Different plants, different places
| Kava | Kratom | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Root of Piper methysticum (pepper family) | Leaf of Mitragyna speciosa (coffee family) |
| From | South Pacific islands | Southeast Asia |
| Traditional use | Shared evening and ceremonial drink | Leaves chewed or brewed by workers |
| Legal status (US) | Legal nationwide | Legal federally; banned or restricted in some states and cities |
| Main safety notes | Rare liver injury; don't mix with alcohol | Can be habit-forming; FDA has warned about kratom products |
Kava
Kava has been the end-of-day drink across the South Pacific for centuries. Today it's at kava bars and in cans. It's the drink we recommend first for people cutting back on alcohol. What is kava?
Kratom
Kratom leaf comes from a tree in the coffee family. Botanical Brewing uses it in their elixirs, sorted by vein color: white, green and red. Kratom is for adults 21+, isn't sold in every state, and can be habit-forming with regular, heavy use, so treat it like you'd treat any strong drink: occasionally, and never mixed with alcohol or other substances.
Which should you try?
If you're new to both, start with kava. It has the longer traditional history, it's legal everywhere in the US, and it's the most approachable.
Questions people ask
Are kava and kratom the same thing?
No. Kava is a South Pacific root; kratom is a leaf from a Southeast Asian tree in the coffee family.
Is kratom legal?
Kratom is legal at the federal level in the US but banned or restricted in some states and cities, and it's for adults only.
Is kratom addictive?
Regular, heavy kratom use can lead to dependence. Use it occasionally, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Can you mix kava and kratom?
We don't recommend combining them, or mixing either with alcohol.
For adults 21+. Read the can label first.
