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Guide · Elixirs

What is kratom?

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Elixir Variety 12-Pack
Our pickElixir Variety 12-Pack$102 · 12 cans
Shop at BBCo →

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:

ColorHow BBCo positions itTheir can
WhiteThe bright one, pitched as a coffee or energy-drink swapIsland Breeze (tropical)
GreenThe mood-and-joy one, upbeat without being wiredTiki Apple (apple and lemon)
RedThe evening one, for relaxingBlueberry Lemonade
BlendAll three at double strengthGreen 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

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.

Elixir Variety 12-Pack
If you want to try itElixir Variety 12-Pack$102 · 12 cans
Shop at BBCo →

Related: Red vs. green vs. white kratom · Best canned kratom drinks · Kratom instead of coffee · How long does kratom take to kick in?

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