Pure kratom: it’s the best, safest, and most enjoyable option for any kratom enthusiast. But finding the best pure kratom can be tricky, and you can’t always tell kratom powder’s purity just by looking at it.
Luckily, there are some tips and tricks to look out for that can ensure you’re getting the best, purest kratom on the market. We’ve assembled the most important such tips in this article.
What do We Mean by “Pure” Kratom?
Pure kratom is a broad term, but it refers to a very specific, unambiguous product. Pure kratom has the following characteristics:
- It is a powder, capsule, extract, or loose-leaf made from dry kratom leaves
- It contains absolutely no additives, including
- Synthetic drugs
- Added alkaloids
- Kratom “potentiators”
- Harmful microbes
- It is produced and packaged in state-of-the-art facilities that minimize the risk of contamination
As you can see, pure kratom isn’t just about ensuring that your product is made from the kratom tree (though that’s an important part). It’s also about how the product is handled and produced after harvest.
Why Buying Pure Kratom Matters
With kratom, purity is everything. It ensures that you know what’s in the product you receive and allows you to make informed decisions about how your kratom use fits into your lifestyle.
Buying only pure kratom powder and capsules ensures that you won’t be ingesting any unwanted (and potentially harmful) additives, contaminants, or toxins.
What’s more, buying only pure kratom helps protect the industry and ensures that safe, reliable kratom will remain on the market. The US Food and Drug Administration has tried to restrict access to kratom several times, due largely to dangerous batches of contaminated or impure kratom being sold to unwary customers.
In short: when you take the time to ensure you’re buying pure kratom, you’re protecting your own health and safety and helping ensure that kratom will remain available for years to come.
Tips for Ensuring Your Kratom is Pure
Finding pure kratom is a matter of diligence and research before making your purchase. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible for individual users to test their kratom powder’s purity, so it’s extremely important to vet each new kratom vendor before ordering their products.
During this vetting stage, you should look for the following markers of quality kratom vendors:
- Clear, unambiguous product descriptions and company information that go into the origins of each kratom strain
- Comprehensive lab testing and Certificates of Analysis for each product
- GMP Certification through the American Kratom Association
We’ll go over each of these criteria below. But for more on the vetting process, be sure to check out our Guide to Choosing Kratom Vendors.
Vetting Product Descriptions and Vendor Info
It goes without saying that you should always read product descriptions and kratom vendors’ company info when buying kratom online. But more than that, you need to assess whether the kratom vendor is being transparent about their products’ origins and how they’re manufactured.
Sometimes, kratom vendors will talk about their products’ purity directly. There are several positive factors and topics to look out for, including:
- Statements that the product contains no additives
- Information on the geographic origin of the kratom strain
- Details on the farming practices used (information about pesticides, sustainable agricultural practices, etc.)
- Details on manufacturing practices after kratom crop is harvested
The more information kratom vendors provide about these factors, the higher the probability that they’ll provide quality, pure kratom products.
However, it’s easy for kratom vendors to claim that their products are pure. As such, this factor should be taken with a grain of salt, and much higher stock should be placed on the remaining two factors.
At Kratom Spot, we’re always upfront about the origins and production standards of our products. Our product pages and About Us sections go in-depth on all the most important parts of our process. And if you have any questions that aren’t covered there, our knowledgeable Customer Support staff is ready to answer your questions.
Lab Testing and Certificates of Analysis
While vendors can say anything they want about their products, the proof is in the product itself. And to see what’s in the product, there’s only one sure-fire tool: laboratory testing by an independent, third-party laboratory.
Any quality kratom vendor should be able to provide laboratory test results from independent labs. That “independent” part is important! Some kratom vendors have their own in-house testing facilities; if in-house testing is the only testing method, then the vendor can fudge the results to make their product look like it’s higher quality!
Independent lab tests issue “Certificates of Analysis” that demonstrate, without doubt, the most important information about each kratom product, including:
- The product’s alkaloid content
- The presence or absence of pesticides, heavy metals, or other contaminants
- Whether the product contains illicit or synthetic (non-kratom) substances
At Kratom Spot, every one of our products is backed by comprehensive, independent laboratory testing that proves our kratom is pure, potent, and free from contaminants. If you want to see our Certificates of Analysis, just reach out to our Customer Support staff, who will be happy to help you.
For more on the importance of lab testing, see our Guide to the Importance of Quality Kratom.
GMP Certification through the AKA
Even if a company can provide comprehensive Certificates of Analysis, that’s no guarantee that they’re selling truly pure kratom.
Some vendors will have their kratom leaves tested before they are processed into kratom extracts, powder, or capsules. In that case, tests can prove the purity of the leaves, but not necessarily of the resulting products!
The solution? Trusting the American Kratom Association’s Good Manufacturing Practices (AKA GMP) Certification Program.
The AKA is a completely independent group with absolutely no affiliation to any kratom vendor. They’ve done more than anyone to bring transparency and accountability to the kratom industry and to lobby for legal reform, legal recognition of, and legal access to kratom throughout the US.
AKA GMP certification is a coveted mark of quality in the industry. Achieving this certification means that a vendor has demonstrated their strict adherence to the highest production standards, transparency, and responsibility. Moreover, because certification requires regular check-ins by AKA officials, it means that these standards are upheld day-in and day-out.
Kratom Spot is honored to have received full AKA GMP certification. What’s more, we go above and beyond GMP requirements by using cutting edge equipment, clinic-grade industrial clean-rooms, and more.
For more information on the importance of this certification for the industry, be sure to see our in-depth Guide to AKA GMP Certification.