Kratom's popularity is growing by the day. More and more people are realizing its energizing effects much like coffee. That's why many have already begun to replace their morning black tea and coffee with kratom tea. Others are following suit. This is mostly because kratom and coffee both belong to the same Rubiaceae family. That means kratom has to offer a combination of energizing and soothing effects that most beverages fail to.
There also seems to be much confusion around how to prepare kratom tea, what are some ways in which to overcome its rather bitter taste, and what all drinks kratom can go with.
Let's explore all of them one by one.
Different forms of Kratom used for making kratom tea
The natives of Southeast Asia where kratom grows naturally would chew kratom leaves to experience its energizing and therapeutic effects. However, with time - farmers started processing and drying kratom leaves to crush them to form a powder. This is the most common form in which you are likely to find kratom today.
Since 2011, a growing number of vendors have emerged both offline and online selling different varieties of kratom. While powder remains the most popular form, you can also find it in the form of gels, capsules, resins, extracts, and tincture. Most people use kratom powder for tea preparation.
How To Prepare Kratom Tea
The method to prepare kratom tea is rather straightforward. All you need is kratom powder or leaves, a cup of water, and a stove.
If you are using leaves, you will need a strainer to strain the remaining leaves.
Here's how you can go about it -
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Add a cup of water to a utensil and bring it to boil
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Turn off the stove once the water has boiled
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Add the water to a cup and add kratom dose
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Let it sit for a while for kratom to seep completely in the water
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As a sweetening agent, you can add a dash of honey or stevia
If you used kratom leaves, make sure to strain the leaves
Kratom Dosage
If you are just starting, make sure to start with a low dose preferably 1-2 grams. There are no set guidelines dictating kratom dosage. That's why it's important to exercise caution and keep the dosage low until you figure out your preferred dosage.
5 grams of kratom is considered a strong dose. Anything above this could have unpredictable effects.
Ways to Make Kratom Tea Taste Great
Kratom can be rather bitter which can make it hard to stomach for an occasional user. But, there are ways to combat that issue. A variety of stuff can work wonders in subduing that bitterness.
Some of them are -
#1 Lemon and Honey
Much like most earthy green tea flavors, kratom too can benefit from sweet and citrusy notes. While lemon tends to cut through the earthy undertones, honey can help with the sweetness and overall flavor of this concoction. The citric acid in lemon also helps preserve the alkaline nature of tea.
It's best to add lemon towards the end when kratom has seeped completely. Honey should be added right before you are about to take a sip.
How much lemon and honey to add will depend on your taste and preference. Experiment with a couple of batches to find the right dose.
#2 Vanilla Almond Milk
Vanilla is definitely an excellent way to spruce up the less tasty notes and should definitely help cut through the bitterness.
Almond milk in itself should have a nice complementary effect on kratom tea. The alkaline nature of almond milk should fit nicely with all the other chemicals. What's more, it also adds a silkier and smoother texture to the beverage making it much more enjoyable.
#3 Hot Cocoa
The chocolate in hot cocoa goes nicely with mostly earth notes. Anyone who struggles with the naturally bitter taste of kratom tea should resort to cocoa mix.
#4 Flavored Syrups
Peach, lemon, pineapple, blackberry, and raspberry tea flavored syrups are the finest choices when it comes to complimenting kratom tea and overcoming its hard-to-stomach taste.
Best Drinks to Mix With Kratom Powder
If you are not the biggest fan of enjoying kratom with just plain water, there are other alternatives you can pick and choose such as -
With Grapefruit
The citrusy notes of grapefruit juice can enhance the potency of alkaloids present in kratom. Therefore, it can act as a possible potentiator making it more active as well as more quickly absorbable.
With Chocolate Milk
This is definitely one of the most interesting drinks to add kratom to. However, make sure the milk is cooled down before adding kratom otherwise it might destroy some potent alkaloids. This can be an excellent concoction for those who want to drink this preparation at night. Milk can have neutralizing effects on tannins present in kratom which is what causes the bitterness.
With Pineapple or Orange Juice
Again the circusy nature of pineapple and orange juice should work to cut through the bitterness all the while improving its potency of alkaloids. Some people like to add mint for its aroma and scent and also because it can help mask the flavor.
Final Thoughts
Kratom tea is the new big boy on the block. It's surely an interesting beverage to try and experiment with. However, be sure to exercise caution because kratom is not regulated by the FDA. Make sure to check the quality of the product and stick to a safe dose.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of foodworldnews.com
