Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia and is part of the coffee family. It has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties and as a traditional remedy for various ailments. The plant contains alkaloids that produce a range of effects, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of settings.
But outside of those basics, there’s a lot to know about kratom!
In this one-stop kratom buying guide, we give you everything (and we mean everything) you need to know to get started enjoying kratom — from finding the right vendor to choosing the right strains and more!
Finding a Reliable Seller
More than anything else, finding a reliable kratom seller is the most important step in ensuring you have a quality kratom experience.
There are many factors to consider, but the basics to consider are: online vs. in-person, vendor’s reputation and selection, and whether the vendor’s products are certified with the American Kratom Association.
Buying Online vs. Brick and Mortar
The most basic decision is whether to buy kratom online or in a traditional shop. Both options have their merits, and it’s worth considering which option fits best with your needs.
Broadly speaking, the pros and cons of each are as follows:
- Buying kratom online:
- Pros: Widest selection of kratom powder and capsules, lower prices, the convenience of at-home delivery, customer support, and educational resources
- Cons: Delivery time
- Buying kratom at a brick and mortar:
- Pros: Same-day pickup, (possibly) knowledgeable staff
- Cons: Limited selection, higher prices, the possibility of lower quality of kratom
At the end of the day, the majority of users will find that the best place to buy kratom is with a reliable online vendor such as Kratom Spot. The cost savings, improved selection, and reliable customer service you’ll get from a quality kratom vendor online are hard to argue with. But, for new users or those who need to get their kratom in a rush, brick and mortar may also be a good option.
Buying Online: For most users, the best place to buy kratom will be with a reliable online vendor. Buying kratom online allows you to shop from a wider selection, find better prices, and access reliable customer service that may not be possible with traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts. However, users will not be able to get their product immediately, and online vendors are restricted from making claims about the effects of different strains. However, shopping with a reliable kratom vendor such as Kratom Spot can ensure you get the highest quality of kratom every time and minimize shipping times.
Buying in a Storefront: When it comes to buying kratom from a local shop, users should expect to pay a higher price than online shopping.
Additionally, selection will often be limited, and it will be more difficult to verify the quality of kratom you will receive. However, some shops may have knowledgeable support staff, and brick and mortars allow users to get kratom without waiting for delivery times. For new users or those in a rush, such stores may be the best place to buy kratom — so long as you’ve taken the time to find a reliable kratom vendor in your area.
Purchase Only From a Reputable Source
Buying from a brick-and-mortar storefront makes it much more difficult to vet your store properly. Are they knowledgeable? Are their products fresh? Are they appropriately labeled, third-party tested, and guaranteed for quality and purity?
That’s another reason why we recommend buying online. It makes it much easier to analyze these important factors that, more often than not, are the sign of a reputable, quality kratom vendor.
Product Variety and Selection
Online shopping is all about selection, and shopping for kratom online should be no different. Be sure to check which kratom strains a vendor offers. In general, a more diverse selection indicates a better relationship with their partner kratom farms and is a positive sign that you’re working with a good kratom vendor.
Also, be on the lookout for more innovative products such as liquid kratom, specialty kratom tea leaves, and more. Again, the broader the selection, the better sign that you’ve found a good online kratom vendor.
Competitive Pricing
This one needs little elaboration. You don’t want to be paying too much for a product of middling quality. Higher prices aren’t always a sign of a better product, so be sure to find online kratom pricing that’s fair.
At the same time, low costs might be a red flag. As always, if something seems too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Buying cheap kratom isn’t always a great idea, as too-low prices could indicate any number of product defects, including:
- Old, stale product
- Low levels of the kratom alkaloids that cause kratom’s effects
- No health and safety testing
- Tainted, synthetic, or otherwise dangerous products
Product Testing and Certificates of Analysis
Independent product testing is the BEST way to ensure that the kratom you receive is pure, potent, and free from harmful contaminants. Therefore, ANY time you shop for kratom online, it is vital that you make sure the products are backed by comprehensive, independent laboratory testing.
Any reputable kratom vendor should be able to provide you with their lab results, which come in the form of Certificates of Analysis (or “CoAs”). If you can’t find CoAs on a vendor’s kratom site, reach out to Customer Service and ask to see them.
American Kratom Association GMP Certification
This is one of the most important factors. GMP Certification through the American Kratom Association (AKA) is one of the strongest indicators that an online kratom vendor is at the top of the industry.
Certification with the GMP is a coveted accolade in the kratom industry. It indicates exacting quality standards and rigorous dedication to the industry’s very best. GMP Certification requires:
- Exacting hygiene procedures for all equipment and personnel involved at any stage of the manufacturing process.
- Use of cutting-edge machinery that minimizes kratom’s exposure.
- Comprehensive, independent testing of every batch ensuring purity, potency, and quality of kratom, both before and after the leaf is processed into kratom powder.
- Established and well-documented procedures to produce consistent, quality kratom from batch to batch.
- Absolute transparency regarding the origins of each batch of kratom leaf, establishing a transparent chain of possession for all raw and finished kratom materials.
- Regular audits by independent inspectors who verify the integrity, transparency, and adherence to AKA protocol of the certified vendor.
In short? If an online kratom vendor is certified through the AKA, then you can be confident in the product they’re selling – from kratom capsules to powder.
But even among these industry leaders, there are still noticeable differences in quality. Don’t stop your search with AKA GMP Certification; be sure to consider the other factors in this list!
Kratom Product Types: Choosing the Right Option
Once you’ve found the right kratom vendor, choosing the right kratom product for your needs is the next important step.
The Kratom Strain Types
Kratom has many different strains, and most are categorized based on a strain color and a region of origin. Both categories reference the strain’s effects.
That said, please note that kratom vendors like Kratom Spot are barred from making specific claims about kratom strains’ effects. As such, we recommend that you start your research with a reputable source such as the American Kratom Association.
Generally, the color is the most important for determining effects, and follow these guidelines:
White Vein Kratom
Alkaloid Profile: High mitragynine, very low 7-hydroxymitragynine
Ideal For: Daytime (especially morning) use
Green Vein Kratom
Alkaloid Profile: Balanced mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine
Ideal For: Daytime use transitioning into evening
Red Vein Kratom
Alkaloid Profile: Moderate mitragynine, high 7-hydroxymitragynine
Ideal For: Evening and nighttime use
The regional varieties also modify the strain’s effects, but they have a much lesser effect than does the strain color.
Kratom Product Types
Kratom products take many forms. From kratom powders to raw leaves to beverages and more, each lends itself to a slightly different use case. Here are the most common types of kratom product, what makes each of them distinct, and how they are most commonly used.
Kratom powders are versatile, fast acting, and by far the most popular kind of kratom product. They can be used to make tea, taken orally, used to make DIY kratom capsules, or virtually any other way you can take kratom. However, kratom powders are not water soluble, so mixing in a beverage will leave some grit!
Kratom extracts are actually a special kind of kratom powder. Where powders are all-natural, unmodified, ground-up kratom leaves, kratom extracts have had an extra helping of kratom alkaloids (the compounds responsible for kratom’s effects) added in. These are ultra-powerful kratom powders and are usually only appropriate for experienced users.
Kratom capsules are small, typically gel-capped pills that contain a pre-measured dose of kratom powder. They take slightly longer to take effect (due to digestion time of the capsule), but offer convenience that traditional powders don’t. Kratom capsules are valued by those who want to take a dose on the go or who don’t want the hassle of measuring out their regular dose.
Kratom leaves (often referred to as “loose leaf kratom”) are exactly what they sound like: the whole leaves of the kratom plant. These leaves are dried and are most often crushed (but not powdered). In this raw form, kratom leaves are usually used for making tea, as the whole-plant consistency is easier to strain once the beverage is brewed.
Kratom beverages come in several forms — most often one-to-three dose “shots” or water-soluble powdered beverage mixes that are later added to water and mixed. The advantage of kratom beverages is twofold: convenience and taste. Users often cite the convenience of being able to drink a pre-measured dose wherever they like. But even better, these beverages are flavored to cover-up kratom’s naturally bitter and earthy taste.
Importance of Quality Control Measures
We’ve covered a bit of this in the section on reputable vendors, but it’s worth restating: only buy kratom from vendors who have their kratom products tested by third party laboratories and can provide proof via Certificates of Analysis.
The tests performed in a lab protect not just the consumer but also the dealer, as they provide all parties verified results on chemicals and compounds that contribute directly to the efficacy and safety of the product. Comprehensive lab testing helps ensure:
- …that the product is potent. – The concentration of the active compounds in Kratom determine whether or not you’re getting your money’s worth from the products you buy. A product too low in mitragynine, for example, may not provide the outcome you’re trying to achieve, while one that is too high may cause more of an effect than you intended.
- …that the product is consistent. – In the United States of America, kratom is sold for research and educational purposes only. In order to get the most consistent results, you need a dependable product that delivers the right concentration of active ingredients. When you buy lab tested kratom, it’s measured against the key parameters set by the manufacturers to ensure consistent, high quality.
- …that there are no chemical contaminants. – When dealing with botanicals, there are plenty of opportunities for unwanted chemicals to contaminate a batch. Insecticides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and solvents used in processing can all make their way into a product, and lab testing serves as your last line of defense against these threats.
- …that there are no biological contaminants. – Improper handling can expose kratom products to biological contamination, as it did in 2018 when the CDC was made aware of a Salmonella outbreak linked to Kratom. Lab testing could have potentially stopped this outbreak before it happened, allowing for the identification of the source, quarantine of the tainted Kratom, and investigation into how it happened and how to stop it from happening again.
When you choose to buy lab tested kratom, you’re protecting your own health and kratom’s reputation by not supporting sketchy vendors selling subpar products.
Wholesale Kratom and Affiliate Programs
If you want to buy top-quality kratom and save a buck without sacrificing quality, then buying wholesale or joining an affiliate program may be the options for you!
Buying wholesale usually involves buying kratom in bulk and paying steeply discounted rates. It may not be for all buyers, though, as it usually requires buying more at once than individual users prefer.
Affiliate programs, on the other hand, allow you to directly profit from others’ purchases (and sometimes even your own) at kratom vendors with whom you’re affiliated. They’re easy to access, can effectively reduce the cost of your kratom, or even become a source of supplemental side income.
Here’s some info on both types of programs:
Pros and Cons of Bulk and Wholesale Kratom
As with most things, buying in bulk is a great way to save big. The same goes for when you’re purchasing kratom.
There’s two ways to do this: buying kratom wholesale, and buying larger quantities in single orders.
Buying wholesale kratom is a little tricky for most users, as it requires quantities that are more appropriate for vendors and other kratom resellers. Nonetheless, it’s worth reaching out to see whether you qualify for the Kratom Spot Wholesaler Program.
But buying in bulk is a lot simpler. You’ll notice that all of our products offer discounts when you purchase in larger quantities.
If you buy one ounce (28 grams) of Red Vein Thai Kratom Powder, you’ll pay just $7.99. However, if you buy one pound, or 16 ounces, of this kratom powder, you’ll pay $99.99. Let’s compare these two sizes side by side:
| One Ounce of Red Vein Thai | One Pound of Red Vein Thai |
| $7.99 total | $99.99 total |
| $7.99 per ounce | $6.25 per ounce (16oz total) |
| $0.29 per gram (28g total) | $0.22 per gram (448g total) |
The difference in bulk pricing might not seem astronomical at a glance. However, it can make a huge difference when considering bulk kratom. If you were to buy one ounce of Red Vein Thai Kratom Powder 16 times (equivalent to a one-pound bulk kratom order), you’d pay $127.84. This is $27.85 more expensive than buying the one pound of the bulk kratom powder option.
Kratom Affiliate Programs: Why and How
Affiliate programs may look different from site-to-site, but the basic principles of affiliates are the same:
- You sign up to become an affiliate for a merchant like Kratom Spot.
- After you’ve been accepted into our affiliate program, you are given a unique link to Kratom Spot’s website.
- You post this link on your websites, social media accounts, blog– wherever you think you’ll gain the most traffic!
- If somebody uses your link to visit Kratom Spot and makes a purchase, you’ll receive a percentage of the profit. This is known as an affiliate commission!
But that’s not all. Let’s say you refer someone to Kratom Spot, and they become a repeat customer. For 30 days, that person will automatically check out using your affiliate link (if they don’t clear their cookies). After the initial 30 days are up, if that individual clicks your affiliate link again, the 30-day timer starts over! This is one reason why the Kratom Spot affiliate program harbors the best kratom affiliates in the world.