FAQs

Kratom is divided into three major groups: White Vein kratom, Green Vein kratom, and Red Vein kratom, with many different strains within those categories.

Recently, Gold Vein and Yellow Vein kratom have appeared on the market, but they tend to be less abundant than the three major kinds of kratom. 

You may be wondering, what do the different colors of kratom mean? We’ll go over that here.

The difference in color and effect of the three veins has to do with the age of the plant.

White Vein kratom is the young plant, Green Vein kratom is the plant as it’s maturing, and Red Vein kratom is the fully matured plant.

As a kratom plant matures, different levels of alkaloids build within the leaves. The different alkaloids present impact what effect the kratom will have, giving the veins their unique properties.

The way that kratom leaves are harvested and dried can also impact how the final product turns out. More or less exposure to light is just one of the things that can impact the final color & alkaloid content of kratom leaves, thereby changing their effect. 

As with all farmed plants, genetics play a very important role in the outcome of crops. Kratom plants can be bred to display the traits of one vein throughout their entire life cycle, for example, you can breed kratom to act like a Red Vein even as a young plant. 

• White Vein kratom tends to be energizing, uplifting, and focusing.
• Green Vein kratom tends to be euphoric, bringing positivity and chattiness.
• Red Vein kratom tends to be mildly sedating, relaxing, and pleasant.

Within each kratom vein, there are many different strains available.
Here are some examples of White Vein kratom: White Sumatra; White Thai; White Borneo; White Maeng Da; etc.

As you can see, many of the different kinds of kratom strains relate to where the plant is from- White Sumatra would be a white vein grown in Sumatra, whereas White Thai would be a white vein grown in Thailand. This is true for many strains of White, Green, and Red vein kratom.

Each singular strain tends to have its own distinct attributes, but these can vary slightly between harvests and growers.

When buying kratom, check to see if the company you’re purchasing from has descriptions of each of their strains. This is the best way to get an accurate idea of what a strain’s effects may be like before purchasing, although you won’t know for sure how a strain of kratom will make you feel until you try it out for yourself.

At Get Kratom Today, we provide written descriptions for each of the kratom strains we sell. We have been as accurate as possible when describing the effects we’ve experienced each strain and we hope our experiences hold true for you.

What is Maeng Da?

Maeng Da is a kind of kratom, and you can find Red Maeng Da, Green Maeng Da, or White Maeng Da. Maeng Da kratom was originally grown in Thailand, but nowadays you can find Maeng Da kratom sourced from a variety of places.

Essentially, ‘Maeng Da’  is a term that refers to quality. In Thai, the term translates literally to ‘pimp grade’, denoting high quality. As kratom has spread outside of Southeast Asia, the term is still used to refer to kratom with a high alkaloid content.

The effects of kratom vary depending on a few different things: the kind of Kratom taken and the amount of kratom taken.

In general, White Veins are energizing, Green Veins are euphoric, and Red Veins are sedating and relaxing.

That being said, the amount of kratom that you take can also impact what effects you feel. Low doses tend to be more energizing and focusing, while larger doses tend to be a bit sedating.

If you’re looking for a specific effect from kratom, it’s important to use a strain and an amount that will provide the desired properties. For example, if you’re hoping to take kratom for energy, be sure to use a White Vein or a Green Vein and take a low to moderate dose. If you’re hoping to take kratom for relaxation, be sure to use a Red Vein and take a moderate to high dose (but be sure not to overdo it!).

What to expect from…

Energizing Kratom– Feel more alert, awake, and energized. Increased motivation and desire to accomplish tasks.

Euphoric Kratom– Feel positive, talkative, and sociable.

Sedating Kratom– Feel very relaxed and calm. Most people describe sedating kratom as highly pleasant. You may notice less pain and increased sleepiness.

How Long Do the Effects Last?

Typically, the effects of kratom last roughly 4-6 hours. This could be different based on metabolism, the way you took kratom, or if you had an empty stomach.

How Long Until Kratom Kicks In?

When taking kratom on an empty stomach, effects are typically noticeable in 20-30 minutes. If you have food in your stomach, it could take 45-60 minutes for kratom to kick in fully.

Kratom is a natural botanical ingredient that can be ingested in a number of ways. Kratom is almost never smoked, and many believe that smoking is not an effective way of taking kratom.

Kratom is typically available as either a powder or in capsules.

Capsules are a popular way of taking kratom as they’re super easy to take and don’t have much taste, but they may take longer to set in and are a bit more pricey.

Powder is the most common form of kratom available and is popular for having low prices, however, the strong flavor may be off-putting for some.

Here are some of the most popular ways of taking kratom:

1. Toss ‘N Wash– This is one of the most common ways of taking kratom powder as it’s fast, simple, and requires no prep time. The basic idea of a toss ‘n wash is to measure out how much powder you’d like to take, toss it into your mouth, and wash it down with a lot of water. You’ll feel the effects really quickly when taking kratom this way, but the downside is it tastes horrible. According to those who like this method it apparently gets easier over time, but fair warning- it’s not the easiest flavor in the world.
2. Capsules– Kratom-filled capsules are perhaps the easiest way around the flavor of taking kratom powder! Many kratom companies will sell pre-filled capsules with a set amount in each cap, making dosing easy and taking the kratom even easier! Simply select how many capsules you’d like to take, count ‘em out, and swallow them with water.
3. Make a Tea– This is another popular way of taking kratom powder as it lessens the undesirable flavor a bit. Make kratom tea by boiling the powder in water for 30 minutes, let it sit, and then strain the liquid to create the final product.
4. Add to a Smoothie or Protein Shake– This is a great method when it comes to masking the flavor of kratom. Pour the dose of powder you want to take into an already-made smoothie or shake, and stir to mix. Super easy!

While kratom alkaloids bind to the same brain receptors as an opiate, the alkaloids present in kratom are structurally different from opiates and will not cause you to test positive on an opiate drug test.

It is possible to test for kratom alkaloids, but due to kratom’s legal status, it is hardly ever tested for. That may change if kratom’s legal status were to change, but for now, it is highly unlikely that you will be tested for kratom.

What makes it even less likely is that testing for the presence of kratom is currently a very expensive undertaking. Kratom drug tests cost a lot of money to run, so they hardly ever happen as they’re seen as an unnecessary cost.

Standard drug tests will not look for kratom.

Could Kratom Cause a False Positive?

A false positive is when you test positive for a drug you didn’t take. There are many different reasons you could falsely test positive, but kratom probably isn’t one of them. It’s highly, highly unlikely that you’ll have a false positive from taking kratom, as the alkaloids in kratom aren’t present in any drugs that are often tested for.

Some prescription medications can cause a false positive though, so it’s important to be clear with drug testing administrators what you have in your system before you take the test.

There are several things that make it challenging to create a conclusive guide on kratom dosing. For one, different people process kratom differently. Metabolism rates and levels of tolerance to kratom will both impact how kratom is processed by the body. On top of that, different kinds of kratom have varying levels of potency, so it can be hard to say with certainty what effects will be like from one strain to the next. Even having food in your stomach or not can impact how kratom will affect you.

If you’re taking kratom on an empty stomach, stick to a low dose, as you’ll feel the effects more strongly.

Take It Easy

Keep in mind that some Kratom will act differently at a high dose, so mild to moderate doses are typically favored. In general with kratom, it’s better to take too little than too much-

• If you’ve taken kratom and after 20-30 minutes don’t feel the effects, it’s easy to take another gram or two to amplify the results.
• If you take too much from the start, you may be left with some uncomfortable side effects that you have to wait out.

Our General Guide to Kratom Dosing:
Mild Dose: 2 grams

Moderate Dose: 4 grams

High Dose: 8 grams

When taking kratom powder, be aware that one teaspoon is roughly 4 grams.

When taking Grassroots Harvest kratom capsules, each capsule will contain .5 grams of kratom. For example, if you’re hoping to take 4 grams of kratom capsules, you would need to take 8 capsules. If you’re hoping to take 4 grams of kratom powder, you would need to take 1 teaspoon of kratom powder.

If you’re brand new to taking kratom, it’s typically best to start with mild or moderate doses and work up from there. This way, your system isn’t overloaded with an unfamiliar substance and can adjust accordingly.

Always stay hydrated when taking kratom. Like coffee, kratom tends to be dehydrating- if you want to have the best results when taking kratom, staying hydrated will be hugely beneficial to you and will prevent you from feeling any nasty side effects.

Can You Develop a Kratom Tolerance?

Yes. Kratom is a member of the coffee family, and like coffee, daily use of kratom will cause you to develop a tolerance and potentially cravings for kratom. If you develop a tolerance to kratom, you will need to take a higher dose in order to feel the same effects. You will not develop a tolerance to kratom if you take it infrequently, so we recommend taking kratom no more than 2-3 times a week.

Depending on who you ask, the answer to the question ‘is kratom dangerous’ could be vastly different.

According to advocates, kratom is beneficial and natural, providing relief for pain, stress, sleeping problems, and more. Rather than dangerous, kratom’s advocates sing about the overall safety of the plant, saying that it’s able to accomplish a lot of the things prescription drugs can, but with less risk.

According to those against kratom, the plant’s ability to act similarly to a prescription drug isn’t a good thing and means it could easily be abused. Those against the use of kratom will also point to a CDC report of 91 drug overdose deaths in which kratom was detected from July 2016-December 2017.

While this may sound alarming, several things should be noted that put this figure into perspective. The CDC looked into 27,000 drug overdose cases that happened over a year and a half and found 91 cases of drug overdose deaths where kratom was involved. 91 out of 27,000. In comparison, opioids caused roughly 48,000 deaths in 2017, according to federal data.

On top of that, this same report states that in “almost all” of the 91 deaths, kratom was not the only substance present in the system- fentanyl, heroin, benzodiazepines, and cocaine were also found in 84 out of the 91 kratom-related deaths.

More research is needed to determine the true safety profile of kratom, but it may be hasty to label kratom ‘dangerous’ or ‘deadly’ when most of the evidence against it could have been caused by something else.

Side Effects

Kratom is a relative of the coffee plant and like coffee, daily use will eventually cause cravings. However, usage must be heavy and frequent in order for cravings to arise.

If an extremely large amount of kratom is ingested at once, the user might experience side effects. In our experience and when speaking to customers, the most common side effects are sweating, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heart rate.

Always stay hydrated when taking kratom. Like coffee, kratom tends to be dehydrating- if you want to best results when taking kratom, staying hydrated will be hugely beneficial to you.

No Regulation

Kratom manufacturing and kratom products are not regulated, meaning there is no set standard for making and selling these products. The lack of regulation makes it extremely important to buy your kratom from a reputable source. Unscrupulous businesses have sold tainted kratom products in the past, spiked with other substances to cheaply strengthen the effects.

That’s why it’s important to purchase your kratom from a company that you trust, like Grassroots Harvest. We source our kratom directly from farms in Southeast Asia and have it shipped straight to our lab in Austin, Texas where we craft our products with care in small batches.

We regularly test our products to ensure the material has not been adulterated or tampered with in any way.

Kratom is federally legal in the U.S., however, some states, counties, and municipalities have banned kratom. Read on to find out where kratom is illegal.

In 2016, the DEA announced a plan to list kratom as a schedule 1 substance, which would have effectively banned it completely. Instead, the government agency gave the public a chance to speak in favor of kratom, and the response was overwhelming. So many people came forward that eventually, the DEA called off their plan to schedule kratom. Since then, kratom has not been banned and it remains federally legal.

Kratom is legal across the vast majority of the United States; however, some places have decided to ban it. Many states have reversed previous bans after being educated about the plant by scientists, doctors, and their constituents. We expect this trend will continue.

You can check this page to see if kratom is legal in your state.