Kratom comes from Southeast Asia and is a tropical evergreen tree. The leaves have been used as sedatives and stimulants for centuries. Kratom is popular in the West because of its pain-relieving, energy-boosting, and opioid-relieving properties.
- Greater flexibility in dosing
With powdered kratom leaf, you easily measure out almost any dose you desire. Even tiny adjustments in grams make a difference in effects based on your biology and tolerance. Your dosage can be precisely controlled this way. Capsules contain a set amount of kratom powder per capsule. So you’re restricted to choosing between different-sized capsules without much variability in between. It makes finding your optimal dose trickier.
- Faster onset of effects
Since kratom powder enters your bloodstream, you’ll start experiencing the effects within 10-15 minutes normally. With capsules, it takes time for the outer capsule coating to dissolve until you get to the good stuff inside. It delays the onset of effects by 30-45 minutes or longer. So if fast relief is a priority, definitely go with powder.
- Avoid fillers and additives
Some less reputable kratom brands use fillers and additives like magnesium stearate, starch, and silica to make their powdered kratom weigh more. It increases profits at the cost of purity and potency. Encapsulated kratom sometimes contains these same useless fillers too. But they hide in plain sight since you can’t see what’s inside a closed capsule. Kratom capsules also often contain extra thick capsules or time-release mechanisms that interfere with fast effects. So with powder, it’s easier to either find a trusted vendor using pure, high-grade leaf or make your pure powder at home from raw leaves. This flexibility ensures you get kratom as nature intended it without unnecessary ingredients.
- Better value for your money
Per gram, kratom powder tends to cost significantly less than capsulized kratom from the same vendor. You also avoid paying extra for the cost of encapsulation along with any fillers used in the process. Considering the differences in flexibility, speed, purity, and so on between powders vs capsules, powders provide a clear value advantage. With quality pure kratom leaf powder, you maximize benefits and keep more money in your wallet.
- Easier to ingest and mix
Some users struggle with swallowing capsules of any kind. Vendors typically warn against opening capsules to mix contents in food/drink because the taste is so bitter and unpalatable. With powder, you have numerous convenient ways to ingest it beyond just gulping it down with liquid which is tough for some due to texture and bitterness. Popular alternatives include mixing into yogurt, applesauce, protein shakes, tea, coffee, smoothies, and more to mask the taste and go down easier. You also waste virtually no product that may stick inside capsules with powders. Just mix, drink, and enjoy.
- Available in wider selection of strains
Vendors offering capsulized kratom products almost always have a much smaller subset of strains available relative to their full powder inventory. They stock only the fastest-selling powders to encapsulate due to higher production costs. Powder offers you more options in terms of accessing rare, specialty strains or simply enjoying a wide variety to rotate. It includes regional varieties like Thai, Malay, and Bali along with proprietary blends. You experiment freely to find your perfect strain match.