Last Reviewed: June 2026
Kratom has been consumed in liquid form for centuries. In Southeast Asia, brewed tea made from fresh or dried Mitragyna speciosa leaves was (and still is) the traditional preparation. What has changed is the range of ready-made commercial products now available to American consumers. Seltzers, sodas, concentrated shots, and kava-kratom hybrid drinks have all emerged over the last decade as the broader kratom market expanded from a niche botanical into a billion-dollar industry.
This guide covers the five main kratom drink categories, what to look for in each, and how to match the format to the setting where you will actually drink it.
The Kratom Beverage Boom
The numbers tell the story. The global kratom and kava beverage market was valued at approximately $328 million in 2024, and multiple research firms project it will surpass $500 million by the end of 2025 on its way to between $576 million and $1.8 billion by the early 2030s, depending on the forecast methodology (QY Research, Market Report Analytics). That growth is happening inside an even larger wave: the global functional beverage market reached roughly $165 billion in 2025 and is projected to nearly double over the next decade (Grand View Research).
Kratom specifically has been one of the fastest-growing functional ingredients in the United States. SPINS retail tracking data shows kratom sales hit $441.4 million in mainstream multi-outlet channels for the 52 weeks ending October 2024, a 21.9% year-over-year increase that landed kratom among the 25 top-selling functional ingredients tracked in that channel (Nutritional Outlook, May 2026). For context, that growth rate outpaces the broader dietary supplement market's average annual growth of roughly 8 to 9 percent.
Several factors are converging to drive this beverage expansion. Consumer demand for functional, plant-based drinks continues to climb. Ready-to-drink formats like seltzers and shots lower the barrier to entry for new consumers who are not interested in measuring loose powder. And the regulatory landscape, while still evolving, has moved toward standardization rather than prohibition in most states. More than 30 states have now adopted some version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), establishing age verification, labeling standards, and lab testing requirements. The American Kratom Association's GMP Standards Program provides an additional layer of quality assurance through third-party audits modeled on FDA dietary supplement guidelines.
The result is a product category that is maturing quickly, with seltzers and ready-to-drink formats at the leading edge of that growth.
Why Kratom in Liquid Form
The case for liquid-format kratom products depends on what matters most to the individual drinker.
Convenience. Ready-made drinks skip the brewing step entirely. Open the can, drink it. No scale, no strainer, no kitchen time.
Flavor. Drinks are formulated with intentional flavor profiles. Powder is functional; drinks are designed to taste good on their own.
Portability. A sealed seltzer or shot fits in a bag, a cooler, or a fridge. Loose powder requires preparation tools and a place to use them.
Dosing precision. Ready-made products list mitragynine content per serving on the label. Brewed tea from loose powder requires kitchen-scale measuring for the same level of consistency.
Social setting. Drinks fit naturally into settings where powder or capsules would be inconvenient or out of place. A seltzer can reads as a beverage. A bag of green powder does not.
Each drink format below trades on these axes differently.
Traditional Brewed Tea
Brewed kratom tea is the oldest preparation method and the one most closely connected to the plant's Southeast Asian roots. Loose kratom powder or crushed leaf is steeped in hot water (typically just below boiling) for 10 to 20 minutes, then strained. The result is a tea you can drink as-is, sweeten, or blend with citrus or other flavors.
Production method: Home-brewed from loose powder or crushed leaf. Some vendors sell loose-leaf blends specifically formulated for tea brewing.
Taste profile: Bitter and earthy by default. Most drinkers add lemon, honey, ginger, or sweeteners to balance the taste. Some drinkers prefer it unflavored.
Serving size: Variable. Typically 1 to 3 grams of powder per cup, prepared from a larger batch.
Trade-offs: Lowest cost per serving when buying powder in bulk. Most flexible for recipe experimentation. Requires kitchen prep time and tools. Dosing precision depends on the drinker's measuring discipline. Does not travel well.
For step-by-step brewing instructions, see the full [kratom tea brewing guide].
Kratom Seltzers
Kratom seltzers are carbonated, ready-to-drink kratom beverages sold in single-serve cans. The category emerged in the late 2010s and has expanded rapidly, mirroring the broader functional seltzer trend that reshaped the beverage industry (think hard seltzers, CBD seltzers, and adaptogenic sparkling waters).
This is where the most consumer-facing innovation is happening in kratom beverages. The seltzer format takes the functional ingredient and puts it in a package that looks and drinks like any other flavored sparkling water. That matters for mainstream adoption.
Production method: Water, kratom extract, carbonation, flavoring, and (in some products) sweetener are blended and canned. Mitragynine content is standardized per can.
Taste profile: Depends on the flavor variety. Common profiles include citrus (lemon-lime, blood orange, pineapple), berry (wildberry, strawberry, blackberry), and tropical (paradise punch, watermelon). In a well-formulated seltzer, the kratom is not detectable in the taste. The flavor profile reads as a flavored sparkling water.
Serving size: Typically 12 oz cans. Mitragynine content varies by product, commonly listed at 35 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg per can.
Trade-offs: Highest convenience of any kratom drink format. Sealed, portable, and pre-measured. Higher per-serving cost than loose powder, but the convenience and consistency are the value proposition. Ships cold-stable and does not require refrigeration before opening.
Club13's seltzer line spans the most common flavor profiles and mitragynine levels. See [Club13 kratom seltzers] for the current lineup.
Kratom Sodas
Kratom sodas share the same ready-made convenience as seltzers, but the flavor formulation is built around classic soda profiles (cola, root beer, and other nostalgic flavors) rather than a sparkling water base.
Production method: Same general canning process as seltzers (kratom extract, water, carbonation, flavor, sweetener), with a soda flavor formulation.
Taste profile: Cola, root beer, citrus soda. The flavor is closer to a craft soda than a sparkling water.
Serving size: Typically 12 oz cans. Mitragynine content varies by product.
Trade-offs: Same convenience and portability as seltzers. Sweeter taste profile due to the soda flavor base. Some products use cane sugar, others use alternative sweeteners. A better fit for drinkers who prefer classic soda flavors over sparkling water.
See [kratom sodas] for current Club13 soda offerings.
Kratom Shots and Liquid Extracts
Kratom shots and liquid extracts are concentrated, small-format kratom drinks. A shot is typically 1 to 3 oz and contains a higher concentration of mitragynine per ounce than any seltzer or soda. Liquid extracts are concentrated kratom alkaloids in liquid form, typically sold in small bottles.
The shot and extract segment has seen significant market activity. Data Insights Market projects the kratom liquid shots market alone was worth approximately $150 million in 2025 and is growing at a 15% CAGR on its way to an estimated $600 million by 2033. The broader kratom extract market is projected to reach $479.5 million by 2032, up from $218.3 million in 2025 (Coherent Market Insights).
Production method: Concentrated kratom alkaloid extract is blended with a small volume of liquid (water, glycerin, or a mixed-flavor base). Mitragynine concentration is standardized per shot.
Taste profile: More pronounced kratom taste than diluted seltzers and sodas due to the higher concentration. Some shots are flavored to mask the bitterness; others are unflavored.
Serving size: 1 to 3 oz shots. Mitragynine content commonly ranges from 75 mg to 400 mg per shot. Liquid extracts can be as concentrated as the supplier formulates.
Trade-offs: Most portable format (a small bottle fits in a pocket). Highest concentration per ounce, which means careful attention to the product label and serving size is important. Higher per-serving cost than seltzer or powder per equivalent mitragynine. Ships shelf-stable.
See [kratom liquid extracts and shots] for the current Club13 lineup.
Kava-Kratom Hybrid Drinks
Hybrid drinks combine kratom and kava (Piper methysticum) in a single product. Kava is a different plant from kratom, native to the South Pacific, with its own long history of traditional ceremonial use. Kava-kratom hybrid beverages have emerged as a category for drinkers who want the flavor and format of a kava drink combined with kratom alkaloids.
Production method: Kava extract and kratom extract are blended in a base (water, juice, or carbonated drink), with flavoring and sweetener.
Taste profile: Depends on the product. Kava has a distinctive earthy, slightly numbing taste that some products lean into and others mask with citrus or fruit flavors. Kava-kratom seltzers blend the two in a flavored sparkling format.
Serving size: Typically 8 to 12 oz cans for hybrid seltzers, or 1 to 2 oz shots for hybrid extract products.
Trade-offs: Drinkers who already enjoy kava often appreciate the combined format. The hybrid product introduces two botanical ingredient categories on the label, which means reading the product carefully for both kava and kratom content. The kava-kratom category is smaller than kratom-only or kava-only products but growing alongside both.
See [kava and kava-kratom drinks] for current options.
How to Choose by Setting
The most practical way to pick a kratom drink is by where and when you will actually drink it.
At home, deliberate occasion: Brewed tea. You have the time, the kitchen tools, and a preference for ritual. Loose powder tea also gives you the most flexibility for recipes (lemon-ginger, honey, citrus blends).
At home, casual: Seltzer or soda. Open the can, drink it, no prep. The flavor profile fits a relaxed setting better than brewing.
On the go: Shot or seltzer. Both are sealed and portable. Shots have the smallest footprint; seltzers are standard 12 oz cans.
Social setting: Seltzer, soda, or hybrid. The format reads as a beverage in any social context where loose powder or capsules would be out of place.
Travel: Shots and shelf-stable extracts. Smallest format, no refrigeration needed.
For a fuller comparison of kratom forms beyond drinks (including powder, capsules, and extracts), see the [kratom experience guide].
The Regulatory Landscape for Kratom Beverages
Understanding the regulatory environment matters for any consumer purchasing kratom drinks. Kratom is federally legal in the United States. It is not a controlled substance at the federal level. The DEA attempted to emergency-schedule kratom's alkaloids in 2016 and reversed course after significant public opposition.
At the state level, the picture is more nuanced. As of mid-2026, seven states maintain complete bans on kratom. More than 30 states have adopted some version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), model legislation developed by the American Kratom Association that establishes age requirements (typically 21+), labeling standards, alkaloid concentration limits, and prohibitions on adulterated or synthetic products. Rhode Island made history in 2025 by becoming the first state to reverse a previous kratom ban, signing the Rhode Island Kratom Act with a regulated market effective April 1, 2026.
The KCPA framework and the AKA's GMP Standards Program are two key markers of credibility for the brands in this space. The GMP program is based on the FDA's own 21 C.F.R. 111 guidelines for dietary supplement manufacturing and requires third-party audits of facilities, documentation, and product labeling. When choosing a kratom beverage brand, look for vendors who participate in these programs and provide transparent lab testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are kratom seltzers the same as kratom tea?
No. Kratom seltzers are carbonated ready-made beverages with standardized mitragynine content per can. Kratom tea is brewed from loose kratom powder or crushed leaf in hot water. The two differ in production, flavor, and convenience.
Do kratom drinks taste like kratom?
Well-formulated kratom seltzers and sodas mask the kratom taste with flavor. Most drinkers do not detect the kratom in the final product. Brewed tea retains the kratom flavor (bitter, earthy) more strongly. Shots and liquid extracts have a more pronounced kratom taste because of the higher concentration per ounce.
What is in a kratom seltzer?
Most kratom seltzers contain water, kratom extract (standardized mitragynine), carbonation, flavoring, and sweetener (cane sugar, alternative sweeteners, or unsweetened). Specific ingredients vary by product. Read the label for the full list.
How much mitragynine is in a kratom drink?
Mitragynine content is listed on the label. Common ranges: 35 mg to 150 mg per seltzer or soda can. 75 mg to 400 mg per shot. Brewed tea content varies based on how much powder was steeped and for how long. Always read the label.
What is the difference between a kratom shot and a kratom liquid extract?
A shot is a single-serve 1 to 3 oz drink. A liquid extract is a concentrated form sold in small bottles, often by the dropper or by larger volume for repeated servings. Shots are pre-measured single servings; liquid extracts give the drinker more control over serving size.
Can I mix a kratom drink with other beverages?
Some drinkers blend kratom seltzers with juice, sparkling water, or other flavors to create kratom drink recipes. Brewed kratom tea is also commonly blended with citrus, honey, ginger, or other flavor additions.
Sources and References
- SPINS, "Top 25 Functional Ingredients, Mainstream Multi-Outlet Channel," 52 weeks ending October 6, 2024. As reported in Nutritional Outlook, May 2026.
- QY Research, "Global Kratom and Kava Beverage Market Report," September 2025. Market valued at $328 million in 2024, projected $576 million by 2031 (8.6% CAGR).
- Market Report Analytics, "Kratom and Kava Beverage Market Forecast 2025-2033." Market estimated at $500 million in 2025, projected $1.8 billion by 2033 (15% CAGR).
- Data Insights Market, "Kratom Liquid Shots Trends 2025-2033." Segment estimated at $150 million in 2025, projected $600 million by 2033 (15% CAGR).
- Coherent Market Insights, "Kratom Extract Market Analysis 2025-2032." Extract market estimated at $218.3 million in 2025, projected $479.5 million by 2032 (11.9% CAGR).
- Grand View Research, "Functional Drinks Market Size, Growth Report 2026-2033." Global functional drinks market estimated at $164.68 billion in 2025 (8.5% CAGR).
- American Kratom Association, "GMP Standards Program." Program requirements based on 21 C.F.R. 111.