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How Is Kratom Harvested? Processing, Drying, and More!

July 22, 2021 by Jacob

If you’re a Kratom fan who has been enjoying Kratom for some time, you might be wondering exactly how the Kratom that you love comes to be.

Some people know that Kratom powders and leaves are simply dried leaves from the Kratom tree, but what exactly happens to get those leaves off the trees and to you? Does it take a long time for these leaves to be harvested and shipped to stores around the world?

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the Kratom harvesting process. How are the leaves harvested, and what happens to the leaves before they make it to your hands? Let’s find out together.

First: The Kratom Tree

The first thing that you need to know about is the Kratom tree itself. Many people do not realize that Kratom comes from an evergreen tree, and the tree is a remarkable specimen that can soar to heights over 70 feet when in the right conditions.

The Kratom tree is native to humid tropical environments where the soil is fertile and the air is moist. Kratom’s scientific name is mitragyna speciosa, and the tree has green leaves that have a glossy, waxy appearance.

Since Kratom is an evergreen tree, the leaves are there year-round. The leaves do fall during some cycles of growth when mature, but the tree is never completely barren. The Kratom tree can be found natively in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other regions of Southeast Asia.

As the Kratom tree doesn’t grow well in other regions, most of the world’s supply of Kratom comes from these areas.

Next: The Harvest

There is a lot of variation within Kratom leaves. Depending on how the tree was growing, the soil type, and many other factors, you may see variation in the size, coloration, and chemical composition of the leaves. Color is a particularly interesting part of the harvesting process, as the color varies not only because of how it grows but also because of how it is processed.

Farmers pick Kratom leaves, and this process is done very carefully so that the tree can continue to grow leaves. Farmers monitor the leaves to choose the leaves in the right stage of maturity and growth for the harvest.

Depending on what type of final Kratom product they are aiming for, the leaves will be harvested at different times. The time of harvest has a big effect on the leaves’ chemical composition, which is why the harvest time is so important to farmers. Experienced farmers know exactly how to monitor their leaves and harvest the right leaves at the right time.

Now: Drying and Processing

Once the leaves are picked, they need to be dried in order to be able to be processed and packaged. However, not all leaves are dried in the same way. As mentioned above, the drying process is somewhat responsible for the color and strain type of the leaves, so farmers also have to determine how they are going to dry the leaves.

Kratom leaves are spread or hung on large racks. These racks are then either placed inside to dry, outside to dry, or moved through a combination of both.

How the leaves dry affects the alkaloid composition of the final dried leaves. As you might know, the alkaloids in Kratom are responsible for Kratom’s effects. Different percentages of different alkaloids lead to different strains of Kratom, so the drying process is very important. Sunlight plays a big factor in how powerful the alkaloids in the final leaf product are.

Once the leaves are dried, some farmers will put the leaves through additional processes such as extra-long UV exposure periods or fermenting. These processes further alter the alkaloid makeup of the Kratom, and the variety of processing techniques is why there are so many strains of Kratom out there.

Finally: Blending and Packaging

Vendors like us here at Kraken Kratom buy Kratom through our supply chains from farmers who have harvested and dried different Kratom strains. Some of those strains are sold directly as they are received; others are further blended into unique proprietary mixes.

As you probably know, you can get Kratom leaf, Kratom powders, Kratom extracts, Kratom capsules, and a number of other formulations. Blending and processing Kratom formulations into other forms adds some variety to what is on the market for customers like you.

If you have only ever tried one type of Kratom, there are more out there for you to explore! Remember that every step of the harvesting process has many different variations. What are you waiting for? There are lots of alternatives.

Buying From Reliable Vendors

As you can see throughout the Kratom harvesting, processing, and packaging process, there are many opportunities for things to go wrong. If Kratom is not treated the right way or if unsafe products are used to process Kratom, this could lead to a not so great final product.

That is why it is so important for you to make sure that you are buying from reliable vendors. High-quality vendors take the time to ensure they are following the latest safety practices. Vendors that work with farmers closely to ensure the Kratom is safely harvested and packaged are going to be better to purchase from.

One great way to check the quality of a vendor is to find out if they are part of the American Kratom Association’s GMP program. This program gives companies guidelines to follow to ensure that they are stocking and selling the best quality Kratom products.

Kraken Kratom: A GMP Participant

We are happy to share that we are a GMP compliant vendor and have been for years. We do our part to make sure that we follow the latest industry standards for testing and packaging as well as consistently auditing our supply line. If you have any questions about our products or what we are doing to ensure product safety, feel free to contact us for answers at any time.

Click here to browse our selection of Kratom products today!

Get To Know Yellow Vein Kratom (And How It’s Unique)

June 30, 2021 by Jacob

What do you know about the different color types of Kratom strains? Did you know that beyond the more common red, white, and green strains there is also yellow vein Kratom? Unlike the others, however, the color name does not always reflect the appearance of the leaves.

Learning about Kratom colors and where each strain type originates from is a great way to be more knowledgeable as you shop around. Many Kratom users like to mix up the strains that they use from week to week but don’t know enough about different types to do so easily.

By learning more about yellow vein Kratom today, you will be ready to make more informed choices going forward. Let’s get into it!

The Origins Different Kratom Colors

Kratom users may be familiar with where Kratom itself comes from: deciduous trees that grow in some areas of Southeast Asia. The tree prefers warm climates where there is a lot of rainfall, and it can grow to incredible heights of 70 feet or more.

Though those trees are where Kratom leaves, powders, and products come from, that simple description doesn’t tell people where the base colors of Kratom come from. Most people that have experienced Kratom know about red, white, and green Kratom. Where do the colored strains come from?

The colors of kratom strains are largely determined by when the leaves are harvested and how they are dried. Leaves that see more sunlight as they dry get darker, while less mature leaves that dry in the dark remain lighter. The actual color of the leaves’ veins does contribute slightly to the final product, but much of the color is determined through drying.

The Kratom Harvesting Process

To understand why drying is such a big part of the process, we need to talk about the overall harvesting process.

Kratom leaves are picked at different times throughout their lifespan, and leaves grown in different areas have different amounts of alkaloids. Once picked, the leaves are then dried. Leaves can be dried in the sun or they can be dried in the shade. Some leaves are dried in combination areas.

The way that leaves are dried leads to different alkaloid content as the plant matter changes in the drying process. Already varied leaves begin to vary even more once they are dried in different ways, and this contributes to the large number of Kratom strain types on the market today.

Yellow Vein Kratom: It’s Unique Story

Yellow Kratom has a unique story in that many people disagree about where the color comes from. Why is some Kratom powder yellow if the leaves on the trees are not yellow and do not have yellow veins?

A few ideas have circulated over the years about where the color of yellow Kratom comes from:

The leaves get yellow once they grow for longer, leading to yellow Kratom.
A blend of multiple colored Kratom powders is fermented to make it yellow.
The leaves are dried in a specific way to make the color yellow.

Which of these ideas do you think is the most accurate?

Generally speaking, most yellow vein Kratom is processed with the third idea in mind. Specific types of leaves are dried in specific ways to lead to the color yellow. Much like white, green, and red Kratom, the drying process is a big part of the final color.

However, different yellow Kratom strains may have a different story. The best way to find out how a specific yellow strain came to be is to check with the vendor about its creation. It might be a proprietary blend, but they will still have some information about its derivation.

There are some blends that come out to be yellow that are made from a mixture of other Kratom strains, and there are a few strains that have been dried in a way that is closer to fermentation. Yellow Kratom is very unique in that way. Every strain has a unique story of how it came to be!

Reported Yellow Vein Kratom Properties

Those that haven’t tried yellow Kratom strains before might want to know more about what to expect. Is it similar to a red vein Kratom, or is it more like a white vein Kratom?

Most yellow Kratom is a blend that leads to moderate properties, often similar to a green strain. The alkaloid content is different depending on the exact drying process, however, so it is not possible to say for sure what a yellow Kratom strain will be like for users.

Experienced Kratom users have reported that yellow Kratom is typically a soothing variety that is less stimulating than other color strains. Still, it’s important to remember that every strain is different. Always make sure to start with a limited amount to ensure that you are prepared for any potential effects until you get to know a new strain.

Our Top Yellow Vein Kratom Products

If you’re interested in checking out the top yellow vein Kratom products from Left Coast Kratom, look no further! We’ve gathered together a quick list of our favorite yellow Kratom items so that you can easily browse them today.

Our top offerings of Yellow Vein Kratom include:

Each of these products is carefully selected, processed, tested, and packaged for your convenience. We are proud to offer a variety of high-quality Kratom products; these are just a few of the wonderful items that you can find in stock on our website today.

Use Your Discerning Eye

When you’re shopping around for a new type of Kratom that you haven’t experienced before, you might be too quick to make a purchase. You always want to be sure that you are shopping with reliable vendors when buying kratom.

Everything from the labeling to the testing of Kratom must be handled properly for your Kratom supply to be safe. Shopping from reliable vendors is a great way to ensure that you can take Kratom as safely as possible.

Click here to browse our selection of Yellow Vein Kratom products today!

Strain Comparison: Why Are There Different Kratom Colors?

June 3, 2021 by Jacob

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.) Green leaves are spread out evenly on drying racks.
2.) For several days, the leaves are left in direct sunlight.
3.) The sunlight breaks down the chlorophyll in the leaves, which causes the leaves to begin to yellow.
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?

May 4, 2021 by Jacob

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

Part 2: Boil and Simmer

1.) Bring water to a boil, then dump the frozen mixture into the boiling water.
2.) Add additional lemon or lime juice to the water.
3.) Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer.
4.) Once about 1/4 of the liquid has evaporated, remove the mixture from heat.
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.) Set your oven at 175 degrees Fahrenheit and wait until it’s preheated.
2.) Place the saucepan mixture into a small oven-friendly dish and put in the oven.
3.) After about 30 minutes, you should be left with a concentrated Kratom resin. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4.) Transfer your Kratom resin into a new container and measure its weight.
5.) Compare the weight of your original Kratom powder with the weight of your final product to get an idea of the concentration.
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?

April 14, 2021 by Jacob

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.

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

January 13, 2021 by Jacob

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!