What Is Kratom? A Plain-English Introduction

If you have ever wondered what kratom is, the short answer is simple: kratom is the dried leaf of Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree in the coffee family that grows across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The leaves have been used in those regions for well over a century, and today kratom is sold worldwide as a botanical product in four main formats: tablets, liquid shots, powder and capsules.

Where kratom comes from

Kratom trees grow up to 15 metres tall in hot, humid climates. Harvesters pick mature leaves by hand, and the way those leaves are dried — in sunlight, shade, or sealed fermentation — determines whether the final powder is sold as red, green or white vein. Most of the world supply comes from Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra, where smallholder farmers have grown the tree for generations. You can read more in where does kratom come from.

What is actually in a kratom leaf

A dried kratom leaf contains a small fraction of alkaloids — typically under 2% of its total weight. The dominant alkaloid is mitragynine, which usually makes up around half to two-thirds of the leaf’s alkaloid content, with dozens of minor alkaloids including 7-hydroxymitragynine making up the rest. This is why laboratory reports measure mitragynine content as the key marker of potency. Our guide to what mitragynine is explains the chemistry in more detail.

The four kratom formats, briefly

• Kratom powder — raw milled leaf, the cheapest per gram. See our kratom powder category.
• Kratom capsules — the same powder pre-measured into shells. Browse kratom capsules.
• Kratom tablets — compressed to a fixed mitragynine milligram strength, so every serving is identical. See kratom tablets.
• Kratom shots — concentrated liquid alkaloid drinks, the fastest-acting format. Browse kratom shots.

Not sure which format suits you? Our comparison of tablets vs capsules vs powder vs shots breaks down cost, onset and convenience.

Is kratom legal?

Kratom is federally legal in the United States, but a handful of states — including Alabama, Indiana, Wisconsin and Tennessee — ban it, and some cities and counties restrict it inside otherwise-legal states. In Canada, kratom is legal to buy and possess but is not authorised as a food or natural health product. Because the law changes quickly, always check current local rules before ordering, and read our full guide to kratom laws by state.

Who kratom is — and is not — for

Kratom products on this site are for adults 21 and over only. They are not for anyone who is pregnant or nursing, has liver, kidney or cardiovascular conditions, or lives with a substance-use disorder. Kratom is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and no vendor should promise medical outcomes. If you take medication or manage a health condition, speak with a licensed healthcare professional before buying kratom of any kind.

Related reading

• Kratom formats 101: tablets, shots, powder and capsules — a beginner’s map of every product type.
• Kratom safety basics for adult consumers — the rules experienced users follow.
• 50 kratom FAQs — buying, serving sizes, shipping, legality and quality, answered.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Kratom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Adults 21+ only.