How to Store Herbs Properly For Maximum Freshness
Integrating Herbs into your lifestyle is one of the most judicious wellness decisions you can make. Originally from Southeast Asia, the herb has garnered remarkable popularity worldwide for its perceived health benefits.
Herbs has traditionally been administered for pain relief. The plant abounds in potent alkaloids responsible for its analgesic properties, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These substances alleviate pain by binding to specific opioid receptors in the brain.
Besides pain, kratom is also touted as a potential remedy for fatigue, stress, insomnia, and inflammation. Some proponents even suggest the herb may ease the opioid crisis in North America, as it impacts similar opioid receptors but doesn’t induce severe adverse reactions.
Now, one secret to enjoying kratom’s benefits is to insist on fresh and pure supplements. In this post, we examine how to safely store kratom to maximize its freshness.
Getting Started With High-Quality Kratom
Before we explore kratom safety storage tips, it’s important to underscore the significance of high-quality products.
One way to access quality kratom is to insist on reputable vendors like Canada Kratom Express (CKE), a Canada-based retailer that supplies kratom throughout most of North America.
Canada Kratom Express deals exclusively with organically sourced, laboratory-tested products. The store also offers kratom supplements in numerous strains and formulations. Besides, it provides a hassle-free shopping experience through its clean and intuitive e-commerce store.
Validating Kratom’s Freshness
Even after finding a reputable kratom vendor, it’s prudent to authenticate the freshness of every product before purchasing it. That’s particularly necessary if ordering unprocessed kratom goods.
Fresh kratom leaves or powder can take on three distinct pigments. They include white, green, and red.
Besides denoting the distinct appearance of kratom’s leaf veins, these three colors also correspond with kratom’s dominant strains. White vein kratom is invigorating, red vein is relaxing, while green vein provides the best of both worlds.
However, some kratom powders may appear in colors other than the three dominant hues. This is common where a manufacturer or retailer combines two or more strains to create powerful combo packs.
A classic case is yellow, which results from mixing red and green vein kratom.
Besides the pigmentation, you might also want to perform an olfactory and tactile test of a kratom product before purchasing it.
Freshly harvested kratom leaves should be crisp to the touch. Avoid overly yellow, drooping, or wilted leaves.
As for the aroma, seek products with a distinct earthy or herbal smell, similar to fresh-cut grass. The taste would equally be bitter and grassy.
If you’re purchasing processed kratom products, look out for a certificate of analysis (CoA) from an independent laboratory.
The CoA is an analytical report that identifies and quantifies the dominant alkaloids in each tested kratom batch. Besides, it highlights the presence and potency of contaminants (like heavy metals) and additives (such as flavorings) in the product.
Safe Kratom Storage Tips
1. Avoid Excess Moisture
Like most herbs, kratom detests moisture.
The immediate problem with excess dampness is that it can cause kratom supplements to become soggy or clammy, making them unappetizing. More worrying is the risk of rotting or growing mold.
While your first instinct is to store kratom in your refrigerator, ensure the conditions aren’t excessively humid.
You can minimize moisture damage by putting your supplements in air-tight containers before tossing them in the fridge. Consider adding a paper towel or other soft, porous substance into the storage tins to soak up excess humidity.
NOTE: Limit fridge storage as the powerful odors in your refrigerator can impact kratom’s overall taste.
2. Shun Excess Aeration
While oxygen sustains human existence, an excess of it can degrade kratom’s quality. Oxygen accelerates oxidation, which is the process that leads to rust in metals.
Unchecked oxidation can diminish kratom’s potency by interfering with its chemical composition. It’s notably a problem for processed, oil-based kratom supplements like tinctures, gummies, and vape juices.
The surest way to minimize oxidation is by storing kratom in airtight containers.
3. Keep the Environment Cool
Extreme temperature is perhaps kratom’s worst enemy as far as environmental factors go.
Excruciating heat can alter kratom’s chemical composition, potentially impacting its potency and safety. Meanwhile, frigid conditions may lead to condensation in the storage container, exposing your products to high humidity.
An excellent place to store your kratom would be in a root cellar or a dark pantry. More importantly, ensure the ambient temperature never oscillates to extremes.
4. UV Light
As kratom’s native range of Southeast Asia is one of the sunniest places on the planet, you would expect kratom extracts to thrive in relatively sunny spots.
However, extended exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can reduce kratom’s potency by catalyzing the degradation of its active alkaloids.
UV-B photons are particularly harmful to kratom supplements due to their higher energy content than UV-A photons. According to research, exposure to UV-B photons can alter the phenolic compounds of live plants and lead to their eventual death.
You can minimize the hazards of UV light by storing your kratom supplies in dark-colored tins. If you’re buying an oil-based kratom product, ensure it comes in dark-colored bottles.
The Bottom Line
Proper storage is critical in enhancing kratom’s freshness and, ultimately, its potency.
As with most herbs, kratom detests extended exposure to moisture, UV, and extreme temperatures.
Remember that proper storage only makes sense if you invest in high-quality products. So, besides implementing these pointers, never let your guard down while shopping for kratom supplements.