How to Make Kratom Tea: Hot & Cold Brew for Maximum Benefits

TL;DR
Brewing kratom tea is a cleaner, more effective way to enjoy the benefits of kratom. It improves absorption, reduces stomach discomfort, and makes it easier to control your dose. Yes, it takes a little more effort—but the payoff is worth it for anyone looking for better results and a gentler experience.

A Smarter Way to Take Kratom

If you’ve been using powdered kratom for a while, you might already know the challenges. Some days it works great. Other days, not so much. Tossing and washing can be tough on your stomach, and capsules can be hard for your body to break down, especially if your digestion is already sluggish.

Brewing kratom tea gives you more control. It’s a simple, natural and traditional method that removes the parts your body doesn’t need while keeping the ones that matter. Many people find it easier on digestion and more predictable in terms of onset and effect.

If you’re already familiar with the basics of using kratom powder, this brewing method might be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.

Why Make Kratom Tea?

Better Absorption

When kratom is steeped in properly acidified water, the active alkaloids are extracted more efficiently than when your stomach does the work. This means more consistent and effective results, especially for people trying to dial in their ideal dose.

Faster Onset

Since your body doesn’t need to break down the leaf, the effects come on faster. That can sometimes mean a shorter duration, but this can be mitigated by sipping slowly, diluting the tea, or pairing with a protein- or fat-rich snack. 

Less Digestive Stress

Brewing removes most of the indigestible plant fiber, which can otherwise cause bloating, cramping, or constipation. For people with sensitive stomachs, this alone can be a game-changer.

More Consistent Dosing

Kratom powder isn’t perfectly uniform. Even within a well-mixed bag, the alkaloids can vary. Tea helps eliminate those inconsistencies by distributing the alkaloids evenly throughout the liquid, giving you better control over each serving.

What to Consider Before You Start

  • Takes a little more time: About 20 minutes for hot brewing; 12 hours for cold.
  • Requires a few tools: A cloth strainer or empty tea bags, a mason jar, a small scale.
  • Shorter shelf life: Brewed tea should be refrigerated and used within 3 days.
  • May wear off a bit quicker: Easily managed by sipping slowly or pairing with food.

What You’ll Need

  • Kratom powder
  • Lemon juice 
  • Filtered or spring water (not alkaline, must have PH close to 4)
  • Cloth Strainer such as cheesecloth, or fillable tea bags
  • Heat-safe mug for hot or mason jar
  • Room in your fridge for storage
  • Gram scale for accuracy

Optional: natural flavoring like honey, sugar or herbal blends. Avoid anything too alkaline, as it can reduce alkaloid stability.

How to Brew Kratom Tea

To extract alkaloids effectively, the acidic liquid should be around pH 4. For a balanced batch that yields 6 servings, start with 12 grams of kratom powder (2 grams per serving), 3 cups (24 oz) of purified or spring water, and 6 tablespoons of lemon juice (2 tablespoon for every cup of water).

Pro Tip 1: Use a gram scale and give the bag a shake before scooping—kratom powder isn’t always evenly distributed.

Pro Tip 2: You can adjust the amount of powder or liquid to suit your needs—just keep the water-lemon ratio consistent to preserve balance and effectiveness.

Pro Tip 3: For cold brewing, you can replace the water and lemon juice with acidic juices like orange or apple juice.

Hot Tea Method

  1. Bring water to a boil, then remove from heat.
  2. Add lemon juice.
  3. Add kratom (loose or in a teabag).
  4. Steep for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Strain well and refrigerate any leftovers.

Cold Brew Method

For the cold brew, you can either use water and lemon juice for the acidic liquid or you can just use plain orange juice or apple juice as mentioned above.

  1. Combine kratom and acidic liquid in a jar.
  2. Shake well, refrigerate, and let steep for 8–12 hours.
  3. Open the jar every few hours to release pressure and give it a nice mix.
  4. Strain before drinking.

How Much To Take

Once your tea is brewed, your serving size depends on how much kratom powder and liquid is in the batch.

Example:
 If you brewed 12 grams of kratom in 3 cups of liquid, that means each cup contains about 4 grams of kratom.
 So, for a 2-gram serving, you’d drink half a cup of tea. 

Need it stronger or weaker?

  • Brew with less water for a more concentrated result (shorter onset, shorter duration).
  • Brew with more water for a more diluted tea (slower onset, longer duration).

Storage Tips

  • Store tea in the fridge in a mason jar (or any sealed container)
  • Use within 3 days
  • Label with date and serving size if making multiple servings

At room temperature (especially in the summer heat), alkaloids can degrade faster than you’d think—so refrigerate as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a way to get more from your kratom without the digestive burden, brewing it into a tea is a clean, effective alternative. It offers better absorption, faster onset, and a smoother experience—especially for adults who are health-conscious, dosage-aware, and looking to simplify their routine.

No matter your reasons for taking kratom—brewing kratom into a tea could be the upgrade your regimen needs or at least just a nice way to spice things up.