What is Kratom?
Ancient and Medicinal Leaves
Kratom, or mitragyna speciosa, is a plant native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea) whose leaves have psychoactive properties. The leaves have been chewed, brewed into tea, and otherwise used for medicinal properties since at least the beginning of the 19th century.
In Thailand, kratom has even been "used as a snack to receive guests and was part of the ritual worship of ancestors and gods." Workers would chew on the plant’s leaves to increase energy and stave off exhaustion, and the leaves or extracts from them have been used to heal wounds––acting as a local anesthetic.
What Does It Feel Like?
Kratom has stimulant effects at low doses, and sedative-like effects at higher doses. Users report feeling euphoric, relaxed, and more talkative after consumption in lower doses. In high doses, it can make you feel like you need a nap.
We recommend drinking our kratom tea in low doses if you’re planning on working at the bar or bringing it back to work with you, since in high doses it will be harder to work. If you’re a new kratom drinker, one tea should do it.
Effects are generally felt within five to ten minutes and can last from two to five hours.
Is It Safe?
Similar to kava, kratom is safe in moderation. People in Southeast Asia have been drinking the plant, chewing on its leaves, and applying it topically for many years.