What is kratom?
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Kratom is the leaf of Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree in the coffee family that grows in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. People there have chewed the fresh leaves or brewed them into tea for generations, often to get through a long working day. In the U.S. it's now sold as ready-to-drink canned elixirs.
What does kratom feel like?
The main compound in the leaf is mitragynine. How people describe it depends on the type: some cans feel bright and focused, others calm and easygoing. That range is why kratom drinks are usually sold by color.
Red, green and white: what the colors mean
The colors refer to the vein of the leaf. Each brand describes them a little differently. Here's how Botanical Brewing Co. positions its elixirs:
| Color | How BBCo positions it | Their can |
|---|---|---|
| White | The bright one, pitched as a coffee or energy-drink swap | Island Breeze (tropical) |
| Green | The mood-and-joy one, upbeat without being wired | Tiki Apple (apple and lemon) |
| Red | The evening one, for relaxing | Blueberry Lemonade |
| Blend | All three at double strength | Green Cat 5 (Brewers Series) |
What does it taste like?
Plain kratom tea is bitter and green, a bit like very strong black tea. Canned elixirs are built around fruit flavors, so the bitterness sits in the background.
Crushed leaf vs. extracts
Kratom products range from brewed whole leaf to concentrated extracts. BBCo's elixirs are brewed from crushed leaf, which puts them closer to the traditional tea than to the extract shots sold at gas stations.
How to drink it
- One can is one serving.
- Pick the color for the time of day: white or green earlier, red in the evening.
- If you're new, the variety pack is the cheapest way to find the color you like.
Is kratom legal?
Kratom leaf is legal at the federal level in the U.S., but a handful of states and cities restrict it. BBCo only ships its kratom elixirs where they're allowed, so checkout will tell you if your state is excluded.
Related: Red vs. green vs. white kratom · Best canned kratom drinks · Kratom instead of coffee · How long does kratom take to kick in?