Kratom Tinctures vs. Powdered Capsules: Which Is Better?

When choosing the best way to take kratom, it’s key to know the difference between capsules and tinctures.

The kratom movement has been picking up speed for some years now, with many new users discovering the many benefits of this plant. But kratom is also versatile for how one takes it. Today, two major forms of kratom include capsules and tinctures. 

Before we get into the distinction between kratom tinctures and capsules, let’s go over some basics for those who are new to kratom.

What is Kratom

Kratom is a tropical herbal leaf that comes from the lush lands of Southeast Asia. It’s a member of the Rubiaceae family of plants, making it a cousin of the coffee plant. Some strains of kratom are similar to coffee, helping stimulate the mind and give you added boosts of energy. However, kratom has many different effects, with other strains used for rest, relaxation and even discomfort relief.

Choosing the Right Form

It’s true that the selection of kratom strains can help with a plethora of physical and mental issues. But, when choosing the right kratom for your needs, be they physical, mental or emotional, it’s not only about choosing the right strain. There are a few basic choices of the form or type of kratom, meaning how you choose to consume it.

The most common forms of kratom include powders, which could be made into tea, swallowed with water, or ingested with capsules; and kratom extracts, which include tinctures, shots and even gummies.

Nowadays, tinctures and capsules are becoming very popular types of kratom. So which one is best for you? In this article, we’ll do a side-by-side comparison of capsules and tinctures, looking at the pros and cons of each, as well as comparing things like potency, onset time, and duration of effects.

Kratom Tinctures: The Liquid Gold

Let’s begin with one of the newer forms of kratom to become extremely popular: tinctures. A tincture is a strong concentrated liquid extract of a plant’s special properties, often made by combining ethanol with organic material. When the process is applied to kratom, you get the added potency of your strain packed into a concentrated liquid.

What are Kratom tinctures?

While this article is not a step-by-step guide to making your own kratom tincture, it’s a good idea to be somewhat familiar with the process. 

Making kratom tincture follows these basic steps:

1. Pure kratom powder is combined with with ethanol (alcohol) and citric acid
2. The combination must be shaken for a few hours
3. The mixture must be stored in a cool dark place for several days or weeks

Of course, we don’t expect you to begin mixing, shaking and storing just because you want to enjoy kratom as a tincture. So let’s get on to the advantages and disadvantages of kratom tincture.

Pros of Kratom Tinctures

Fast acting: Kratom tincture has incredibly fast-acting effects. Say you’re feeling a bit nervous, stressed-out or just feeling restless, and you want to quickly calm down and chill. Taking a few drops of relax tincture will quickly take the edge off and help you mellow out.

Easy to adjust dosage: A great thing about tincture is the ease with which you can choose to take higher or lower doses depending on your current mood. Need a light pick-me-up? A few drops will do the trick, but if you want a major lift, just take a few extra drops.

High potency: Because all tinctures are concentrated extracts, high potencies are a common attribute, and it’s no different with kratom tinctures. When we’re talking about how much punch each quantity of kratom packs, tincture beats out almost every other form.

Long shelf life: Not everybody takes kratom daily. If you want to keep some handy for special occasions or for rare circumstances, then shelf life is important. Kratom tincture’s shelf life beats out other forms like powder, keeping its efficacy for up to several years.

Cons of Kratom Tinctures

A bit pricier: While the benefits of kratom are many, from energy and focus to stress relief and mood enhancements, not everyone is ready to invest in kratom tinctures due to their higher cost. For those that need to keep their spending low, there are several cost-effective alternatives that can provide similar benefits without breaking the bank.

Stronger taste: Sure, some people might enjoy the taste of earthy herbal kratom drinks, but the flavor is not everybody’s cup of tea. Since tinctures are concentrated, so is the taste, making kratom tinctures a bitter mouthful for those with more sensitive palates.

Requires careful measurement: We’ve mentioned above that one of the benefits of tinctures was its easily adjustable dosage. However, there is a drawback to this: When adjusting your dose, you have to be quite careful and accurate with tinctures, if you take too much you start bouncing off the walls or sink into your couch.

Kratom Capsules: The More Popular Choice

So now that you know the downsides of tinctures include a stronger bitter flavor, a higher price tag, and the need for greater care when measuring out a dose, let’s turn our focus to one of it’s greatest alternatives: Kratom in capsule form.

What are Kratom capsules?

Once upon a time, kratom was primarily served up as a powder, allowing users to brew or infuse it in hot water, or just toss it in their mouth and wash it down with a gulp of the nearest drink. Then, someone had the ingenious idea of packing a dose of kratom powder into a gelatin dissolvable capsule. 

Swallowing one of those is not unlike popping any pill, although the capsules are on the larger side. Nonetheless, kratom capsules tend to be a good starting point for beginners taking kratom.

Pros of Kratom Capsules

Convenient: Carrying out loose powder can easily result in a mess in your bag or pocket. Even tincture bottles may crack and spill out everywhere. Kratom capsules pose none of those problems. They are easy to carry around, whether you want the whole bottle or to just keep two or three caps on you when you’re on the go. Need a convenient perking up while sitting on the bus or out for a stroll? Pop two capsules and you’re set. 

No taste: We’ve gone over the strong and slightly bitter taste of tinctures. If you have sensitive taste buds, then the tasteless capsule is the clear winner. The time-delayed gelatin of the capsule means the entire contents of the kratom powder are long buried in your belly before you have a chance to savor the flavor.

Pre-measured doses: Measuring out drops of tincture or spoonfuls of powder might be an extra step you’ve got zero patience for. Or worse, it might result in the wrong measurements all together. One of the benefits of kratom capsules is that the quantities are pre-measured for an ideal dosage. For example, 2 grams is for many people the perfect amount of kratom for discomfort relief. So when those aches and pains show up you can just take two capsules. 

Widely available: No matter where you decide to purchase your kratom, you are almost always going to find capsules more than other forms, like tincture. This makes it easier for your shopping needs to be easily met with little fuss, no matter if you are seeking out green maeng da capsules or another strain.

Cons of Kratom Capsules

Slower onset of effects: In the kratom world, one often has to balance many factors like potency, convenience and the speed with which you’ll feel the effects. Sadly, when it comes to capsules, this speed is somewhat inferior to that of tincture. This means if you need instant focus, a tincture might be more fast-acting than powdered capsules.

May require taking multiple capsules: Since kratom capsules are pre-measured, often in 1000 MGs (1 gram), you don’t have much leeway in fine-tuning your kratom intake. So if one cap is not enough, you’re going to be popping a second or third, and for some people, this is less than ideal, since with other forms you can take halves or fractions of a gram with more ease. 

Lower bioavailability: Bioavailability refers to the amount of a substance, like vitamins or drugs, that your body can actually absorb and use rather than just wasting. Just because you’ve ingested 1 gram of kratom doesn’t necessarily mean your body is going to take advantage of every milligram, depending on your size, weight, body type and other factors. Kratom capsules have a lower degree of bioavailability than tincture alternatives. 

Effectiveness Comparison

Now that we’ve gotten the pros and cons of tincture and capsules out of the way, it’s time to do a close point-by-point comparison of these two popular kratom forms. Check out the below table for a recap of this section.

Onset of Effects

Tinctures take effect faster than capsules. On average, you’ll start feeling the effects within 15 minutes and very likely before a half hour. Capsules, meanwhile, can take anywhere between a half an hour to 45 minutes to kick in.

Duration of Effects

The amount of time that the effects will last varies between forms. Capsules last longer than tinctures, enduring for anywhere between 3 and 5 hours, while tinctures generally last for a slightly shorter 2 to 4 hours.

Potency

It’s not always the case that stronger means better, as beginners or lightweights may prefer something mild. However, with stronger potency, you can choose to buy or take less. Kratom tinctures have a stronger concentration of the active ingredients than the powder used in capsules.

Check out this table for a quick summary:

Factors to Consider When Choosing

If you’re still asking, how do I know which one is right for me? Here are 4 important points to think about when deciding between capsules and tinctures:

• Personal preferences: No two kratom users are the same. Are you going to be a regular daily user? Or will you save your kratom for highly specific but infrequent situations? The same thing goes for your personal preference regarding intake, taste, and the duration of the effect.
• Lifestyle and convenience needs: If you are the type of person that can only imagine taking kratom from the comfort of your own home, then a tincture might be better suited to your lifestyle. If you want the convenience of having it anywhere, any time, then capsules are probably better suited for you.
• Desired effects and onset time: It’s crucial to know your needs and wants, whether you are looking for something to help with focus and energy, or just to relax and relieve some discomfort. And once again, if speedy effects are what you like, tinctures are superior. 
• Budget considerations: A small bottle of capsules can start anywhere from around $40 for about 50 light doses. Tinctures, which are stronger, begin at around $99 for about 15 heavier doses. So don’t neglect considering your bank balance when shopping for kratom.

A word on safety and dosage

Always practice prudence and caution when measuring out doses, especially if you are a first-time user. Take a little bit of time to read one of the many great resources out there to help figure out a proper kratom dosage for beginners. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way when it comes to responsible usage while maximizing the benefits.

Conclusion: No one form is best for everyone

So let’s recap, shall we? Kratom comes in many forms, with powder-filled capsules and tinctures being two very popular types. 

Kratom tinctures are very potent and fast acting, and it gives you the control over how much you want to take. A tincture also has a longer shelf life. Meanwhile, capsules are convenient, tasteless, long-lasting, and they save you the effort of measuring out your doses.

Both tinctures and capsules come in a variety of strains for different purposes. So, if you need kratom for energy, or on the contrary, for relaxation, there is no clear winner between caps and drops. 

What’s important is to know not only why you want kratom, but how your lifestyle and personal needs are better suited to one method of intake or the other. Once you take a gander at our robust line of kratom products, you should be able to narrow it down on which strain, color and form is right for you.

FAQs

Can I switch between Kratom tinctures and capsules?

You can switch between capsules and tinctures, and in fact, many users do enjoy the advantages of each form. Just be extra sure to mind the dosage differences in the different kratom forms. For example, recall that tinctures are more potent than capsules.

Are tinctures more cost-effective in the long run?

Because Kratom tinctures are more potent than capsules, they are generally considered more cost-effective in the long run. However, this is not always the case. You should always balance your personal usage habits with a cost comparison of kratom forms to get the most value from kratom.

Which form is better for pain relief?

Many people take kratom for pain relief. This does not mean that it is an absolute cure-all for all types of pains and ailments. Some strains are particularly well-suited to ease various sorts of discomfort, like chocolate bentuangie capsules. As always, results do vary. 

How do I store kratom tinctures and capsules?

Whether you prefer kratom powder, capsules or tincture, proper storage methods are always recommended to ensure the longevity of kratom’s efficacy. There are different storage methods for each form, but most recommend properly sealed containers and cool, dry and dark places.