When you’re getting started with kratom, one of the first questions you’ll run into is simple but nuanced: how do you take kratom? And if you’re more experienced, you might also be wondering how to take kratom a better way.
There’s no single right way to take kratom, and the most common methods aren’t necessarily the best. The best way to take kratom depends on your mental and physical needs, your values, your budget, your experience level, and your time constraints.
Below, we’ll cover the basics of how to take kratom, from the time and place to do it, to how to actually consume different kratom products.
- How to Take Kratom: Forms & Preparations
- How to Take Kratom: When? Where? With What?
- Other Factors to Consider
Choosing the Best Way to Take Kratom for You
When you’re trying to determine how to take kratom, here are a few questions to ask yourself about your lifestyle, preferences, and budget:
- Are you always on the go? Or do you spend most of your time at home?
- Do you want the process of taking kratom to be more like a slow ritual, or do you want it to be super quick?
- Do you have a tight budget? Or can you spend a little more?
- Are you looking for a more moderate, mild product? Or something concentrated and strong? Do you often forget to stay hydrated when you take capsules and tablets?
| If you prioritize… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| Taste | Tea bags, loose leaf tea, capsules, some extract products |
| Convenience | Capsules, tablets, extract products, tea bags |
| Low cost | Loose powder, loose leaf tea |
| Tradition / ritual | Loose leaf tea |
| Speed | Loose powder, capsules, tablets, extract products |
Of course, you don’t have to choose only one method. Consider trying out a few to figure out what works best in different circumstances, like if you’re working from home or traveling.
How to Take Kratom: Forms and Preparations
You can prepare and consume kratom in several different forms. Each one has its own tradeoffs in taste, effects, and convenience.
1. Kratom Powder: Toss & Wash
Fast & cheap; only slightly easier than the cinnamon challenge.
“Tossing and washing” is when you swallow a spoonful of kratom powder, then wash it down with water (or another drink).
To put it bluntly, it’s gross to take kratom this way. The leaves contain bitter compounds like alkaloids and tannins, and the bitter flavor is very obvious when you put the powder straight into your mouth.
On the plus side, kratom powder is relatively inexpensive, and prepping a toss & wash is quick and simple.
Pros
- Quick to prepare
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Very bad taste
- Can be messy
- Not easy to do on the go
→ Learn more: Guide to Toss & Wash vs. Tea
2. Kratom Powder: Slurry
Relatively quick & inexpensive, but bitter as a jilted lover.
To make a slurry, you mix kratom powder into water and stir it until it’s suspended. Then you simply drink the mixture. It isn’t too complicated, but slurries typically taste terrible. Get ready to hold your nose.
To improve the flavor, you can mix your powder into a juice, decaf coffee, or flavored tea instead of water.
Pros
- Quick to prepare
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Very bad taste
- Can be messy
- Not easy to do on the go
3. Kratom Powder: Capsules
Quick & clean, slightly pricier.
Capsules are another common way people take kratom. They’re convenient and typically tasteless.
To make capsules, we grind kratom leaves into a fine powder and pack it in capsules that are made to be swallowed like many other supplements.
A lot of companies use capsules made with gelatin, but you can find plant-based options as well.
Pros
- No taste
- Good for travel
- Mess-free
Cons
- Typically slower onset compared to powder or tea
- Requires swallowing capsules
- Must take in discrete quantities; can’t adjust serving size very precisely
- More expensive than loose powder
→ Learn more: Guide to Kratom Capsules vs Tea || Gelatin-Free Kratom Capsules
4. Kratom Powder: Tablets
Quick & clean, expensive.
Kratom powder can be pressed into tablets, which you can easily take with some water.
The tablets are fairly small, so if you typically take a larger serving of powder, this probably won’t be the most efficient (or economical) option for you.
Pros
- Minimal taste
- Good for travel
- Relatively mess-free
Cons
- More expensive than loose powder
5. Crushed-Leaf Kratom Tea: Tea Bags
Better taste, less mess.
To take kratom as a tea, you steep kratom leaves in hot water. This is one of the primary ways communities in Southeast Asia traditionally made and took kratom.
Most Americans don’t have access to fresh kratom leaves because kratom trees won’t grow in most regions of the U.S., but it is possible to get dried kratom leaves in the U.S.
Most people find it much more pleasant to drink kratom tea than to take a kratom slurry. After you steep your kratom tea bags, you remove all the excess plant material. The resulting drink is smooth and tastes much better.
Plus, you can sip your tea over a long period of time, instead of taking it all at once like you’d typically do with powder or extract products.
Pros
- Great flavor and texture
- Adjustable strength (and effects) depending upon how you brew it
- Mess-free, no straining
- Built-in hydration
- Can use in NA cocktails and other drinks
Cons
- Takes a little while to steep
- More expensive than powder products
→ Learn More: What Is Kratom Tea? — Guide to Benefits & Safe Use || Lab-Tested Kratom Tea Bags
6. Crushed-Leaf Kratom Tea: Loose Leaf Tea
Better taste, moderate effort, lower cost.
The pros and cons of taking loose leaf kratom are similar to tea bags. To prepare it, you steep about 1 tbsp of crushed leaves in 8-12 oz of water. After steeping, you strain out the leaves. Then, you let your tea cool slightly (or chill it or add ice), flavor it however you’d like, and drink it.
Pros
- Great flavor and texture
- Adjustable strength (and effects) depending upon how you brew it
- Built-in hydration
- Can use in NA cocktails and other drinks
Cons
- Takes a little while to steep
- Requires straining
→ Learn More: How to Make Kratom Tea: Tea Bags + Loose Leaf Instructions || Loose Leaf Kratom Tea
7. Extract Products: Canned Drinks, Gummies, Etc.
Strong, convenient, most expensive.
The final way to take kratom is as an extract. Kratom extracts vary pretty widely. Manufacturers can make extracts with an alkaloid profile that is very similar to what was in the starting leaf material, or they can isolate and concentrate certain compounds from the leaves to enhance certain effects.
Extracts are used in a range of products, from gummies and candies to canned drinks and mini flavored shots.
In our experience, the serving size listed on extract labels are typically meant for more experienced kratom consumers. If you’re new to kratom, consider trying just a fraction of a serving to start, and see how that feels before having more.
Pros
- Sometimes have a good flavor
- Convenient
Cons
- Sometimes overly sweet or artificial-tasting
- Often highly concentrated—easy to overdo it
- Expensive
→ Learn More: Kratom Extracts vs. Kratom Tea Strength
How to Take Kratom: When? Where? With What?
What time should you take your kratom? Should you have it with food or on an empty stomach? The answer isn’t the same for everyone, but we’ll go over some general guidelines for how to take kratom in different contexts.
1. Timing
There isn’t one specific time to take your kratom. We recommend not taking it right before bed (at least on the first time you try it). Some people can sleep after having kratom, but others are kept awake by it.
We also recommend not taking it before strenuous exercise, especially if you have any injuries or strains. Kratom can support physical comfort, and it could make it harder for you to stay aware of your injuries—and easier for you to overexert yourself.
Some people take it daily every 4-6 hours, while others have on workday mornings, or just as needed throughout the week or month. It all depends on what you’re using kratom for.
2. Food
The effects are typically stronger if you have kratom on an empty stomach. But some people prefer the onset to be slower or for the effects to be more moderate—if that’s the case, have your kratom with a snack or meal. A light snack (and some water) can also be help if you take too much kratom and it makes you feel nauseous.
3. Water
Kratom can have mild diuretic effects, similar to coffee for some people. So preventing dehydration when you take kratom is important.
Some methods for taking kratom, like steeped tea or powder slurries, have hydration built in. Others—like capsules or gummies—are dry, so consider having them with a glass of water.
→ Learn More: How to Prevent Kratom Dehydration and Dry Mouth
4. Location
You can take your kratom pretty much anywhere. We’ve had it at the gym, on planes, on mountain trails, on subways, at the office, on boats…
First time taking kratom? We recommend taking it for the first time at home when you don’t have any plans. Make sure you’re hydrated and have a snack on hand if needed. Wait until you’ve figured out how kratom effects you and what your ideal amount is before you take kratom at work, while exercising, or while in unfamiliar places.
5. Amount
At Top Tree, the recommended serving size for our capsules is 4 capsules (about 2-2.5 grams of powder), and the recommended serving size for our tea is 1 tea bag (or 3 grams of crushed leaves).
But the amount of kratom you take depends on your product type, personal needs, size, experience level, etc. For each of the forms of kratom listed below, we provided links for you to get more info.
→ Learn More: Find Your Kratom Tea Serving Size
How to Take Kratom: Next Steps
After you figure out what methods you want to try, there are a few other important things to consider to make sure you have a beneficial experience with kratom:
- Find quality products: No matter what method you choose, make sure you choose a high-quality product that’s been tested for strength and contaminants. Kratom product quality varies widely between brands.
- Speak with a healthcare professional: This is especially important if you have a medical condition or are taking any other supplements or medications. If you experience any negative effects from taking kratom, discontinue use and contact your doctor right away. (If your provider isn’t familiar with kratom, this guide to kratom for healthcare professionals could be helpful!)
Still have questions about how to take kratom? You can contact our team any time for recommendations, or check out our other guides and resources on the Better Brewing Blog.
