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How Long Does Kratom Stay Fresh?

Kratom shelf life is a tricky topic in the West. This medicinal plant has been a staple in Southeast Asia for centuries, but we’ve only recently caught up and started exploring its capabilities.  

If you want to stay budget-conscious by buying in bulk, you face quite a conundrum. Buyers and vendors aren’t 100% effective in keeping their products fresh, resulting in reduced potency and wasted potential. 

We’re here to help. Join us as we explore the shelf life of kratom and share handy freshness-extending tips.

How Long is the Shelf Life of Kratom?

Before diving into the details, let’s get the basics out of the way. What is the shelf life of kratom, can it go bad, and what happens past that expiration date?

First, we must explain a bit about chemistry. Kratom contains over 20 identifiable alkaloids, compounds that cause its benefits for your body. The levels of these chemicals are always the highest after removing the leaves from a kratom tree. After that, time causes them to degrade. 

Can kratom expire? Not really, and it doesn’t become dangerous even as the chemicals break down. It only loses its efficacy with time. 

When buying from reliable suppliers of kratom powder, shelf life is usually up to three months after grinding the leaves. The product starts dropping in potency past the 12-week mark. 

Proper storage can extend kratom shelf life, though, keeping the substance fresh for up to a year.

Which Factors Can Make Kratom Go Bad?

Kratom is an organic product with an intricate inner structure. Certain outside elements induce molecular-level changes that alter the aroma, effects, and beneficial properties.

 What factors influence the shelf life of kratom, then? 

Time is the number one factor that impacts kratom shelf life. Once the leaves are no longer attached to the tree, the alkaloid contents start breaking down. This process lasts for quite a while, but the following three factors speed up deterioration.

Ultraviolet light

UV light sources (including the sunlight) deteriorate organic products, reducing kratom shelf life. Direct exposure breaks down the stable alkaloids, while light passing through transparent glass facilitates chemical deterioration.

As soon as you’re done using your product, remove it from direct sunlight. When it comes to storage, choose opaque containers and leave them in a spot that receives little to no light.

Oxygen

Oxygen is yet another ever-present element that poses a threat to kratom powder shelf life. The powder loses some of its beneficial properties when it starts oxidizing, and it significantly drops in potency. For you, this looks like a loss of color and fading smell.

 Air-tight kratom storage reduces the rate of oxidation.

Moisture

Dried kratom powder is the breeding ground for mold, which can ruin an entire batch. Make sure that no droplet of liquid touches your product.

While storing, you want to choose spots where humidity remains pretty low. Avoid bathrooms and washrooms at all costs to extend the shelf life of kratom.

Get Fresh Products

No matter whether you’re buying powder, tea, or kratom tincture, the shelf life starts counting from the production day, not the date of purchase. The fresher you buy, the less damage the active substances already suffered.

Purchase from manufacturers or vendors that get the product straight from the source as time in shipping already influences its duration. Packaging and repackaging also cause exposure to pathogens, moisture, and sunlight.

 To be safe, buy from online vendors that specialize in kratom. They likely get products directly from manufacturers rather than go-betweens. They also pay more attention to kratom packaging and other aspects that can affect the kratom shelf life.

Buy Fresh Kratom Online Or In-Store

We have searched for, found, and delivered the best kratom tea and other kratom products online.  We are happy for you to order online but if you are new to kratom, we invite you to call and say hello and speak to either of us.  Whether in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or anywhere else in the U.S.A, you are appreciated.