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Kratom Tea & More: 5 Unique Teas To Try

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Did you know that there are hundreds of different teas?

While many teas are similar plants harvested and prepared in different ways, many teas are made from other plants. These botanical beverages, also referred to as herbal infusions or tisanes, are unique and lesser-known, but that doesn’t make them any less impactful worldwide.

Botanical teas made from herbs and plants around the world have unique properties. It’s time to learn more about these teas, including one of our favorites kratom tea, and see if any of them would be interesting for you to try. Let’s get into it.

Kratom Tea

Today’s list is going to start with our specialty: kratom tea. Kratom tea, made from leaves harvested from the kratom tree, is a specialty tea that has a long, rich history in parts of Southeast Asia. Locals in areas where kratom trees grow have long used this tea in ceremonies and as a daily drink to enhance productivity and unwind after the workday.


Today, this botanical tea is used worldwide by kratom lovers who have found the plant’s benefits to be amazing!

Kratom tea is easily brewed at home from the kratom tree’s leaves, and there are many different types of leaves. Depending on how the leaves are harvested and dried, the leaves have different chemical compositions. Once made into tea, the effects of the tea vary as well.

While kratom tea can be enjoyed iced, most people like it hot with honey and citrus mixed to help balance out the bitterness of the natural tea flavor. Beyond the great tea it makes, there are many cool things to learn about kratom.

Keep checking out more of our resources here at Left Coast Kratom to see what else is interesting to you. Definitely try our new kratom tea bags for an easy alternative to brewing kratom leaves.

Ginger Tea

Ginger is known for its intense, somewhat fiery flavor, but have you ever had ginger tea?

Many people know that ginger can ease tummy distress in things like ginger ale, but they don’t always realize that the powerful effects of ginger root can also be infused into teas. Ginger can be brewed as a completely herbal tea, but it is often mixed with green or black tea for a more interesting blend.

Ginger has long been shown to positively affect numerous body systems and to support healthy digestion. By drinking ginger tea, most people find that they get the comfort of a hot cup of tea and can ease their stomach and stress.

Ginger teas can be caffeine-free if they are completely herbal, but many people prefer ginger black teas that allow them to get the fiery punch of ginger alongside the boost of caffeine from the black tea. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, there’s no doubt that ginger root has a lot of unique benefits in tea form.

Guayusa

Guayusa tea, like kratom tea, is an herbal infusion that has been used for hundreds of years where the play grows native. Guayusa is made from the leaves of a specific variety of holly vines. In parts of South America, such as Ecuador, guayusa tea has increased alertness while providing beneficial plant compounds and vitamins.

Guayusa shares another considerable similarity with kratom: there have not yet been enough studies to learn all of the potentially positive effects of this botanical. While traditional use suggests that guayusa tea can boost energy and provide other benefits, it will be some time until we can confirm that with scientific studies rather than anecdotes.

Early evidence, however, suggests that guayusa should be considered very similar to other teas like green tea or yerba mate, with very few potential side effects for humans.

Yaupon

The next tea we’ll cover is native to North America: yaupon. Yaupon is a plant that grows wild in parts of the southern United States. It has been traditionally used by native cultures to brew a strong tea with a heady, herbal taste.

Yaupon tea is brewed from a type of holly, making it very similar to some of the other teas we have discussed today. The plant varieties are different, but there are some considerable similarities between the historical teas of South and North America.

Yaupon tea is known to have a small amount of caffeine. Like green tea, it’s an excellent option for a morning or midday cup of tea if you just need a little bit of extra pick-me-up.

Yerba Maté

Many people describe maté as a tea with the punchy caffeine hit of coffee. In reality, however, yerba maté is neither tea nor coffee. Instead, it is best described as an infusion. Teas are infusions, but they are typically made from herbal or tea leaf sources. On the other hand, Yerba maté is made from the leaves and twigs of a specific South American plant.

Yerba maté has been described to have a robust and vegetal taste. This taste can be hard to adjust to, but people often feel the same way about coffee when they first taste it. 

The history of how yerba maté is communally drunk in certain South American countries is fascinating to many people. Usually, people gather together for conversation and communion over the yerba maté. They use a gourd, a special straw that filters the leaves out, and a thermos of hot water to brew and share the infusion continually.

Kratom at Left Coast Kratom

If you’re interested in learning more about kratom, we invite you to check out more of our blog!

Here in the blog, we’re interested in making sure that people know as much as possible about kratom so that they have a complete understanding of this unique product. Kratom is being studied every day, so there is always more to learn. We keep the page updated with the latest information so that you can stay in the know about kratom.

Do you have any questions about kratom? Ask us today, and we’ll do our best to update the blog with more information.

Strain Comparison: Why Are There Different Kratom Colors?

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Most plants develop into many varieties out of a single species. Just as there are different types of lilies that might grow in your garden, different Kratom types grow in the world. Variation in how the plants grow, where they grow, and how they are harvested leads to various Kratom strains appearing on the market.

One of the broadest ways to define these Kratom variations is by color: why are there different Kratom colors? Kratom enthusiasts often find they prefer certain colors of Kratom, but they aren’t always aware of why the colors exist at all.

Today, learn more about Kratom color variation, where it comes from, and how the powders differ because of this variation.

Kratom: What Is The Plant?

To get a better idea of how strains make a difference when it comes to Kratom, it’s best to start with some base knowledge of the plant itself.

Kratom is a type of evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian regions, including Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea. The hot, humid climates in these locations pair with highly fertile soil to make a perfect growing environment for Kratom.

The botanical product comes from the leaves of the Kratom trees. Kratom leaves are harvested, dried, and processed to make Kratom powder and other Kratom-based products. Kratom may interact but not bind with important receptors in the body, potentially leading to beneficial effects. 

What Are Alkaloids?

Before getting into more specifics of different Kratom color strains, it’s essential to understand a bit more about alkaloids.

Alkaloids are found in many plants, not just in Kratom leaves. Caffeine is an alkaloid found in coffee beans and some tea leaves, for example. Alkaloids each react with the body differently, and each of these reactions can cause different physiological or psychological effects.

Kratom is known to contain more than 40 different alkaloids, and these alkaloids appear in different concentrations. The concentration varies for many reasons:

  • • Growing conditions
  • • Growing season
  • • Time of harvesting
  • • How they are harvested
  • • How the leaves are dried
  • • Soil composition
  • • Weather patterns

Individual alkaloids found in Kratom are being studied to learn more about their specific effects when consumed. Two compounds, however, are currently attributed for most of the effects seen with Kratom use: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

As the two most common alkaloids, the composition percentage of these two chemical compounds is written Kratom labeling for consumer knowledge.

Different Colors, Different Strains

As mentioned above, the exact chemical composition of Kratom varies depending on a wide variety of factors. The changes in those factors create the range of Kratom strains that we see on the market today.

Just as tea leaves are harvested at different times or ways to establish variety, the same can be done when Kratom leaves are harvested. 

The simplest way to categorize Kratom strains is by their color. Kratom is found in red, green, yellow, and white varieties. Much of the distinction between these color strains lies in the number of alkaloids in each of them. Still, there are some other important distinctions to point out. Let’s find out more about the color strains and where they come from.

Red Vein Kratom

When Kratom leaves are harvested at full maturity, these leaves are known as red vein Kratom.

At this point in the growth cycle, Kratom leaves begin to put less energy into overall tree growth, and more of that energy stays in the leaves. This causes changes in the chemistry of the leaves and affects the balance of alkaloids in them.

Red vein Kratom has a mellow profile that is exceptionally high in the alkaloid Mitragynine. These leaves’ earthy tone sometimes looks brown in appearance; most see its color as a dark, muddy green.

Yellow Vein Kratom

Yellow vein Kratom is dried through a small-batch process that was initially popular in Vietnam and Thailand. The leaves selected for this process are typically mature, green leaves rich in alkaloids.

Here’s how the leaves are then processed:

  1. 1.) Green leaves are spread out evenly on drying racks.
  2. 2.) For several days, the leaves are left in direct sunlight.
  3. 3.) The sunlight breaks down the chlorophyll in the leaves, which causes the leaves to begin to yellow.
  4. 4.) The process is stopped after the leaves dry. Timing variation means there is a good variety in the number of potential yellow strains.

As you can see, harvesting and processing yellow vein Kratom is particularly time-intensive.

Green Vein Kratom

Green veins have one of the most balanced alkaloid profiles of all strain colors of Kratom.

To make green vein Kratom, leaves are typically harvested after budding is completed, before the leaves have completely matured. This created the vibrant color seen in the final processed form of green vein Kratom. Most green vein varieties contain a wide array of alkaloids but are very balanced in each alkaloid’s amounts because of the leaves’ age.

White Vein Kratom

White Vein Kratom is harvested earlier in the growing process than any other color of Kratom. Leaves that are still growing are harvested from Kratom trees and then allowed to dry. This process causes the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine to be present in higher concentrations than in any other color strain.

While it is called white vein Kratom, the color of this Kratom powder is typically a light tan.

Find Reliable Strains At LCK

Left Coast Kratom offers various color strains for our customers, and each is a unique blend with different concentrations of alkaloids! Whether you’re looking for a completely balanced profile or something high in a specific alkaloid, we can offer something that fits your needs.

Our company prioritizes the safety and reliability of our products. As a GMP-compliant company, we do our part to have our products tested for safety with a third-party agency. If you have any questions about colors or the strains in our catalog, please contact us!

What is Kratom Resin & How Is It Made?

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If you thought Kratom was good, wait till you try Kratom resin. 

This special resin product is quickly growing in popularity. If you’re been wondering about: 

  • How to make it 
  • How to take it

…then this is probably the article for you. 

Keep reading to learn more about what Kratom resin is, what it does, and how you can make it yourself! 

Kratom 101

Kratom is a specific species of tropical evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) that grows in Southeast Asia. 

While all Kratom products are produced from this single species, the range of earthy colors available for sale has everything to do with how the leaves are harvested and dried. Kratom is traditionally categorized based on the color of its leaves. 

Kratom resin is a more concentrated form of Kratom that isn’t for everybody. It requires both knowledge and effort to produce, and it’s far harder to find the right serving size than conventional Kratom products. For these reasons we recommend that new consumers stick with traditional Kratom powder. 

That disclaimer aside…let’s take a close look at the perfect product for Kratom connoisseurs: Kratom resin.

What is Kratom Resin?

Kratom resin is a type of Kratom extract. While there are several types of extracts, Kratom resin stands out. It’s thick, sticky, and dense. 

What is Kratom resin made of? It’s basically a processed, concentrated form of Kratom’s best alkaloids and other bioactive compounds. Since these compounds are what give Kratom its characteristic effects, Kratom resin is powerful. 

How to tell how concentrated your Kratom Resin is

The strength of Kratom resin is generally pretty difficult to quantify. Why? Because Kratom resin is usually made at home — and not many people have an analytical lab laying around nearby!

Instead of being measured in absolute amounts, Kratom resin is usually measured in multiples compared to its original form. You might see labels that say things like ‘8 x Kratom Resin’ (8 times more concentrated than the original) or ‘20 x Resin’ (20 times more concentrated than the original). And by “more concentrated” we mean more alkaloids. 

Here’s a real-life example. If a pound of Kratom powder goes into the making of 2 ounces of concentrated Kratom resin, the final product would be an ‘8 x Kratom Resin.’

How to use Kratom Resin

One of Kratom resin’s strongest points is its versatility. It can be taken in a variety of ways: orally, in juice, in capsules, or mixed with a favorite hot beverage. 

The heat of beverages like coffee or tea allows the Kratom resin to melt and fully dissolve. And because resin’s alkaloids have already been ‘activated’ by heat, you don’t need to take any time to heat or prepare resin-infused beverages! That’s another benefit of resin — it makes preparing Kratom simple and easy.  

How to make Kratom Resin (at home!)

Making Kratom resin at home might sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite easy. 

Once you’ve gone through the production process once or twice you’ll probably feel comfortable enough to set things on autopilot. 

Kratom resin ingredients list:

  • ➡ Premium Kratom Powder
  • ➡ Accurate kitchen scale
  • ➡ Lemon juice or lime juice
  • ➡ Water
  • ➡ Mixing bowl
  • ➡ Coffee filters/cheesecloth
  • ➡ Freezer, stove-top, and oven
  • ➡ Access to freezer, stovetop, and oven
  • ➡ Extra container (for the finished product)

How to make Kratom Resin (step-by-step)

Part I: Steep and Freeze

  1. 1.) Measure out a large quantity of Kratom powder on your kitchen scale.
  2. 2.) Note its weight — you’ll need this figure later. 
  3. 3.) Add the powder to your mixing bowl.
  4. 4.) Add water until the Kratom powder is completely covered.
  5. 5.) Mix the Kratom powder and water.
  6. 6.) Add your lemon/lime juice.
  7. 7.) Cover the mixture and let it steep.
  8. 8.) Leave the mixing bowl in the freezer overnight, allowing it to freeze.

Part 2: Boil and Simmer

  1. 1.) Bring water to a boil, then dump the frozen mixture into the boiling water.
  2. 2.) Add additional lemon or lime juice to the water.
  3. 3.) Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer.
  4. 4.) Once about 1/4 of the liquid has evaporated, remove the mixture from heat.
  5. 5.) Once cool, strain the mixture and place it back in your mixing bowl. At this point, you should have a wettish powder suspended in some liquid.

Part 3: Bake at Low Temp

  1. 1.) Set your oven at 175 degrees Fahrenheit and wait until it’s preheated.
  2. 2.) Place the saucepan mixture into a small oven-friendly dish and put in the oven.
  3. 3.) After about 30 minutes, you should be left with a concentrated Kratom resin. Remove from the oven and let cool.
  4. 4.) Transfer your Kratom resin into a new container and measure its weight.
  5. 5.) Compare the weight of your original Kratom powder with the weight of your final product to get an idea of the concentration.
  6. 6.) Enjoy your premium quality, homemade Kratom resin!

If making your own Kratom resin sounds like too much work, check out our Kratom extract products. We have a variety of different extracts to choose from, all with their own unique composition and alkaloid profile.

Click here to shop Kratom extract products today!

What’s The Difference Between Kratom Powder & Kratom Extract?

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Once Kratom is grown and harvested, the leaves go through a cycle to become the powder that most enthusiasts are familiar with. Kratom vendors process their products in multiple ways to create the unique and varied lineup available for sale today.

For example, it can be hard to see how Kratom powder and extract are not the same product types because they can both be powdered substances.

Here at Left Coast Kratom, we sell both Kratom powder and Kratom extract. Each of these products offers a unique experience to consumers, but not all customers are familiar with what the differences are.

Find out how both of these substances come to be and when you might prefer to try one over the other in today’s article.

Kratom: The Common Denominator

Kratom powder and Kratom extract share a common denominator: the Kratom plant itself!

Common kratom products all originate from the same type of tree. This evergreen tree, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, grows in tropical regions of southeast Asia. People in Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, and other places in the area have used Kratom for hundreds of years. These traditional practices have revived today, and Kratom has become a natural choice for many enthusiasts worldwide.

Powder vs. Extract: Where Things Diverge

Though Kratom powder and Kratom extract share the same roots, the two products have important differences and are taken in different situations. Where exactly do things diverge, and what makes this divergence so interesting?

Let’s learn more about each of these substances!

Kratom Powders

While Kratom powder is not the most basic form of the plant, it is very close. The most basic form belongs to Kratom leaves which are often used to brew tea. But, we’ll leave that for another blog post!

When Kratom is processed, the leaves are harvested and then dried. People then brew the leaves into a tea or grind them into a powder that can be mixed into drinks, taken in capsules, or brewed. This is the substance we know as Kratom powder.

Large kratom leaves easily grind down into a fine powder once thoroughly dried. When the plant is processed into Kratom powder, it contains a similar level of alkaloids to the plant itself.

Kratom Extracts

In a way, Kratom extract is a further extension of Kratom powder. Without whole leaves or powder, Kratom extracts would not exist.

Kratom extract is a higher-concentrate version of Kratom made through an extraction process. Compared to other Kratom products, extracts have the highest alkaloid concentration levels. As alkaloids are largely responsible for Kratom’s effects, extracts often have the most potent effects.

To create this high concentration product, plant matter is reduced so that the alkaloids in  the extraction are in a higher concentration than the Kratom leaf had in its original form.

There are different extraction methods with varying cost associations and degrees of success. The most common extraction methods rely on water, solvents, and evaporation, as this method is time- and cost-effective.

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Why People Choose One Or The Other

Concentration

The most significant difference between Kratom powder and extract is that extracts are more concentrated. This means there is a greater percentage of alkaloids in the same amount of powder. Alkaloids are the component most responsible for Kratom’s effects.

Kratom extracts are sometimes advertised with a ratio number, such as 2x, to show the level of concentration. You might also see extracts labeled with a percentage, such as 10% Mitragynine. Trying out different ratios or percentages until you find one that generates the desired effects is one way that enthusiasts explore what Kratom offers. 

Side Effects

Some Kratom users face frustrating side effects, such as nausea, when using standard powders alone. For these individuals, an extract might be the better choice. Ingesting less plant matter when taking Kratom extract can reduce side effects and improve efficiency for some people.

Change It Up

Trying extracts doesn’t always have to be about revolutionizing the way that you experience Kratom. Instead, it can simply be about changing up your routine! Extracts offer new blends and experiences that you haven’t had before. Check out different options to see what might work well with your body’s routine.

Remember Reliability

Whether you’re new to Kratom or experienced in this world, make sure that you continue to check that you are shopping from reliable brands!

It can be hard to tell the difference between Kratom powder and Kratom extract just by comparing the two. Buying from honest vendors that clearly label their products will make it easier (and safer!) to enjoy Kratom on your own terms.

The best way to be sure that you are doing this is to buy Kratom from vendors that are part of the American Kratom Associations GMP program. This program ensures that vendors properly test and label their products to prevent customer confusion.

Experience More With Our Top Sellers

Are you interested in finding the best Kratom powders or extracts?

Our catalog includes a variety of high-quality options. Whether you are looking for Kratom powders as a beginner’s start or Kratom extracts to change up how you experience Kratom, we have various great offerings.
Hopefully, you’ve learned something new about the world of Kratom today. Our goals include providing valuable and exciting information to our customers so that you can make more informed selections. Check out the rest of our resources to learn more!

Fair Trade Practices In The Kratom Industry

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Fair trade practices are standard in many worldwide industries. Coffee and chocolate manufacturers, for example, may find that acting in accordance with fair trade groups is in the best interests of their business and the industry at large.

Do organizations seeking fair trade practices in the Kratom industry exist, and if so, does Left Coast Kratom follow their directives?

The idea of fair trade in the Kratom industry is not one that is commonly discussed, but it is one that we’d like to talk about today. Fair trade is an exciting concept that can be applied in many ways, and we’d like to talk about how we consider it important.

What Is Fair Trade?

The first thing to understand is exactly what fair trade is.

Fair trade standards are, in practice, business principles. When using these standards, you are doing your best to guarantee that the health, human rights, economic stability, and independence of producers worldwide are prioritized. Avoiding things like forced labor or paying below wage standards must be avoided, and some practices need to prioritize environmental sustainability as well.

Fair economic practices are often focused on what benefits are given to small producers to enable them to develop, have economic stability, and continue doing the work they are doing.

What About Fair Trade Labels?

Fair trade labels are given out by organizations that have been developed to certify businesses as fair trade in a particular sector. For instance, there are fair trade programs that work specifically with coffee vendors or those who work on traditional South American apparel. 

Each of these organizations and specific labels may have some variety of principles depending on where they work, but there are always some commonalities as well:

  • Safe working conditions
  • Fair payment
  • Accountability
  • No discrimination
  • Sustainability
  • Economic stability

No matter what industry is being explored for fair trade possibilities, all six of these things will still need to be present to create the best working supply chain possible.

Why Does Fair Trade Matter?

Fair trade is important for improving conditions for those working in poverty for others’ profit worldwide. Marginalized individuals in many countries are exploited for their labor, goods, or resources, and they are often unable to get out of this cycle without outside support.

Fair trade principles prioritize enabling these individuals to be able to set up a better economic situation for themselves while also ensuring their health and safety. Small businesses and those working at companies will find themselves more safe and able to have a future to look forward to.

Additionally, fair trade helps to improve the economic and living standards around the world. People from larger nations with higher capital can use their money to support those around the world simply by buying fair trade, making a big difference in the worldwide economy.

Are There Fair Trade Labels For Kratom?

While several non-profit organizations offer fair trade labels, there are not any specific labels in action in the Kratom industry. We have high hopes that this will soon be changing though!

The Confusion Of Fair Trade Labels

Fair trade labels can be a bit confusing because individual memberships and organizations give them out, so the vetting process for each group can be different. A fair trade label on one product is not always equitable to a label on another product. 

To really understand what a label is saying about any given product, you must understand how the label is given and what guarantees it offers.

The Problem Of Bulk Products

Bulk products like Kratom and tea are often collected from a huge number of growers and harvesters. Suppliers in the Kratom industry have said that more than one thousand harvesters can collect a single order of Kratom leaves. This makes it hard to verify with fair trade organizations even when you want to do so.

As such, certifying bulk products as fair trade is difficult. While many Kratom companies have a high level of commitment to asking their supplier to adhere to fair trade practices, it is not always possible to certify that this is happening.

Future Kratom Fair Trade Labels

It is possible that some organizations will work together to create fair trade guidelines for the Kratom industry as it continues to grow. It is also possible that existing organizations will find ways to check Kratom businesses for fair trade practices.

Ultimately, both of these things will take time!

Verifying each step of a supply chain this deep is time-consuming, so figuring out how to implement a labeling program efficiently will not be a speedy process.

Does The GMP Program Incorporate Fair Trade?

The GMP program, a good manufacturing program run by the American Kratom Association, does not specifically mention any fair trade practices at this time.

That being said, the guidelines in the AKA’s GMP program does require Kratom companies to establish processes with their suppliers and ensure that their suppliers follow these processes. 

While the processes talked about in the GMP are more focused on the safety of the Kratom itself, a Kratom company could include fair trade practices in their own arrangements with their suppliers.

Does LCK Care About Fair Trade Practices?

Companies like ours take time to ask our suppliers about the Kratom, who harvests it, and what is being done to ensure their industry’s long-term health. We want Kratom harvesters to be able to make a successful living at this job while continuing to supply us with Kratom for a long time, and we know that fair trade practices can help with that.

If you as a customer have a deep commitment to fair trade practices, you can always ask the Kratom companies that you patronize for more information about their stand about Kratom fair trade practices!

Remember, all companies that prioritize the health and safety of their customers and their suppliers will be willing to show how they are doing that. Here at Left Coast Kratom, we like to be as open with our customers as we can be. That is why we create educational articles like this one!

Browse Our Selection Of Fair Trade Kratom Products Now!