Kratom isolate and kratom extract — they’re two terms that are thrown around a lot by kratom users and manufacturers alike. But unfortunately, it’s not always clear what the difference is.
Are they interchangeable? What do they do? And why would anyone want to use them over raw, natural kratom powder?
Read on to learn all the news that’s fit to print about these questions and more.
What is the Difference Between Kratom Extract and Kratom Isolate?
To put it very simply, kratom extract is what you get when you use heat and solvents to extract a handful of compounds (such as kratom alkaloids) from the raw plant matter. Kratom isolates are more precise extracts where only one specific compound is extracted.
So it’s a matter of purity: kratom extracts are several compounds, mixed together, that have been pulled from the kratom plant; kratom isolates are a single such compound, completely separate from any other kratom compounds or other ingredients.
What Is the Point of Kratom Extracts and Kratom Isolates?
As any user knows, kratom has a number of unique properties.
These properties are mostly the result of kratom’s alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These are potent natural plant chemicals that are responsible for the vast majority of kratom’s effects.
More alkaloids = more effective kratom.
So, kratom extracts and isolates are basically just concentrated doses of kratom’s alkaloids. You can probably see where this is going.
Taking kratom extracts or kratom isolates is like taking a super-charged kratom dose. It’s typically going to be more effective, faster acting, and overall lead to a more pure experience.
That’s especially the case with kratom isolates, as there’s literally nothing else but kratom alkaloids!
Some Kratom Strains are Made With Kratom Extracts
For some users, the strength of a kratom strain is all that matters. And those folks are in luck because there are several strains out there that have been infused with an extra helping of kratom alkaloids — thanks, you guessed it, to an infusion of kratom extracts!
Kratom Spot, for instance, offers a series of Ultra Kratom strains, which improve on the most popular strains by adding a little extra bit of kratom extract to the equation.
When only the absolute strongest kratom will do, these are top-picks — made with nothing but pure kratom powder and an all-natural kratom extract that keeps your dose pure and potent as can be.
Some kratom extracts and teas might advertise themselves as ‘full spectrum’, and thus contain a broader range of kratom alkaloids. However, it’s important to read the ingredients for these blends carefully, as ‘full spectrum’ usually refers to CBD, rather than kratom.
How Are Kratom Extracts Made?
Kratom extracts are made using a wide variety of different processes. At their most basic, however, each method involves the application of heat, a solvent, or both, to separate select kratom compounds from the rest of the kratom plant matter.
In fact, kratom extracts are a lot more common than many users realize — and you may even have made a kratom extract without knowing it!
That’s because kratom tea is, in fact, a kratom extract.
In making kratom tea, we use gentle heat and an edible acid such as lemon juice to pull kratom’s alkaloids away from the plant matter.
Quite literally, making kratom tea extracts the desirable compounds from kratom, leaving them suspended in the liquid base we call kratom tea!
Other methods for making kratom extracts may be a little more complex. Some may result in powdered kratom extracts rather than liquids. But at their core, they all involve this same basic process.
Making Your Own Kratom Extract: DIY Kratom Extract at Home
Making kratom extract doesn’t need to be a complicated affair! With the right ingredients, you can DIY a kratom extract from the comfort of your kitchen.
We’ve brewed up this ultra-simple recipe for making the simplest kratom extract you can, which is perfect for mixing with flavored tea bags or even enjoying on its own.
What You’ll Need for DIY Kratom Extract:
- 2 or 3 cups of water
- ½ of a large, fresh lemon, or 2 – 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice (you may use another acid, but lemon juice was chosen for flavor)
- Your preferred strain of kratom powder
- Something to strain the finished kratom extract, such as a tea strainer or a coffee filter
What To Do:
- Add the water to a saucepan, bring it just to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Squeeze the half lemon into the simmering water, or add the 2 – 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice.
- Ensure that the water is simmering and not boiling.
- Then, add your intended dose of kratom powder.
- Keep the mixture simmering for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat source, then carefully strain the kratom extract liquid to remove the kratom sediment.
- Allow the kratom extract liquid to cool.
Premium Kratom from Kratom Spot
When shopping for kratom extracts – or any other kratom products – the safest way to do so is to shop from a reputable brand. At Kratom Spot, all of our products are 100% natural, harvested in Southeatern Asia through Fair Trade policies. You can reach out to our customer support team to make an informed decision on the right kratom products for you.