Kava vs. kratom at a glance
| Kava | Kratom | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Root of Piper methysticum (pepper family) | Leaf of Mitragyna speciosa (coffee family) |
| From | Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii | Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia |
| Active compounds | Kavalactones | Alkaloids, mainly mitragynine |
| Raw taste | Earthy, peppery, muddy; a tingly or numb tongue | Bitter, grassy, like strong green tea |
| Traditional form | Ground root kneaded in water and strained | Fresh leaves chewed or brewed into tea |
| Legal status (US) | Sold as a food and beverage ingredient; check local rules | Not federally scheduled; banned or restricted in some states and cities; not FDA-approved for any use |
| Main safety notes | Rare liver injury reports; don't mix with alcohol | Can be habit-forming with regular use; FDA has warned about kratom products |
| Can to try | Kava Orange Dream | Island Breeze (white) or Blueberry Lemonade (red) |
Where they come from
Kava has been the shared end-of-day drink across the South Pacific islands for centuries. Islanders grind the root, knead it in water, strain it, and pass it around in a coconut shell. In Fiji and Vanuatu it's still how guests are welcomed and how villages settle in for the night. More on kava's history.
Kratom grows on tall evergreen trees in Southeast Asia, where people have long chewed the fresh leaves or brewed them as tea. The tree is in the coffee family, but it's a different plant from coffee.
How kratom drinks are labeled
Kratom drinks are often labeled by leaf "vein color": white, green or red. The color names the vein of the leaf, and brands blend and label differently, so the color tells you about the leaf, not what to expect from the can. In Botanical Brewing's line, white is the tropical Island Breeze, green is the apple-and-lemon Tiki Apple, and red is Blueberry Lemonade. Pick by flavor.
How they taste
On their own, neither wins a taste test. Traditional kava is earthy and peppery, and first-timers often describe it as muddy water. Kratom powder is bitter and grassy.
That's the reason canned versions have taken off. A good can hides the plant behind real flavor: Orange Dream leads with sparkling orange, Island Breeze with mango and passion fruit, Blueberry Lemonade with exactly what the name says. You get the ritual without making a face.
How you buy them
- Kava: ready-to-drink cans, instant powders and stick packs, or traditional ground root you strain yourself. See the best kava drinks and kava powders and to-go packs.
- Kratom: powders and capsules, concentrated shots, and sparkling canned elixirs. With a can, one can is one serving and the flavor is done for you.
Legal status and safety
Kava is sold as a food and beverage ingredient in the US. Reports of liver injury are rare, but don't mix kava with alcohol, and skip it if you're pregnant, have liver problems, or take medication without checking with your doctor first.
Kratom isn't federally scheduled in the US, but several states and some cities ban or restrict it, the rules keep changing, and the FDA hasn't approved it for any use, so check where you live. It's for adults 21+. Kratom can be habit-forming with regular use, so never mix it with alcohol or other substances. Stick to products from established brands that show what's in the can.
Which should you try?
- New to both? Start with kava. It has the longest traditional history, and it's the easiest place to begin.
- Want something to replace a beer or a glass of wine in the evening? Kava.
- Already 21+, kratom is legal where you live, and you like tropical fruit? Island Breeze, the white kratom elixir.
- Prefer blueberry lemonade? Blueberry Lemonade, the red kratom elixir.
Can't decide? The kava variety pack lets you try a few kava flavors, and our elixir lineup puts every elixir color side by side.
Shopping for kava? See the best kava drinks and where to buy kava drinks.
Who should skip kava
- Kava drinks are for adults 21+. Skip them if you're under 21.
- Skip kava if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Skip kava if you have a liver condition or drink heavily. Kava has been linked to rare cases of serious liver injury.
- Skip it if you take antidepressants (including SSRIs), sedatives, sleep aids or medications that affect the liver, unless your doctor says it's OK.
- Rules on kava vary by place. Check your local rules before you buy.
- One can or shell is one serving. Don't mix kava with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
These are general cautions, not medical advice. If you're unsure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions people ask
Are kava and kratom the same thing?
No. Kava is a root from the South Pacific in the pepper family. Kratom is a leaf from a Southeast Asian tree in the coffee family. They contain different compounds and carry different cautions.
Is kratom related to coffee?
Botanically, the kratom tree is in the coffee family. That doesn't make a kratom drink a coffee substitute. Check the label for what's actually in the can.
Is kratom legal?
Kratom isn't federally scheduled in the US, but it's banned or restricted in some states and cities, and it's for adults 21+. Check the rules where you live.
Is kratom addictive?
Kratom can be habit-forming with regular use. Skip it if you're in recovery, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Is kava addictive?
Kava isn't generally considered habit-forming. See our full answer on whether kava is addictive.
Can you mix kava and kratom?
We don't recommend combining them, or mixing either one with alcohol. Try each on its own.
Which tastes better, kava or kratom?
Raw, neither: kava is earthy and peppery and kratom is bitter. Flavored cans like Orange Dream or Island Breeze taste like a sparkling fruit soda.
