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HOW TO MAKE KRATOM TEA: EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW

Thousands of people are trying kratom for the first time. Your coworker might credit kratom for boosting their productivity. Maybe the fit guy at your gym mentioned he takes kratom before his workouts, or you’ve been offered some at a party. However, as much as kratom’s reported effects might interest you, its bitter taste might not. If you have tried a loose kratom powder or a liquid extract, you probably know there’s not much else to do but try to get it down—quick! While you can always opt for kratom capsules to avoid the taste of kratom altogether, another popular and tradition-backed method is to brew a tasty cup of kratom tea HOW TO MAKE KRATOM TEA With so many different ways to take kratom, you will likely find just as many recipes and techniques for brewing kratom tea. And of course, everyone swears that theirs is somehow the best! That said, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite methods and tips for making kratom tea taste better. Give these brewing tips a try, and with a little practice, it could just become your new favorite. Don’t worry, you can still tell everyone it’s your “secret recipe.” THE QUICK AND DIRTY METHOD Probably the easiest way to make kratom tea is to just add a few drops of liquid extract to your cup of tea. However, it is important to remember that liquid extract is more potent than raw leaf powder. Start with a small amount, and gradually add more until you settle on the desired strength. OTHER POPULAR METHODS Kratom tea can be brewed much like other teas, through a variety of different methods. From an infuser to tea bags, or even with coffee brewing tools like a French press, or a drip coffee machine. Because the alkaloids in kratom are heat-sensitive, cold brewing and sun brewing are two other clever options. In general, kratom tea should be brewed at a simmer, not boiled COFFEE-FILTER METHOD Cut the rounded edges off the circular filter, so it takes on a rectangular shape. Place one gram of powder in the center of the paper, and fold the coffee filter in half. Fold the long, loose edge of the paper over itself twice to make a bag. Fold the bag in half again, lengthwise. Fold the loose edges on the ends over twice. Staple a string to the fold at the top of the bag, holding the tea bag together. CHEESECLOTH METHOD Cut a piece of cheesecloth into a 4×4 inch square. This will provide enough space for roughly one gram of powder or crushed leaves. If using kratom powder or the dried leaves are extra fine, fold the cheesecloth over once or twice to prevent powder from seeping through. Place desired mix in the center of the square. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth together and twist them closed. Wrap a piece of twine around the twisted section, and tie it off tightly. Staple the twine to the cheesecloth for extra security, if desired. SERVING SIZE AND HOW TO MAKE KRATOM TEA STRONGER It is generally recommended to steep kratom tea for around 15 minutes at a a hot (but not boiling) temperature. For a stronger cup, simply add more powder to a tea bag, or a few extra drops of liquid extract. As the standard serving size is one gram of powder, start with two to three grams for tea and work up gradually. If using liquid extract, start just one or two extra drops, and evaluate your experience. KRATOM TEA RECIPES TO TRY Kratom users often wonder how to make kratom taste better. While you can certainly make pure tea from kratom leaves, there are various ways of improving its flavor and smoothness. Starting with a tea you enjoy, kratom powder or liquid can be added to white, green, or black tea easily. Flavored herbal teas are another simple way to improve the taste. You can also add spices and flavorings to kratom tea. Many enjoy warm spices, like ginger, cinnamon, or even a chai blend. Lemon or lime juice can also be added for a sweet and tangy flavor. You can also mix kratom tea with milk or almond, soy, or rice milk for lattes. MAKING KRATOM TEA WITH FRESH LEAVES. For regular use, buying dried kratom is essential. The moisture in fresh leaves hinders the extraction of alkaloids, resulting in a weak kratom tea. It could also result in mold growth during storage for extended periods. However, some kratom users may have a curiosity about making kratom tea from scratch, if the opportunity presents itself. If you have some fresh kratom leaves on hand, whether while traveling in Southeast Asia, or being gifted some as a souvenir, follow these fresh leaf brewing steps: Place the leaves out to dry. Drying kratom leaves increases both their flavor and potency. Lay the leaves out flat on a tray or other flat surface, and cover with paper towels. Allow the leaves to dry fully, until they are curled, brown, and brittle. The leaves are ready when they snap cleanly instead of bending, and produce a distinct “snap” sound. Crush the leaves. Like finely ground coffee beans in espresso, the finer the leaves are crushed, the more fully they can be extracted in tea. For best results, place the leaves in a food processor and use the pulse setting until the leaves become a uniform powder. You can also crush the leaves in a mortar and pestle, or even between your hands. Add citric acid (optional). Lemon, lime, or grapefruit juice are perfect choices, as they have lower sugar content than oranges. This step is optional, but the reduced pH level gives the tea a stronger flavor. Add about ¼ tsp. of citrus juice (a standard wedge) per cup of processed leaves. Brew the tea. Place the powder in a tea infuser, steep loose leaves, or use tea bags. Always remember to use water just below the boiling point so you don’t scald the leaves, turning them extra bitter. The ideal water temperature for making kratom tea is about 175°F, or 80°C. CONCLUSION While there are many kratom tea recipes and ways to take kratom, the best one is the way you enjoy it most. Experiment with different methods, flavors, and strengths, and find what you like best. When you’ve found which works best for you, remember to consume mindfully, and enjoy every drop! REFERENCES Meireles V et al. Mitragyna speciosa: Clinical, Toxicological Aspects and Analysis in Biological and Non-Biological Samples. National Institute of Health: National Library of Medicine. Published March 2019. Yu, F et al. Dynamic changes and mechanisms of organic acids during black tea manufacturing process. Science Direct. Published February 2022. Staff Writer. How to Make the Perfect Cup of Tea. Twining and Company Limited. Published March 2022.

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LOOKING TO GIVE UP COFFEE? GIVE KRATOM A TRY

I love coffee culture. And when I’m on Zoom meetings before noon, there’s a high likelihood that at least one meeting attendee will apologize for their sleepiness with the comment, “I haven’t had my coffee yet this morning!” 74% of Americans drink coffee daily, and I’m no different. For me, many mornings start with coffee, whether it’s a paper cup from my favorite nearby gas station, a cold brew I steeped overnight in the fridge (it’s so good with cinnamon and brown sugar added), strong stuff I brewed in my Moka pot, or a more time-consuming but delicious pourover. BUT WITH COFFEE, THERE’S A CATCH. ACTUALLY, SEVERAL CATCHES. There’s a reason over 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day are consumed worldwide—but for some people, coffee can deliver adverse effects. It’s becoming more popular to try giving up coffee for a short stint or indefinitely. When I don’t drink coffee, I’m sleepier but also feel calmer. Studies show daily caffeine consumption can disrupt your sleep cycle and boost cortisol. It can also increase anxiety, make you jittery, and encourage lower saliva levels, which can increase the possibility of tooth decay. On the issue of cortisol boosts, if people who already have higher-than-normal levels of cortisol drink too much coffee, it can result in an overwhelming amount of cortisol flooding the body—majorly affecting stress levels and weakening the immune system. It’s also becoming popular in the endometriosis community to go off coffee, though the jury is still out on whether it affects symptoms. Coffee also majorly affects glucose levels, so eating breakfast before or with your morning coffee is a good idea. WHY KRATOM IS A GREAT COFFEE SUBSTITUTE. If you’ve considered trading your coffee for something else, kratom could be a great swap-in. Some people even combine kratom and coffee for a combined energy boost, but for now, let’s talk about the benefits of consuming kratom instead of coffee. Coffee is made from the roasted beans of the Coffea plant, while kratom comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia. The primary active compound in coffee is caffeine, a well-known stimulant. On the other hand, kratom contains alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which also have energizing effects, but different mechanisms of action compared to caffeine. Both botanicals can provide an energy boost and increase alertness, and many people consume one or both to combat fatigue and stay awake. HEALTHY HABITS TO CONSIDER WITH KRATOM AND COFFEE CONSUMPTION Coffee and kratom can both function as great additions to your daily routine, and there are some key suggestions to follow when consuming either. It’s important to drink plenty of water when consuming coffee or kratom, because both have the potential to dehydrate you. As briefly mentioned above, coffee does have the potential to dehydrate you and mess with your glucose levels, so it’s important to remember to eat! With kratom, taking it on an empty stomach is recommended to produce the strongest effects, but the hydration piece is still important. And if you’re a newer kratom user, it’s a good idea to start out by eating a light meal 30 minutes to an hour before you take the kratom to avoid any potential adverse effects (some newer kratom users report nausea when taking kratom on an empty stomach). HOW TO SUBSTITUTE KRATOM FOR COFFEE Coffee is typically consumed as a beverage and brewed with hot water. Kratom has historically been brewed into tea for hundreds of years. Today, people consume kratom in many innovative formats, including concentrates, shots, gummies, capsules, and more. Ready to try out replacing your morning cup of coffee with kratom? Learn how to make the perfect cup of kratom tea here. In summary, coffee and kratom both deliver energizing effects but differ in their origins, chemical composition, and effects on the body. REFERENCES Brown, Alex. “79% of Americans Drink 2+ Cups of Coffee Per Day, Survey Finds.” News Direct. Published January 2023. Staff Writer. “Cortisol: What It Is, Function, Symptoms & Levels.” Cleveland Clinic. Last Reviewed December 2022. Duffin, Jessica. “The Effects of Caffeine on Endometriosis.” Endometriosis News. Published August 2017. Higgins, Sean. “Benefits of Quitting Caffeine.” BetterYou. Published July 2022.

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How to Repurpose Content with ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide

Figuring out how to repurpose content with ChatGPT is one of the smartest ways to use the AI tool. With the right approach, you can take a blog post or a page and get AI to transform it or use it as the basis for all other kinds of content. That means podcast scripts, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages, and many other options. In this article, we’ll show you how to repurpose content with ChatGPT.

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WordPress.com Plugin Directory, Patchstack Bad News, ActivityPub 1.0 🗞️ October 2023 WordPress News w/ CodeinWP

This is the October 2023 edition of “This Month in WordPress with CodeinWP.” In the biggest bit of news, there was some of the most heated #wpdrama we’ve seen in a long time, with well-known WordPress personalities duking it out on Twitter (or is it “X”?) over the WordPress.com plugin directory and WordPress governance in general.

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7 Interesting WordPress AI Plugins to Improve Your Site

Whether it’s a personal blog or an ecommerce store, managing a successful WordPress website takes a lot of time and effort. You might not have the resources to complete all the essential tasks in a timely manner. So, you may be shopping around for a WordPress AI plugin to help you. In this post, we’ll take a look at seven AI tools you can use to improve your WordPress site.

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How to Solve: “Avoid an Excessive DOM Size” in WordPress

Google Lighthouse’s ‘Avoid an excessive DOM size’ warning is a performance metric you’ll want to look out for. The Document Object Model (DOM) aspect of this lets scripts access and manipulate the elements of your site. This includes your HTML and CSS. However, a large DOM size can cause performance issues, maintenance problems, and much more. First, let’s help you understand what it means.