There are different ways in which one can use kratom. First, people chewed kratom leaves. Then. kratom powder became popular. In the past decades, kratom extracts have been gaining increasing popularity. However, they tend to be pricier and harder to find. So, you may be wondering if it’s possible and how to make kratom extract at home.
We have great news for you. You most definitely can make kratom extract at home. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you do it right.
Table of Contents
What Are Kratom Extracts?
Kratom extracts are concentrated forms of kratom. They are more potent than raw kratom and require a smaller amount to get your usual dose. There are three primary forms of kratom extracts:
- Kratom extract powder – concentrated kratom powder
- Extract tincture – a liquid form of kratom extract
- Extract resin – thick kratom extract paste
Why Make Kratom Extract at Home?
Kratom extracts require additional processing, labor, and resources. Therefore, it’s much more expensive than raw powder and can be a steep investment for someone on a tight budget.
Because of this additional investment, many vendors choose not to offer it for sale. Kratom is unregulated in Indonesia; so, vendors can never be sure if the product they’ve imported is pure. Hence, kratom lab-testing within the US is important. Without proper testing kratom vendors can never be sure that they are not importing adulterated or contaminated kratom.
So, they run the risk of needing to discard loads of kratom and losing the money invested in importing it.
Producing kratom extract tinctures is not something that many vendors can afford doing risk-free, and the demand for tinctures is not as high as for raw powder. Combined with the FDA’s disapproval of kratom, raw powder is simply the most optimal option for many vendors.
In addition to the above, numerous kratom users complain about extracts not being as effective or not effective at all. This does not necessarily mean that all kratom extracts are ineffective. Instead, they may be produced in a way that’s destroying the beneficial alkaloids, y mixing it with other substances, or mislabeling it to incorrectly identify its potency.
Since kratom tinctures are rare, you’re most likely to find the most popular strains. However, if you prefer some of the lesser-known strains, there may not be kratom extract options for you.
But what if you’d like to give it a try anyway?
Making extracts at home enable you to use the favorite strains from your favorite vendor. You can make any amount that you’d like whenever you need it.
Out of the three main extract types, extract tinctures are the easiest to make in a home environment.
How to Make Kratom Extract?
There are two main ways of making kratom extract – using water and an alcohol base. While both approaches can yield quality extract and can b performed at home, using an alcohol base is more effective as it will allow preserving alkaloids for a longer period of time.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Kratom Extract
Make sure to gather everything that you will need to make kratom extract so that you can properly do it without needing to look for anything while you are in the middle of the process.
- Kratom powder or leaves
- We strongly advise that you only use ethanol or ethyl alcohol to make kratom extract. Opt for either 40% concentrated alcohol such as vodka or rum or 95% ethanol. Do not use rubbing alcohol. It contains volatile chemicals that can create toxic fumes, and the internal use of rubbing alcohol in large quantities can be toxic.
- Citric acid or lemon juice. Acid makes the extraction process more efficient.
- It makes alcohol-based extracts more stable and will slow down the evaporation rate.
- A sensitive digital scale. You’ll need it to accurately measure your kratom powder. This will allow you to determine the potency of the kratom extract that you create and later dose it correctly.
- Measuring cup. This will help you to accurately measure liquids.
- pH strips. They will help you determine the acidity level of your kratom extract.
- Tinted tincture bottles. You will use them to store the kratom extract that you make. Make sure that these bottles are tinted as this serves as protection from the light and helps to preserve the alkaloids. If you plan to regularly make kratom extract, then you can invest in tincture bottles with a dropper. These can make measuring your dose easier.
- Mason jars. You can look into heat-resistant jars or bottles. However, that is not necessary.
- A fine strainer or cheesecloth. This will help separate
Once you have gathered everything that you need, you can then proceed to the steps of how to make kratom extract.
The Process of How to Make Kratom Extract
Below you’ll find the steps needed to make kratom extract at home.
1. Choose and Measure Your Kratom
The effects of the extract that you make will depend on the strain that you use. Therefore, choose strains based on the effects that you wish to experience. You can use both kratom powder and kratom leaf if that’s available to you.
Next, measure your kratom. For a sizable amount of extract to fit into approximately one tincture bottle, use 4-5 ounces or roughly 100-150 grams of kratom. This is a good place to start. Once you get the hang of the process, you can experiment with a different amount.
2. Mix Kratom and Ethanol
As mentioned before, alcohol-based extracts are more effective and last longer than water-based extracts. Water-based extracts may also not preserve all the beneficial components.
However, if you prefer to use water, that’s possible too. We advise distilled water as it is pure and does not contain any additional chemicals. However, if that’s not accessible to you, go for filtered water rather than tap water.
Place your kratom in a jar or jars if you are using a larger amount. Make sure that the kratom takes up no more than half of the jar. Then, submerge it with alcohol.
Use a 1:4 ratio when it comes to kratom and alcohol. For every 4 ounces of kratom, use 1 liter of alcohol. Stir the mixture well.
3. Add Citric Acid or Lemon Juice
Citric acid will help with the extraction process and will also preserve kratom alkaloids. Keep in mind that citric acid is not vitamin C. It’s a weak liquid organic acid. You can buy citric acid in grocery stores or chain stores. Alternatively, you can use freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
Add it to your kratom and alcohol mixture and use the pH strips to determine the acidity. Once it reaches pH4, stop adding citric acid or juice. Adding too much of it can result in too much acidity which can cause canker sores in your mouth
4. Add Glycerin
Glycerin is a clear liquid that is a byproduct of breaking down oils and fats. It’s sweet but does not contain any sugar and has a low GI index compared to alcohol.
You can add glycerin to your kratom, alcohol, and citric acid mix. There is no recommended amount and this step is completely optional. If you choose to add glycerin, though make sure that the end result maintains the 1:4 ratio.
Alternatively, you can also make 100%-based tinctures with no alcohol in them. Alcohol-based tinctures are still superior and last longer. However, if for any reason you cannot take alcohol or have a health condition that requires you to consume very little sugar, glycerin can be a good alternative.
5. Steeping Your Extract
Once you’ve made the mixture, seal the jar, shake it vigorously until the liquid achieves a smooth consistency. Then, you can proceed with one of the following methods:
- Place the jar with your extract in it a cool dark place for a week.
- Place jars in a pot with hot water and let it sit for approximately an hour. Repeat the process 2 more times. You can place a towel at the bottom of the pot to prevent jars from cracking.
- Place your jars into a Crockpot or slow cooker. Then, cook them at a low setting for approximately 3 days.
6. Straining and Evaporating
Once the time is up, strain the liquid using a strainer or cheesecloth. You can throw away any remaining leaf matter at this point.
After that, place the liquid back in the jar, and leave it to evaporate. You’ll extract will be ready to pour into tincture bottles when half of the liquid will evaporate. This may take time. So, you may want to cover your jar with gauze and secure it with cheesecloth to prevent dust particles from getting inside.
7. Measuring Potency
To properly dose kratom extract, you need to know its potency. To do that, divide the amount of kratom powder used by the milliliters of the extract that you have made.
It can be a good idea to label your tincture bottle with the strain and its potency. This will make measuring your dose easier.
Keep in mind that some of the alkaloids may have evaporated. Therefore, the extract may be slightly weaker than the amount of kratom powder you used to make it. So, you may need to slightly adjust your regular dose. Be careful though because kratom extract is much more concentrated and you can easily take a dose that is too high.
Have you ever tried making kratom extract on your own? Let us know how it went as well as your tips and tricks!
Leave a Reply