What is kratom extract, and what does the kratom extraction process entail? Kratom, harvested for centuries in Southeast Asia, is a traditional plant that has recently gained popularity in the United States. Created directly from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, this all-natural ethnobotanical is claimed by many to have relaxing and uplifting traits. While kratom is most commonly sold as a powder, you can buy kratom online in a variety of forms. Capsules are simply kratom powder enclosed in a shell to minimize prep work and make them easier to bring on the go. Kratom extracts, on the other hand, are much more unique. Learn how we make kratom extract at Royal Kratom.
What Is Kratom Extract?
Kratom extract is a concentrated form of kratom leaves. Kratom leaves contain the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. To make kratom powder, these leaves are dried and then ground. The powder contains the same alkaloid levels as the original leaves. However, kratom extraction allows the final product to be much more concentrated, containing higher levels of these alkaloids for a smaller amount of product.
We have the ability to make kratom extracts in different forms, from liquids to kratom extract capsules. Kratom extracts are also commonly referred to as enhanced kratom, simply meaning it's a stronger concentrate allowing for the same qualities with less product. Extracts can be made from any kratom vein color—red, white, or green. Despite being more concentrated, kratom extract will still follow the same effects as the strains it's made from. Kratom extract is not the best choice for those brand new to kratom, as it is highly concentrated. Understanding what kratom extract is allows kratom users to make informed decisions. We make kratom extracts to be especially enhanced for kratom connoisseurs, such as with our gold kratom extract. If you’re new to kratom extract but would like to try it, we recommend our mint kratom tincture for a fresh experience with less strength than our gold extract.
The Kratom Extraction Process
There are a few methods to create kratom extract, and each will result in varying concentration levels. For the least-concentrated form of kratom extract, we can use the method of steeping kratom in water. To do this, you just add kratom powder to warm water and let it steep, but unless you let it sit for a very long time when you make kratom extract this way, your result will not be particularly concentrated. Even after the kratom is done steeping, the liquid extract cannot be concentrated as much as other types of extract. However, if the water is too hot, the alkaloids within the kratom will break down.
Water-based kratom extraction will create a more concentrated extract, and is more commonly what people think of. For this, we take raw kratom leaves and dissolve them in water. Oftentimes, the leaves are dissolved in a mixture of ethanol and water, as well as including citric acid. The citric acid acts as a preservative when we make kratom extract, and the pH of the extract should be mildly acidic. This mixture will need to steep in the dark for at least one week, but usually closer to two. After two weeks of steeping, the mixture is strained. Half of the mixture should have evaporated by this point, leading the resulting product to be thicker.
The most concentrated kratom extracts are made into a thick resin instead of a liquid. Starting with kratom powder, very little water is added to just barely cover the amount of powder. This is then mixed with something to increase the acidity, such as lemon juice or vinegar. When we make kratom extract, this mixture only needs to be steeped overnight, and then frozen solid after. Once frozen, it should be thawed in boiling water and mixed with more of whatever liquid was used to maintain its acidity. The kratom extraction process continues with repeated simmering and straining to evaporate the water while mixing it with an acidic liquid. When the water is completely saturated, the mixture should be poured into a thin dish and baked in the oven at no more than 200°F. With the water fully evaporated at this point, the resulting resin will be a highly concentrated form.
Can I Make Kratom Extract Myself?
For the simplest extract, simply steeping your kratom powder in hot water is easy to do at home. However, as mentioned above, this doesn’t produce a particularly enhanced form of kratom, and it will not have qualities that are overly different from the powder itself.
As far as kratom resin goes, the kratom extraction process is a time-consuming process that will require effort, but generally, a lot of resin can be produced in one batch. So, you wouldn’t have to put in the time or effort to make kratom extract very often to have consistent access to your homemade kratom resin. The primary reason we recommend against making kratom resin yourself is due to concentration measurement concerns. When making kratom resin at home, you won’t have a reliable method to discern the concentration of your product.
Order High-Quality Extracts
It’s best to buy kratom extracts from an experienced vendor to ensure you’re getting a product that has been lab-formulated and standardized for consistent quality on every batch when we make kratom extract. Differing concentration levels of kratom’s alkaloids cause changes in the expected qualities of the kratom, and it’s always the safest bet to be certain about the traits of your kratom products.