consumer education

Growing Green: Ethical Concerns In The Kratom Industry

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Welcome back, Left Coast Kratom community! Today, we are delving into a vital and often overlooked aspect of the Kratom industry: ethics. From responsible sourcing to sustainability, the ethical considerations in the Kratom industry extend beyond the surface. Join us as we unpack these issues and discuss the importance of ethical practices in the Kratom supply chain.

Why Does Ethical Sourcing Matter?

Just like the journey of a coffee bean from farm to cup, Kratom leaves undergo a complex journey from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia to your doorstep. Ethical sourcing refers to the responsibility of ensuring this journey respects both people and the environment. Here are some reasons why it matters:

Workers’ Rights

At the start of the Kratom journey are the farmers and harvesters. These individuals are often local residents of the Southeast Asian regions where Kratom grows naturally. It’s crucial that these workers receive fair wages, work under safe conditions, and that their rights are respected.

Environmental Impact

Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The rapid growth of the Kratom industry can lead to exploitation and unsustainable harvesting practices, potentially harming these lush ecosystems. Ethical sourcing ensures that harvesting is done sustainably, preserving the environment for future generations.

Sustainable Harvesting: A Crucial Part of Ethical Kratom

Sustainable harvesting ensures that the natural environments where Kratom grows are not depleted or damaged. This involves practices like not over-harvesting trees, allowing trees to mature fully before harvesting, and responsibly planting new trees to replace those that have been harvested.

These practices ensure that the delicate balance of these ecosystems is maintained, preserving biodiversity and allowing the Kratom industry to thrive without causing ecological harm.

Fair Trade: Ensuring Equitable Practices

Fair trade practices play an essential role in the ethical Kratom industry. This involves establishing direct relationships with Kratom farmers, ensuring they are paid a fair wage for their labor, and providing them with the tools and knowledge to sustainably harvest and produce Kratom. Fair trade practices create a more equitable Kratom industry where every individual along the supply chain benefits.

Transparent Supply Chains: Knowing Where Your Kratom Comes From

Transparency in the Kratom industry involves companies being open about their sourcing and production processes. This means sharing information about where the Kratom is grown, how it is harvested, and how it is processed. Transparent supply chains allow consumers to make informed decisions and support companies that uphold ethical practices.

The Role of Consumers in Ethical Kratom Sourcing

As consumers, each one of us plays a vital role in supporting ethical practices in the Kratom industry. By choosing to purchase Kratom from vendors that prioritize ethical sourcing, fair trade, and transparency, we can help drive demand for ethical Kratom and influence positive change within the industry.

At Left Coast Kratom, we’re proud to uphold these values. We’re dedicated to providing high-quality, ethically sourced Kratom, maintaining a transparent supply chain, and supporting the hardworking farmers who make our business possible. We believe that together, we can make a difference and ensure that the Kratom industry continues to grow in a way that benefits both people and the planet.

Ethics in the Kratom industry is an ongoing conversation, one that involves everyone from farmers and harvesters to vendors and consumers. By keeping these conversations alive, we can continue to learn, improve, and ensure that the Kratom industry thrives ethically and sustainably for generations to come.

Introducing New Nano Emulsified Kratom Shots!

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Left Coast Kratom is excited to announce the launch of four new Kratom shots that are sure to take your experience to the next level. These new products are the result of our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing our customers with the highest quality kratom products available on the market. Our team of experts has worked tirelessly to develop these new products, and we are confident that you will love them!

At Left Coast, we have been making high-quality Kratom extracts for years. Our expertise in the extraction process has allowed us to create products that are better than what you’ll find with the competition. We understand what our customers are looking for in a Kratom product, and our team has worked tirelessly to develop these new Kratom shots. Whether you’re new to Kratom or a seasoned enthusiast, our new nano-emulsified shots are sure to impress.

In this blog post, we’ll look at our new Kratom shots and why you should give them a try!

LCK 250 Nano Liquid Kratom Shot

Featuring an impressive 250mg of Mitragynine per bottle, this is one of the most concentrated Kratom products on the market today. This uniquely flavored Kratom shot suppresses Kratom’s bitter organic taste, making for a more pleasant and enjoyable experience.

Each 15ml bottle of LCK 250 Nano Kratom Shot features 250mg of Mitragynine, with 3 servings of 83.33mg each. If you are new to Kratom shots or extracts, you might want to consider one of our other offerings.

White Gold Liquid Kratom Shot

Our White Gold Liquid Kratom shot contains an impressive 175mg of mitragynine per bottle, making it our 2nd most concentrated form of Kratom. This shot is made for our customers who enjoy our Gold extracts, but want to try them in a liquid form.

Each 15ml bottle of White Gold Liquid Kratom shot features 175mg of mitragynine, with 3 servings of 58.33/each. Additionally, each bottle comes with a 1ml dropper, allowing for precise and easy measuring to ensure that you get the perfect amount every time. Please note: White Gold Kratom Shot is our 2nd highest alkaloid product, designed for experienced Kratom consumers.

Tropical150 Nano Liquid Kratom Shot

Featuring a delicious tropical flavor and 150mg of high-quality Kratom extract per bottle, our Tropical150 Nano Kratom Shot WILL NOT disappoint. Made using the latest nano-emulsification process, our Tropical150 Kratom shot offers customers the perfect middle-ground between taste and mitragynine content.

Each 15ml bottle of Tropical150 Nano Kratom Shot features 150mg of mitragynine per bottle, offering 3 servings of 50mg each. Made using the same nano-emulsion technology, this Kratom shot offers enhanced bioavailability and taste.

FSE50 Liquid Kratom Shot

The last new addition to our liquid Kratom shot lineup is our FSE50 Kratom shot. Featuring 50mg of mitragynine and a delicious berry flavor, this unique product is perfect for customers new to extracts or kratom shots.

Made using the same proprietary nano-emulsification process as our other shots, FSE50 offers new customers an unparalleled first experience. Each 15ml bottle of FSE50 contains 50mg of lab produced mitragynine per bottle.

Try Them Today!

To sum up, our four new liquid Kratom shots offer a convenient and efficient way to enjoy Kratom anytime, anywhere. With their delicious new flavors, each shot is thoughtfully designed to provide a unique experience. At Left Coast Kratom, we take pride in using only the highest-quality ingredients and subjecting our products to rigorous testing, so you can feel confident that you are getting a safe and reliable product every time. If you’re curious about what all the buzz is about, we encourage you to give these new Kratom shots a try and see for yourself!

An Introduction To Kratom Blends From Left Coast Kratom

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We’re starting the New Year with a bang! Left Coast Kratom is proud to announce the launch of two new proprietary Kratom blends to begin your New Year on a high note. No pun intended!

Left Coast Kratom hit a new milestone this week as we launched Kratom blends for the first time ever. Our happy customers who loved our Kratom products were flooding us with emails requesting special blends that combined the alkaloid properties of different strains. We listened to them and had our R&D team experiment with various combinations of Kratom strains and sources.

We’ve finally perfected the right set of blends that deliver everything our customers wanted out of Kratom blends and more. Here’s why our Kratom blends are flying off our proverbial shelves.

Freshness and Novelty

Kratom has become part of mainstream pop culture in recent years, and there are now millions of Kratom users in the U.S. alone. Although Kratom isn’t a new fad, its popularity has soared lately. Dozens of Kratom strains and products are imported from all over South Asia to meet the burgeoning demand for Kratom powder, extracts, gels, capsules, and other Kratom products. 

However, as with anything you consume frequently, routine always makes things stale, especially with Kratom. Perhaps, that’s why they say that variety is the spice of life! So, Kratom users seek different strains and often try products from different origins just to keep things new. For them, Kratom blends are a perfect way to enjoy multiple strains simultaneously. Kratom blends give them a unique experience, unlike anything they’ve enjoyed before. That’s one of the appeals of Kratom blends.

Consistency

Anyone can prepare Kratom blends. Even you can mix up two packets of two different Kratom strains to create a new blend. However, what you cannot do is ensure consistency each time. It’s also painfully difficult to find the right ratio of individual strains that will create the perfect blend for you.

Fortunately, vendors like Left Coast Kratom design Kratom blends based on inputs and feedback from customers and early testers. So, you can be sure that Left Coast Kratom’s Kratom blends would appeal to a vast number of Kratom users, as they’ve been perfected with constructive feedback during testing.

More importantly, Left Coast Kratom creates Kratom blends in small batches to exert complete control over strain strength, quality, origin, and supply chain processes. So, our customers get Kratom blends in precise ratios and enjoy them just the way they like each time. There are never any unpleasant surprises in terms of quality.

Now that you understand why users choose Kratom blends over regular Kratom products, here’s everything you should know about our new Kratom blends.

Blended Kratom Powder

Blended Kratom Powder is the ultimate Kratom extravaganza. It combines yellow, red, white, and green strains of Kratom to give every type of Kratom user something to relish and enjoy.

After testing various combinations and ratios, we have developed this proprietary blend that takes Kratom users through the day. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up in the morning, or a relaxing evening, Blended Kratom Powder is the perfect everyday workhorse for you.

Blended Kratom Powder is a major upgrade for Kratom users who have tried various strains of Kratom and are now experiencing “strain fatigue.” This blend spices things up for such Kratom users with something unique and refreshing.

Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder

Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder is our top-class proprietary Kratom blend for one of those days when regular strains and blends just don’t do the trick. It’s the perfect blend for people who are looking for something a little extra with their Kratom.

Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder combines red, yellow, white, and green veins into a 5% standardized mitragynine content per serving. Standardizing the alkaloid content ensures you get a consistent serving every time.

What’s special about Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder is that it’s infused with a special Kratom extract that gives it a more concentrated alkaloid profile. Remember, Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder is designed for experienced Kratom consumers who are looking for something more than what a regular strain offers. When you’re ready for it, Enhanced Blended Kratom Powder will give you an experience unlike any other you’ve had before. 

3 Reasons for Buying Kratom Blends from Left Coast Kratom

Kratom is something you put in your body, so you shouldn’t willy-nilly buy it from a random smoke shop or online vendor. You should make sure that your Kratom supplier is trusted and reliable. Here are 4 reasons for choosing Left Coast Kratom:

American Kratom Association’s GMP Certification

We are part of the American Kratom Association and strictly adhere to their current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) Program. Prerequisites for certification include a rigorous screening process for suppliers, strong environmental controls against pathogens at production facilities, robust sanitation controls, and so on. With every pack of Kratom you buy from Left Coast Kratom, you buy trust and safety.

Lab Tested for Contaminations

Left Coast Kratom’s products are tested in independent labs for heavy metals content (lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium), and microbial contamination. We only sell products that pass the tests.

Third-party Audit of Facilities

We periodically audit our entire supply chain, including our packaging and supplier facilities, to ensure that strong quality and contamination prevention controls are in place.

Try Our Kratom Blends Today

Our Kratom products are a result of extensive lab testing and user feedback. Our early users have all loved them and we continue to receive positive response from our fans. So, try them today and share your experience with this. Your feedback will also help us develop new Kratom blends.

How To Know If Your Kratom Is Authentic?

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Are you looking to buy high-quality, authentic Kratom but don’t know where to go?

This herbal supplement from Southeast Asia is gaining in popularity, with users consuming it to alleviate their depression, pain, and even anxiety symptoms.

In fact, research suggests that up to 16 million Americans regularly enjoy Kratom’s benefits. And as Kratom’s usage prevalence is increasing across the country, so is the number of vendors. 

Now, while some vendors are legit and sell high-quality, unadulterated Kratom, there are also many scammers who will trick you out of your money. And what’s maybe worse is that some vendors sell fake Kratom, which can have serious health consequences.

Unfortunately, you can’t distinguish authentic Kratom from bad quality Kratom by just looking at it. The only way to avoid bad surprises and ensure you buy top-notch supplies is to buy from a trustworthy vendor.

And to help you find the right Kratom vendor, we’ve highlighted below the key things you should look for when buying Kratom.

Look For AKA GMP Qualified Vendors

Vendors import the Kratom leaves, blend them, package them, store them, and are responsible for testing them in a lab for purity and potency.

So, if you want to know if a vendor is selling high-quality Kratom products, you need to check whether they’re listed as a GMP Qualified vendor on the American Kratom Association’s website. GMP stands for good manufacturing practices. 

In 2019, The American Kratom Association created the AKA GMP Standards program to set high standards in terms of the manufacturing process and ensure Kratom lovers could access authentic and high-quality products. After a strict and diligent third-party audit conducted annually, vendors that meet the program’s standards can obtain their AKA GMP qualified status.

Left Coast Kratom is proud to achieve AKA GMP compliance certification every year. Our facility is frequently audited and routinely passes inspections.

Avoid purchasing your Kratom from people on Craigslist or eBay, as this is a surefire way to receive counterfeit products. 

Customer Reviews

Did you know that in 2018, 199 people across the country got infected with Salmonella?

The FDA later discovered that the outbreak was due to the consumption of Kratom contaminated with the bacteria!

Today, customer reviews are a fantastic way for new customers to assess whether a vendor is trustworthy and avoid buying contaminated Kratom. But it’s also a good way to find the best strain for you based on the feedback of other customers.

Some of the other benefits of reading online reviews include assessing real shipping times and customer service as well as understanding the company’s refund policy.

Also, as a word of advice, don’t read the first couple of reviews you see and assume that they are legit. Unfortunately, depending on the medium they’re published on, they could be fabricated. For instance, if the reviews are on Facebook, make sure to check the Facebook users’ accounts to ensure they’re real. 

If the reviews are only listed on the website, and nowhere else, it could be a red flag.

Health Claims

Kratom is not yet fully FDA-approved. This means there are restrictions regarding what Kratom vendors can say about their products. For instance, they are prohibited from making any health claims such as telling customers their product can treat specific diseases or positioning their product as a medicine. 

If a vendor sells Kratom claiming benefits such as ‘’stops depression or addictions, improves sexual performance or treats diabetes’’, you should look for another vendor as this is illegal, calling into question the vendor’s legitimacy.

Even though Kratom has many health benefits, more research is needed for the botanical product to be fully endorsed by the FDA. Reliable and high-quality Kratom vendors will follow the guidelines and comply with the regulations, and any vendor doing otherwise should raise a red flag.

Be Wary Of Alluring Deals

Sure, buying a Kratom product for a 75% discount is appealing.

But the reality is that when a deal is too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Always compare pricing for the same strains and never go for extremely discounted products. If someone is offering huge discounts and selling at very low prices, they’re likely cutting corners, and the quality of your Kratom might be impacted.

And that’s a wrap!

We hope this blog post will help you source the finest quality Kratom and enjoy the many benefits of this botanical product. If you have any more questions about finding authentic Kratom, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to help!

Maeng Da Kratom: Get To Know This Popular Strain

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Some Kratom lovers try to rank strains from “best” to “worst” or from “strongest” to “weakest.” On those lists, Maeng Da Kratom often shows up at the top of these lists because of how popular it is among Kratom fans.

Even though ranking Kratom is very subjective, it’s interesting that so many people who enjoy it rank Maeng Da so highly. What is it about this unique strain that makes it stand out from other strains?

Here at Left Coast, we’re happy to stock many different Kratom strains, and our customers enjoy choosing from our wide selection. Maeng Da Kratom is just one of those strains, and today, we’ll look at some of the variants on this strain.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is a type of natural substance used by some people as a functional food. The leaves of this tree have been used in regions where it grows natively for many years as a versatile plant ally. The trees grow natively in many regions of South East Asia, including Thailand, but it is also cultivated in other areas as well.

Kratom leaves are dried, processed, and then blended into various natural products to be used by consumers. There are many different varieties on the market, and today’s focus is Maeng Da Kratom.

Kratom leaves contain organic compounds known as alkaloids. In particular, two alkaloids occur at higher concentrations than others and are well known by Kratom enthusiasts: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Why Are There Different Kratom Strains?

Depending on where Kratom leaves grow, how they are cultivated, when they are harvested, and several other factors, the actual chemical composition of the plant can vary. Like other plants, there isn’t a specific composition that will be found in every single plant. Rainfall, soil content, wind, weather, and other things all change the composition of Kratom leaves.

Additionally, how leaves are picked and dried can lead to different chemical developments in the final product.

All of these varying factors are why there are so many different strains of Kratom. Some strains have similar compositions and effects, while others are very different.

Do People Use Different Strains?

Depending on a user’s particular needs and wants, they might have a specific strain of Kratom that they prefer. Most users, however, like to vary between a few different strains to keep their tolerance for any particular strain lower.

Some people prefer Kratom with lower alkaloid levels, while others prefer those with very high levels. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what will fit your needs best.

What Is Maeng Da Kratom?

Maeng Da Kratom is one of the most well-known strains, but what exactly is this unique and sought-after variety?

Maeng Da roughly translates to “pimp grade” in Thai. This name was given to the best of the best Kratom strains by vendors, and it has been gradually adapted to be applied to many Thai strains of Kratom. The origins of this word are more likely to do with marketing than with ancient origins, but it is still a very useful moniker for identifying specific types of Kratom.

The high alkaloid content of various Maeng Da strains often helps them stand out above others when people think about what Kratom they enjoy most.

Is All Maeng Da Kratom From Thailand?

While the name of Maeng Da Kratom originates from a Thai word and maybe even from Thai farms, that doesn’t mean that every strain of Maeng Da Kratom comes from Thailand today. In fact, many strains do not come from Thailand at all.

Today, the industry uses the phrase Maeng Da Kratom more loosely. A strain that originated in Thailand might now be grown in different parts of the world, especially in Indonesia. The name gives a sense of the strain’s lineage, if not the exact geographic location where it was grown.

Ultimately, strains of this variety can be from a number of places and still be great examples of strong and balanced Kratom. Trying options from different vendors will allow you to explore the nuances that can be found in Kratom from around the world.

Maeng Da Kratom at Left Coast Kratom

These specific strains of Maeng Da Kratom we have on offer here at Left Coast Kratom are popular with many of our customers. Take a closer look at what we have to offer in this category of Kratom strains below.

If none of these stand out to you, browse our top-selling Kratom offerings to get a better idea of what might be a good fit for your next Kratom purchase.

Choosing Your Kratom Vendor Carefully

Whether you’re thinking about trying our Maeng Da Kratom options or you’re going to keep browsing, we want to remind you of how important it is to vet your vendors. Not all vendors are created equal. Some shops test their products rigorously with third-party inspectors, while others just blend and sell without much concern for their customers.

Before you buy Kratom online, take time to review the policies and testing practices of each vendor. Taking a few minutes to do this will ensure that you are only purchasing high-quality Kratom. That will add to your overall experience while also ensuring your safety.

Here at Left Coast Kratom, we always ensure that we do our part in packaging, processing, and testing all of our strains for quality control. If you are ever curious about our practices, feel free to reach out for more information. Our goal is not only to provide great Kratom but also to help educate the community! Keep reading our blog to learn more!

Left Coast Kratom Compares: CBD & Kratom

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CBD and Kratom are two popular plant products that are quickly gaining a reputation for being great botanicals to try out. Most people are more familiar with CBD than Kratom, but both products are being seen in favorable ways worldwide.

Left Coast Kratom is proud to offer Kratom products, but we know that it can be confusing for some customers to know what to buy if they aren’t familiar with how this compares to something more familiar like CBD. CBD and Kratom are unique plant products with unique characteristics.

Today, learn more about them both to determine what you are interested in exploring.

Similarity #1: They’re Both Plant Products!

The first, and most obvious, similarity between Kratom and CBD is that both of these substances originate from plants. The plants that each product comes from are different, but the processes used to harvest, process, and extract the plants have some similarity.

Where It Differs: CBD

CBD is a cannabinoid. A cannabinoid is a specific compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. Cannabinoids are responsible for the effects that these plants have when smoked, eaten, or otherwise taken. Some cannabinoids, like THC, cause mind-altering effects like euphoria.

CBD, on the other hand, does not have the same type of psychoactive effect. Instead, CBD is frequently used in an isolated form as a botanical supplement. People find that CBD helps to relieve a number of conditions without causing the user to become high, so CBD has become widely used in both home remedies and the medical field.

Where It Differs: Kratom

Kratom, on the other hand, is the actual name of the plant as well as the product. Kratom trees are a type of evergreen tree that is native to some parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, and neighboring countries.

The leaves from these tall trees are harvested, dried, and processed to create Kratom powders and products. Kratom’s effects on the body are caused by alkaloids. Alkaloids are a compound found in many foods and plants. Caffeine, for instance, is an alkaloid found in many different plants.

The alkaloids found in Kratom are responsible for the botanical’s effects. Kratom is most often taken as a powder or a tea, but it can also be ingested in capsule form for easy serving.

Similarity #2: Effects

The reasons that people decide to try both CBD and Kratom are, in some cases, very similar. Those who want to take charge of their wellness or commit to a more natural lifestyle often consider adding both plant products to their daily routines.

Difference: CBD is Well-Studied

Thanks to an early interest by the scientific community, there have been a lot of studies done on CBD and its effects. It is the cannabinoid from cannabis plants that has been the most studied, and that is why it is a legal substance in most states today. CBD products are on sale around the country for this reason.

Difference: Kratom is Still Being Introduced

While Kratom plants and products have been studied for more than three decades, there have been significantly fewer studies on Kratom products when compared to CBD and other cannabis-based products.

This is mainly due to the difference in popularity, but there has also been a lot of pushback from the federal government against Kratom because it is not as familiar or common as some other botanicals.

Still, we know that alkaloids can have many positive and desirable effects on the body when used properly. The primary alkaloids in Kratom, known as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, have been shown in early studies to be effective and beneficial. However, for Kratom to make it onto the open market to the degree that CBD is, more studies will need to be completed. 

kratom tree growing

Similarity #3: Pushback

Depending on your age, you might remember a time when CBD and all cannabis-adjacent substances like it were looked at as very dangerous. This reaction by the public was largely due to propaganda campaigns in the late 20th century. It took many decades for advocates from the medical and science communities to prove that CBD was not a terrifying substance.

In a similar way, many people see Kratom as a dangerous substance at this time. This is largely due to a lack of information, but there is also an issue of no regulation of Kratom in some areas. When there is no law or regulation on natural botanical products, cheap sellers can cut corners and release dangerous products onto the market.

As time goes on and more advocates work to stabilize the Kratom community, positive growth will likely be seen in a similar way to what was seen within the CBD community many years ago.

Choosing The Best Kratom

If you’re ready to see what is available within the world of Kratom, we’re happy to share that we have a wide offering of high-quality products. It’s important to make sure that you always buy your Kratom from sellers, like Left Coast Kratom, that have your best interest in mind. We support a regulated and safe Kratom economy, and that’s what you’ll find from our products.

Learn a little bit more about our top sellers today to see if any of them spark your interest!

OG Bali Kratom Powder

A green vein powder, this Kratom has around 1.7% mitragynine content. Our customers say that this is a very balanced, premium blend that they regularly come back to.

Super Green Malaysian Kratom Powder

With 1.9% mitragynine content, this Kratom powder is another balanced blend. However, this time, the super powdered blend is popular with customers for its boosted alkaloid content and unique origins.

Left Coast Kratom Gold Extract

Our gold extract is one of the best things we have ever released here at Left Coast Kratom. This concentrated Kratom powder has approximately 9% mitragynine per gram and is blended with our popular white vein maeng da thai strain.

If you aren’t sure what type of Kratom strain is going to be a good fit for your wants and needs, consider checking out our free samples today alongside the strain that stands out to you. These smaller sample packs can help you to explore a variety of strains.