is no need to break down any type of capsule, your body will absorb kratom tea and powder rather quickly. However, the time it takes for you to feel the initial effects highly depends on how much food you have in your system.
If you take kratom on an empty stomach you should begin to feel the initial effects after about 15-20 minutes. However, if you’ve just eaten a full meal it may take twice as long to feel the initial effects.
Please keep in mind taking kratom with food in your system may diminish the overall strength of the effects.
Even though kratom tea and the toss and wash method produce effects in roughly the same amount of time, that doesn’t mean the effects will be equally potent. The toss and wash method will still produce stronger effects.
How Long do Kratom Tea and Powder Effects Last?
You can expect the effects from kratom tea and powder to last about 3-5 hours after you begin to feel the initial effects. If the strain is euphoric, the peak of the euphoria can be used to determine when the overall effect is at its peak.
After the peak, the effects gradually begin to fade away. Many people will take more kratom in an attempt to regain the effects. However, I would highly advice against that for the following reasons.
When you use kratom twice in the same day the second time you use it it will produce weaker effects. For example, the euphoria will not be as strong the second time around.
Another reason why I always advice against using kratom twice in the same day is because you will rapidly build a tolerance to it. I go as far as telling others not to use kratom on a daily basis unless you absolutely have to.
Lastly, if you double up on kratom in the same day, especially back to back with no time in between, you run the risk of experiencing unwanted side effects such as headaches and nausea.
Comparing the Taste of Kratom Tea vs Kratom Powder
There is absolutely no doubt the taste of kratom tea is much more tolerable than kratom powder. Many people have described the taste of kratom tea as earthy, bitter, and similar to Matcha.
If you value taste over potency, I highly advice using kratom tea. You can also use several other ingredients to influence the flavor and diminish the bitter taste. Some of these additional ingredients include:
- Lemon
- Honey
- Vanilla Almond Milk
- Hot Cocoa Mix
- Other Common Tea Bags
- Flavored Syrups
We’ll go over how to make kratom tea without losing too many alkaloids a little later but for now keep these ingredients in mind.
How to Use the Toss and Wash Method
If you decide to use the toss and wash method, brace yourself. Depending on the strain, the taste will be anywhere from bitter to extremely bitter and unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to reduce the bitterness.
The one thing that helps me a little bit is using cold water instead of room temperature. It’s not a huge difference but it does help.
This is the step-by-step process for how to successfully use the toss and wash method.
- Take a spoonful of your desired amount of kratom powder directly in your mouth but don’t swallow.
- Drink cold water. Make sure not to suck in any air when drinking water or you’ll have a cough attack.
- Swirl the kratom powder and water in your mouth.
- Swallow
It’s absolutely normal to make the same face as taking a warm shot of Vodka. The toss and wash method is not pleasant but you’ll thank me when you’re feeling the full effects of your favorite strain.
Is the Toss and Wash More Effective for all Strains?
Let’s keep this one short and sweet shall we? The answer is yes.
It doesn’t matter which strain you use, the toss and wash method will alway produce stronger effects than kratom tea.
Remember that it all comes down to the percentage of alkaloids. Unlike kratom tea, the toss and wash method doesn’t destroy alkaloids.
However, if you want a kratom beverage that delivers practically the same effects as the toss and wash you’ll probably enjoy a kratom cold brew. More on that later.
How to Make Kratom Tea With Minimal Alkaloid Loss
Although boiling water to make kratom tea destroys much of the alkaloids, there is a way you can prepare your tea and still reap the potent effects comparable to the toss and wash method. The secret lies in simmering your tea in 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit
How to Simmer Kratom Tea using Powder
- Mix kratom powder viciously with 1 cup of lemon juice
- Simmer the powder in the lemon juice for 20 min
- Add 1 cup of water
- Simmer for another 20 minutes
- Remove your tea from the stove
- Filter your tea (optional)
- Add your favorite sweetener to your tea
I love honey with my kratom tea, but if you’re not sure what to use as a sweetener feel free to pick one from the list I provided earlier.
Simmering your kratom protects the alkaloids but still allows for a warm beverage. Some people report simmering their tea for longer than 40 minutes, sometimes up to an hour or longer.
I’ve found 40 minutes to be the sweet spot, but remember, experience is the best teacher! If you didn’t obtain your desired effects, simmer your tea a little longer and see if that works well for you.
Preparing a Kratom Cold Brew
If you enjoy cold brews I have great news for you! Cold brews or kratom iced tea, whichever you’d like to call it, preserves all the natural alkaloids in kratom powder, lessens the bitterness, the initial effects are almost immediate (5-10 minutes), and it’s extremely simple to make.
However, the downside is that it takes quite a while to make. If you have the patience, and want to obtain potent effects from a kratom beverage, I suggest using this method.
Necessary Utensils and Ingredients:
- Water
- Filter
- Spoon
- Two clear containers with a lid or a cap
How to Make a Delicious Kraotm Cold Brew
- Add kratom powder to your container
- Add water to your container
- Mix well and make sure there is no dry kratom left in your container
- Secure the cap/lid
- Put your container in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours
- OR leave your container in room temperature. This will produce stronger effects but will not lessen the bitter taste
- After step 5 or step 6 (whichever you chose) place a filter over your second container and dispense your kratom brew into it. It’s okay to use 2 filters to prevent one from ripping.
- Shake your container every now and the to continue extracting the alkaloids
- Add ice and enjoy your kratom cold brew!
It’s ok to leave your cold brew in the fridge for longer than 12 hours. However, if you really want to extract a good amount of alkaloids, I dont recommend leaving it in the fridge for less than 8 hours.
A good idea is to leave your cold brew in the fridge while you sleep, especially if you enjoy white stimulant strains in the morning to get the day started!
How to Make Sun Tea Kratom
Making kratom Sun Tea is very similar to a cold brew. The only difference is the extraction method. Instead of placing your tea in the fridge, you place it in the sun.
Because the heat extracts the alkaloids from the powder faster than the cold, you only need to leave your tea in the sun for 5 hours instead of 8-12. Some people don’t like to wait 5 hours, but if you remove your tea from the sun sooner, you run the risk of obtaining very weak results.
Another great benefit of using the sun tea method is making large quantities of kratom tea. It’s much easier to place a large jug in the backyard than it is to store it in your fridge.
Necessary Tools and Ingredients:
- Water
- Filter
- Spoon
- 2 Clear containers or jugs with a lid or a cap
Make a Mouth-Watering Kratom Sun Tea
- Add kratom powder to your jug/container
- Add water to your jug
- Make sure there is no dry kratom left in your jug
- Add sliced lemons for extra flavor and increased effects
- Secure the cap/lid
- Place your jug in the sun for at least 5 hours
- Place a filter over your second container and dispense your sun tea into it. It’s okay to use 2 filters to prevent one from ripping.
- Stir your jug every now and then to continue extracting the alkaloids
- Enjoy your kratom sun tea!
Please keep in mind Sun Tea will more than likely produce less potent results than a cold brew or regular kratom tea because of the exposure to sunlight. Therefore, I only recommend this method when your goal is to make large batches, such as for gatherings or reunions.
Bonus Tip: How to Get Super Potent Effects From Kratom Tea and Powder
I realize I’m not the only person who enjoys kratom’s strong effects. There’s nothing quite like an extremely potent euphoria for me, and I’m sure you would like to enjoy the same experience.
Luckily for us, there are a number of ingredients we can use to increase the effects of kratom, whether it’s in tea or powdered form. Choose from the following foods and spices to boost the effects of your kratom tea or powder.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile Tea by itself is a relaxant, which means it’s a great way to elongate the effects of red strains. However, I wouldn’t suggest using it with white strains because you might counteract the stimulant effects.
Turmeric & Black Pepper
Turmeric and black pepper are a great combination known to provide stronger kratom effects. Consume a tablespoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of black pepper about an hour before ingesting kratom.
Black pepper increases the bioavailability of Curcumin, the compound in turmeric, by 2000%. This boost in Curcumin lowers your overall tolerance and stops your liver from metabolizing kratom as quickly.
Grapefruit, Oranges, or Lemons
Acidic fruits are probably the most popular kratom boosters. The citric acid in these fruits help to extract the alkaloids in kratom powder, which is why they work better with warm kratom beverages.
Simply add 1 cup of either fruit juice to warm water, mix in your kratom tea, stir, and drink. Unless you really enjoy bitter drinks, you may want to add a sweetener to this beverage.
Magnesium
Magnesium lowers your kratom tolerance. Regardless of wether you’re using kratom or not, it’s also a great supplement for you. However, the side effect of magnesium is that it makes you poop….more than usual.
If you’re going to use magnesium make sure you drink plenty of water. To effectively use magnesium with kratom, use it as a daily supplement. Using it once will have no effect.