Kratom Shots at Gas Stations: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

If you've noticed kratom shots, kratom energy drinks, and liquid kratom products popping up at your local gas station, convenience store, or smoke shop, you're not alone. These colorful bottles with names promising energy, relaxation, or wellness have become increasingly common over the past few years.

But here's what most people don't realize: many of these products aren't actually traditional kratom. They contain concentrated 7-OH, a semi-synthetic compound that federal regulators are now actively working to ban.

At MitraSpec, we've been fielding questions from customers concerned about what they're seeing on store shelves. This guide will help you understand the difference between natural kratom products and these concentrated shots so you can make informed decisions.

What Are Kratom Shots and Liquid Kratom Products?

The term "liquid kratom" can actually refer to two very different things:

1. Kratom Tea or Brewed Kratom: Tea brewed from natural kratom leaf powder is essentially the same strength as the powder used to make it. This is traditional kratom consumption and has been practiced in Southeast Asia for centuries. Brewing tea from quality kratom powder simply extracts the alkaloids into water, often with benefits like faster absorption and gentler digestion for some users.

2. Concentrated 7-OH Shots: These are the products you see at gas stations and convenience stores, usually in small bottles marketed as "kratom shots" or "kratom energy." Despite the marketing, many of these products contain highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which is chemically distinct from traditional kratom leaf products.

The Critical Difference: Natural Kratom vs. Concentrated 7-OH

Understanding kratom alkaloids is essential for grasping why these products are so different.

Natural kratom leaves contain over 50 identified alkaloids. The primary active compound is mitragynine, which makes up approximately 66% of the total alkaloid content. Another alkaloid, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), occurs naturally but only in trace amounts, comprising less than 2% of the total alkaloid content in natural kratom leaves.

Here's where things get concerning: concentrated 7-OH products sold at convenience stores can contain up to 98% 7-OH. This isn't extracting a natural compound; it's chemically converting mitragynine through a process called oxidation to create a highly concentrated product that behaves very differently from natural kratom.

Why This Matters for Your Safety

The higher potency of concentrated 7-OH creates several significant concerns:

• Increased dependency risk: The concentrated opioid receptor activity means these products carry substantially higher dependency potential than natural kratom
• Dosing difficulty: With such concentrated products, the margin between an effective dose and an excessive dose becomes dangerously narrow
• Unknown purity: Many of these products are manufactured in unregulated facilities with no third-party lab testing
• Contamination risk: The chemical conversion process can leave residual oxidants and contaminants

The FDA has specifically stated that concentrated 7-OH products are responsible for a disproportionate number of kratom-related hospitalizations and adverse events reported in recent years.

Brew Your Own Kratom Tea

Making kratom tea from quality powder is simple and gives you complete control over potency. Tea often absorbs faster than powder alone and can be gentler on digestion for some users. Many long-term kratom users prefer tea for its traditional preparation and customizable strength.

Citrus Juice Method

Mixing kratom powder with citrus juice like orange or grapefruit juice is popular for good reason. The citric acid can help extract alkaloids and may act as a natural potentiator, potentially enhancing effects. This method also helps mask the taste many find challenging.

How to Identify Safe Kratom Products

When shopping for kratom, whether online or in person, look for these indicators of quality and safety:

• Third-party lab testing: Reputable vendors provide certificates of analysis showing alkaloid content and screening for contaminants
• GMP compliance: Look for vendors who manufacture in GMP-compliant facilities with proper quality controls
• Clear labeling: Products should clearly state what's in them, including alkaloid percentages and whether they contain any extracts or concentrates
• Transparent sourcing: Quality vendors can tell you where their kratom comes from and how it's processed
• No medical claims: Legitimate kratom vendors don't make claims about treating, curing, or preventing diseases

The Bottom Line

Those kratom shots at your local gas station or convenience store are often not what they appear to be. Many contain concentrated 7-OH, a compound the FDA has declared "more potent than morphine" and is actively working to restrict.

If you're interested in kratom, start with natural, lab-tested products from reputable vendors. Understanding the proper dosing of natural kratom gives you control over your experience without the elevated risks of concentrated synthetics.

New to kratom? Check out our beginner's guide or try our sample packs to find the strain that works best for you.