Healthy botanicals in their natural, unadulterated form are not particularly palatable, and kratom is no different. The herbal remedy from Southeast Asia is a godsend for those needing some relaxation, pain relief, and insomnia relief, but its bitter taste is a hurdle.
Fortunately, the acrid mouthfeel is nothing some creativity and some fresh pantry staples cannot handle. Besides the more common “toss and wash” method, fantastic kratom recipes exist to make the herb go down easy.
Although you can use almost any ingredient, apples seem to be fan-favorites. So, below is a fun kratom-apple recipe to kickstart your day.
What Is Kratom?
However, begin by understanding what kratom is and the types of kratom and how it works before delving into making your kratom experience more pleasant. Below is everything you need to know about kratom.
Kratom typically refers to the leaves of an herbal shrub that grows in countries across Southeast Asia. The shrub grows naturally, although the ever-rising demands for its leaves’ botanical properties have facilitated commercial kratom production in plantations across the region.
Southeast Asian native communities and their ancestors consumed kratom for millennia due to its purported therapeutic effects. They used the priced botanical to treat various ailments, for recreational purposes, and during specific religious ceremonies. Moreover, the herbal remedy remains popular in the region today as crews on labor-intensive jobs chew on its raw leaves to delay fatigue onset.
However, kratom is no longer the preserve of Southeast Asian communities, as one study revealed that approximately 10-15 American adults consume kratom. Moreover, a survey conducted among approximately 3000 kratom consumers yielded that the herb is popular among diverse demographics. The survey showed that most self-reported kratom consumers use it to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, in that order, and that only 19% of the respondents experienced mild side effects.
Although the existing research on kratom is inadequate to determine its long-term effects, preliminary research shows that the herb contains approximately 40 alkaloids that deliver its therapeutic effects. Moreover, a second study on kratom’s dominant alkaloids, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine confirmed that they have anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antipsychotic effects. The study further showed that kratom’s dominant alkaloids deliver their therapeutic effects by partially binding to opioid system receptors.
Kratom Strains And Their Effect On The Herb’s Taste
Besides kratom’s mechanism of action, another thing to note about the botanical is its multiple strains. First, the herb’s leaves undergo leaf venation color changes as they transition to full maturity.
Moreover, a switch in the kratom alkaloid profile accompanies the physical change in leaf color. Kratom farmers harvest the leaves at different stages as the leaf vein color changes to harness specific therapeutic effects synonymous with specific alkaloid profiles.
Consequently, kratom experts classify kratom strains primarily by color, and you can find white, green, and red kratom strains when shopping for kratom products. Although there is no evidence, one theory about kratom’s bitter taste is that different alkaloid compositions contribute to the acrid taste. So, it is not uncommon to find that some kratom strains are more bitter than others.
Second, as stated above, kratom trees grow across different Southeast Asian countries, and the typographical differences also contribute to different alkaloid profiles. Therefore, kratom experts also classify kratom strains by country of origin.
Moreover, a second theory is that kratom’s bitter taste emerged as a defense mechanism to prevent animals and pests from eating its leaves. So, typographical differences could also contribute to varying bitterness levels among different kratom strains.
Some kratom consumers believe that the more bitter a kratom strain is, the higher its efficacy in delivering therapeutic effects. However, there is no evidence to support that theory, and you shouldn’t feel downcast about coughing and choking when you take super bitter kratom strains. Below is a delicious kratom apple juice recipe to allow you to enjoy the herb’s benefits without grappling with raw kratom’s bitter taste daily.
Delicious Kratom Apple Juice Recipe
For most kratom consumers, kratom and apple juice probably bring to mind the typical “toss and wash” technique used to quell kratom’s bitter taste. However, “toss and wash” may not always work, especially with overly bitter kratom strains.
Kratom’s alkaloids are lipophilic, meaning they combine better with fats, yet most fruit juices have higher water content. So, below is a simple yet tasty kratom recipe juice recipe featuring ingredients that deliver taste while tackling kratom alkaloids’ lipophilic properties.
Kratom Apple Juice Recipe Ingredients
- An apple
- 2 medium-sized carrots
- 1 Lemon
- Spinach or kale (optional)
- Sliced ginger
- Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
- Kratom (4gms should do, but work with your regular dose)
Instructions:
- Slice the apples, carrots, and spinach (or kale) and toss them in a blender or juicer.
- Add the ginger slices and blend while on a low setting until all the ingredients blend to a fine consistency.
- Pour the freshly-blended juice into a glass and add the kratom.
- Squeeze some lemon juice into the juice blend.
- Dip the cinnamon sticks and stir for a few seconds.
- Enjoy your kratom apple juice.
The apples bring their sweet taste to mask kratom’s bitter taste, but the true heroes are kratom and ginger. Unlike apple, which features water-soluble active ingredients, carrot and ginger feature lipophilic compounds that combine with kratom’s lipophilic compounds, taking them away from your mouth and down your throat. Moreover, one research study found carrot juice to be an effective palate cleanser.
Second, the squeeze of lemon introduces citric acid, whose sharp acidity also helps mask kratom’s bitter taste. Combine all the ingredients’ nutritional properties with kratom’s therapeutic benefits, and you have the ultimate wellness shot.
Conclusion
Kratom consumable forms and ingestion methods influence your kratom experience substantially. Although this kratom apple recipe may take a minute to prepare, it will turn that dreaded confrontation with kratom into a much-anticipated daily ritual.
