Kanna vs. kratom at a glance
| Kanna | Kratom | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Sceletium tortuosum, a succulent | Mitragyna speciosa, a tree leaf (coffee family) |
| From | South Africa | Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia |
| Main compounds | Mesembrine (acts on serotonin) | Mitragynine |
| What people say they feel | Lifted mood, chatty, calm but clear | Lighter amounts: alert. Larger amounts: mellow |
| Moment | Dinner parties, dates, nights out | Afternoons instead of coffee; evenings instead of a drink |
| Raw taste | Herbal, slightly bitter | Bitter, grassy |
| Legal status (US) | Legal; not controlled | Legal federally; banned or restricted in some states and cities |
| Main safety notes | Don't combine with antidepressants or mood medication | Can be habit-forming with regular heavy use |
| Can to try | Kanna Pomegranate Fusion | Island Breeze (white) or Blueberry Lemonade (red) |
Where they come from
Kanna grows in the dry Karoo region of South Africa, where San and Khoikhoi communities have fermented and chewed it for centuries. What is kanna?
Kratom grows on tall evergreen trees in Southeast Asia, where workers have long chewed the leaves or brewed them as tea to get through long days.
How they feel different
Kanna is the social one. People describe a brighter mood and easier conversation, with a calm but clear head. It's the can people bring to a dinner party. Kanna effects.
Kratom depends on the amount and the leaf color. People say lighter amounts feel alert and upbeat, which is why many drink it instead of an afternoon coffee; larger amounts feel more relaxing. Kratom drinks are often sorted by vein color: white for daytime, green in the middle, red for the evening.
Safety
Kanna acts on serotonin, so don't combine it with antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs) or other mood medication, and skip it if you're pregnant.
Kratom is for adults 21+, isn't sold in every state, and can be habit-forming with regular heavy use. Treat it like any strong drink: occasionally, and never with alcohol.
Don't combine kanna and kratom, and don't mix either with alcohol.
Which should you try?
- Social plans, a dinner party, a date: kanna.
- Replacing the afternoon coffee: a white kratom elixir.
- Something mellow in the evening, and you already know kratom: a red kratom elixir.
- New to both: start with kanna. It's legal everywhere in the US and the gentler of the two in drink form.
More comparisons: kava vs. kratom · kava vs. kanna
Questions people ask
Are kanna and kratom the same?
No. Kanna is a South African succulent that acts on serotonin. Kratom is a Southeast Asian leaf from a tree in the coffee family.
Which is more social, kanna or kratom?
Kanna. People describe it as upbeat and talkative, which is why it's the dinner-party drink.
Is kanna safer than kratom?
They have different risks. Kanna shouldn't be combined with antidepressants. Kratom can be habit-forming with regular heavy use and is restricted in some states.
Is kanna legal?
Yes, kanna is legal in the US and isn't a controlled substance.
Is kratom legal?
Kratom is legal at the federal level but banned or restricted in some states and cities. Check the rules where you live.
Can you mix kanna and kratom?
We don't recommend combining them, or mixing either one with alcohol.
For adults 21+. Skip it if you take antidepressants.
