Inexperienced and experienced kratom consumers commonly complain that kratom is extremely bitter and tastes bad. So the simple question is: how do you make kratom taste good?
Some kratom consumers will tell you to just grin and bear it. “Put kratom powder in your mouth, swallow it, chase it with some water, and stop complaining!” they say. But we disagree. We think you should enjoy your experience of consuming kratom. We can season our food, we can add creamer to black coffee, so why can’t we make kratom taste good, too?!
The answer to the question of how to make kratom taste good varies, because everybody’s personal tastes are unique. Regardless, if you’re looking to avoid the bitter/earthy taste of kratom, then you’re in the right place. We have a range of suggestions for how to make kratom taste good. No matter what your favorite flavor profiles or product formulation preferences are, you’ll find a great way to make kratom taste better below.
- What Does Kratom Taste Like: Plain Leaf Kratom Flavors and Kratom Extract Flavors
- Why Does My Kratom Taste Bad?
- How to Make Kratom Taste Better or Mask Kratom’s Taste
- Why Crushed-Leaf Tea Tastes Better Than Powder
We don’t call this the Better Brewing Blog for nothing! Let’s dive into it, and hopefully remedy some of your kratom taste woes.
What Does Kratom Taste Like?
Plain Leaf Kratom Product Flavors
Kratom Powder: Kratom powder has a very strong, earthy, and bitter taste. Some people say it has a “grassy” flavor like matcha—if you’re not sure what we’re talking about, just head to your backyard and munch on a few blades for a minute—but more intense. Our team actually thinks matcha is more grassy, even though the kratom flavor is more intense.
Crushed Leaf Kratom Tea: Tea made with crushed-leaf kratom has a somewhat milder taste than raw powder but still retains a noticeable bitterness. The flavor can be earthy and herbal, similar to green or black tea. Adding lemon, other flavorings, or natural sweeteners can help mask the taste—more on this below.
download the free kratom tea recipe book
Kratom Capsules: Kratom capsules taste like absolutely nothing, for the most part. Sometimes there is a light residue of powder left on the capsules. This can make them taste every-so-slightly bitter. Whether you try kratom capsules made of vegetable cellulose or gelatin, they should flavorless. Overall, they’re an excellent option for those who want to avoid the bitter flavor of kratom powder.
Kratom Tablets: Tablets are pressed powder, and some are free of any additives. Like capsules, kratom tablets are designed to be swallowed whole. They have no taste unless you let them dissolve in your mouth. If that happens, they can release the typical bitter flavor of kratom powder.
Fresh Kratom Leaves: Where kratom grows naturally, people commonly chew on (and then spit out) fresh kratom leaves, or brew the leaves into tea. The fresh leaves are quite bitter and acrid. You can’t easily find fresh leaves in the U.S., but it’s not impossible.
Kratom Extract Product Flavors
Kratom Extracts: Extracts are a broad category, and they don’t all taste the same. Plain kratom extract shots taste very bitter. Some contain added flavors and sweeteners. This can make them taste better or can make them taste sickly sweet, like children’s cough syrup. Extracts are also added to kratom liquid products like seltzers or gummies (which we’ll cover next). Diluting extracts with sparkling water or another cold drink can improve their flavor a lot. Some companies make kratom extract gel caps or extract-enhanced powder in capsules so you can’t taste the kratom extract.
Kratom Tinctures: Tinctures are liquid extracts, and they tend to have a very strong, bitter taste. They are often mixed with alcohol or other solvents, which can add an additional sharpness to the flavor.
Kratom Gummies: Kratom gummies are flavored and sweetened to mask the bitterness of kratom. They are usually sweet and come in various fruit flavors, making them a better-tasting option for consuming kratom.
Kratom Taffy and Chews: The taffy-like kratom products we’ve seen were made with mitragynine extract, and they tasted just like an intensely bitter Laffy Taffy. There weren’t any complex flavors, just the bitterness on top of the classic candy flavor (like green apple or cherry).
Why Does My Kratom Taste Bad?
Kratom naturally tastes very bitter. But why do some batches of kratom taste worse than others? Different batches of kratom can taste different—and excessively “bad”—for a few reasons.
First, kratom may taste bad because it has gone bad, so it’s important to know the signs of expired kratom and how to keep your kratom from going bad.
Second, kratom is a natural product which can vary in flavor because of differences in the leaves’ composition. Each batch has slightly different levels of tannins, alkaloids, and other phytochemicals. These concentrations of these compounds can shift as leaves age and as the environment changes (e.g. differences in soils, air quality, pest exposure, or light levels).
How to Make Kratom Taste Better or Mask Kratom’s Taste
There are a few ways to make kratom taste good. You can mask kratom’s flavor, or you can make kratom taste better by combining it with complementary ingredients. Whether you really don’t like bitter flavors, or you love bitter notes as long as they’re not overwhelming, we have an option for you.
1. Add Natural Flavors to Your Kratom Powder or Tea
- Citrus Juice: Adding lemon or lime juice can not only enhance the flavor but may also aid in the extraction and absorption of kratom’s active compounds. The acidity of citrus fruits helps to balance the bitterness.
- Flavored Drops: Add a few drops of a flavor extract to your kratom tea or kratom slurry. Try vanilla, peppermint, or fruit flavors. These concentrated flavors can significantly improve the taste.
- Herbs, Flowers, Roots, and Spices: Try steeping your kratom tea bags with flavorful botanicals like lavender flowers, mint leaves, lemongrass, cinnamon, cloves, or rosehip. Roots like ginger or turmeric are fantastic add-ins to tea as well. You can brew fresh roots and botanicals with your kratom leaf or alternatively, make a shot with ground spices and kratom powder.
2. Add Sweeteners to Your Kratom Powder or Tea
- Honey, Agave Syrup, or Maple Syrup: Natural sweeteners like honey or agave syrup can help mask the bitterness of kratom. They blend really well into kratom tea or kratom powder mixed in water.
- Coconut Sugar, Brown Sugar, Stevia or Other Granulated Sweeteners: These are best for flavoring hot kratom tea or kratom powder mixed into hot water. In cold drinks, they might not dissolve very well. Stevia is a calorie-free sweetener that can effectively reduce the bitterness without adding sugar.
- Flavored Syrups: Flavored coffee syrups aren’t just for coffee. There are a range of syrup flavors that can provide a hint of sweetness and flavor at the same time. You can also find unsweetened flavor syrups to make kratom taste better, too.
3. Try a Flavored Kratom Product
A huge part of the reason we founded Top Tree Herbs was because we wanted to make kratom taste better. That’s why we created crushed-leaf teas instead of powder, and we also created flavored kratom teas instead of just plain ones. So first on the list is botanical kratom tea blends, followed by a range of other flavored kratom product options.
- Botanical Kratom Tea Blends: Top Tree Herbs makes crushed-leaf kratom blended with organic botanical ingredients. These are great for people who prefer products that contain naturally flavorful ingredients and aren’t pre-sweetened. The three flavors Top Tree currently offers are:
- Flavored Kratom Powders: Some brands offer kratom powders that are pre-flavored with natural or artificial flavors, making them more enjoyable to consume via toss and wash or slurry.
- Kratom Gummies: These come in various fruity flavors and are a convenient way to consume kratom without the bitterness. They may contain large amounts of sugar.
- Flavored Kratom Extracts: Liquid extracts often come in different flavors and can be mixed with beverages to dilute and mask the bitter kratom alkaloid taste.
4. Make Iced Kratom Tea
A lot of people make hot kratom tea because kratom powder mixes into and suspends in hot water more easily than in cold water. However, kratom iced tea often tastes a lot better than hot kratom tea. Icing your tea may make it possible to cut down on added sweeteners.
5. Make a Kratom Powder or Tea Recipe
You can transform kratom tea into a wide range of specialty drinks, from smoothies to cocktails to lattes. If you have only powder on hand, you can still use it in many of these recipes, though your drink may be a bit more gritty and bitter.
- Smoothies: Make a kratom smoothie by blending kratom powder or kratom tea with your favorite frozen fruits or protein powders. The natural sweetness of the fruit or other strong flavors, like chocolate or peanut butter, can help mask the bitterness of kratom.
- Coffee: The strong, robust flavor of coffee and some (optional) sweetened creamer can effectively mask kratom’s bitterness. Try iced kratom coffee, hot kratom coffee, or even a mocha kratom latte.
- Spiced Chai: The spicy and aromatic flavors of chai go incredibly well with kratom, making it more enjoyable to drink. This blend can still be bitter, but you can add a bit of jaggery, brown sugar, or oat milk to make it absolutely delectable. You can make a homemade kratom chai latte or get chai kratom tea bags for easy brewing.
- Chocolate Milk or Hot Cocoa: The sweetness and richness of chocolate or cocoa can cover up the bitter taste of kratom. Kratom hot chocolate and kratom hot cocoa are both exceptional winter treats. For a lighter brew, try this cacao mint kratom recipe.
- Non-Alcoholic Cocktails: Alcohol is sharp and bitter, so kratom is a great alternative in classic cocktails. You can substitute concentrated kratom tea for alcohol in many classic cocktails, from a kratom rum and coke to a kratom mojito to kratom sangria.
6. Use Kratom Tablets or Kratom Capsules, or Make a DIY Flavorless Coating
If you want to avoid the flavor of kratom without loads of added ingredients, try capsules or tablets. These can be on the expensive side because it takes extra labor, supplies, and packaging to make them. If you’re on a budget, there are DIY ways to mask the flavor of kratom.
- Pre-Made Kratom Capsules or Tablets: If you want to avoid the flavor of kratom without loads of added ingredients and no effort, you can buy kratom capsules or tablets.
- Blate Papes: Blate papes is a company that makes edible films. You place your kratom powder in the middle, close up the film, dip it in water, then easily swallow it whole. Some people have trouble swallowing these films, and have reported that they “burst” in their mouth or in their throat, which can be really uncomfortable. Once you get the hang of it, these can be a great method to eliminate the flavor of kratom.
- Homemade Kratom Capsules: You can buy empty vegetable capsules in bulk and pack them with kratom powder yourself. This is time-consuming, but can help you save money.
7. Use Kratom in Baked Goods (or No-Bake Goods)
- Kratom Brownies or Cookies: Incorporate kratom powder into your favorite brownie or cookie recipe. The rich flavors of chocolate or other ingredients can help disguise the kratom taste. Be cautious, because these recipes could alter the strength of your kratom.
- Kratom Energy Balls: Mix kratom with dates, nuts, and cocoa powder to create energy balls. These make for a convenient and tasty way to consume kratom.
What Product Type Tastes the Best? Why Crushed-Leaf Tea Tastes Better Than Powder and Other Formulations
Considering that Top Tree is in fact a kratom tea company, we have not exactly shied away from the fact that we advocate for kratom tea over other alternatives in this guide on how to make kratom taste better. We didn’t decide to package our kratom into tea bags because we thought it would look cool. There are several benefits of kratom tea, including the taste.
- Smooth, not gritty: When you brew crushed leaf tea, you can filter out the plant material, leaving you with a smooth, drinkable liquid.
- No need to swallow excessive plant material: In addition to the active alkaloids, kratom contains plenty of other compounds that don’t taste great (and not to mention, are tough on kratom consumers’ stomachs).
- Dilution: When kratom is brewed into tea, the bitterness is diluted compared to consuming straight kratom powder or a concentrated extract. This makes the taste less intense and easier to handle.
- Easily blended with other ingredients: It’s much easier to combine steeped tea with flavorful add-ins like lemon juice, agave, or ginger. It’s more difficult to combine fresh ingredients and flavors with kratom powder.
- Easily turned into iced tea: As we mentioned earlier, iced tea can taste less bitter, and it’s much easier to chill kratom tea than it is to try to mix kratom powder into cold water.
Final Word: How to Make Kratom Taste Better Great
Finding the best way to consume kratom often comes down to personal preference, and there’s no denying that taste and texture play a significant role. Kratom’s natural bitterness can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can turn your kratom routine into a great experience—not just a better-than-bitter one.
From adding natural sweeteners, spices, or fruit juices, to creating flavorful smoothies and drink recipes, there are numerous ways to make your plain leaf kratom taste better. Flavored kratom products, like botanical tea blends, gummies, and capsules, mask kratom’s bitterness without any effort on your part. And making filtered tea (especially iced tea) provides a smoother, less gritty alternative to powder.
We highly recommend learning the basics of how to make kratom tea if you haven’t yet. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can easily whip up exciting new recipes. With so many blends and flavors out there, you’re bound to find a suitable brew.
Cheers to better brewing, everyone.
