Not All Vendors Are Equal: How to Vet a Kratom Brand Before You Buy

Kratom is legal in most states—but it’s not regulated.
That means you’re the quality control.
And let’s be honest: not every vendor deserves your trust, your money, or your body.

So how do you know if a Kratom vendor is legit?
Here’s how real consumers vet their sources:

1. Third-Party Lab Testing
If a vendor can’t (or won’t) provide lab results, walk away.
Every batch should be tested for:

Alkaloid content (mitragynine + 7-OH)

Heavy metals

Pathogens like salmonella or E. coli
Reputable vendors post their COAs (Certificates of Analysis) publicly. No excuses.

2. Clear Labeling
You should never have to guess what you’re taking.
Look for:

Strain name

Batch number

Suggested serving size

Contact info for the vendor
No label? No trust.

3. Sourcing Transparency (To a Point)
No, most vendors won’t tell you the name of their farmer in Indonesia—and that’s fine.
But they should be able to tell you what region it’s from and give you confidence that their supply chain is clean, ethical, and stable. If their sourcing story sounds like a fairytale, assume it is.

4. Consumer Reviews (Not Just on Their Site)
Check Reddit. Look in Kratom Facebook groups. Search YouTube.
If people are getting sick, scammed, or sent dusty green mystery powder in a bag with a smiley face sticker, you’ll hear about it.

5. No Wild Claims
If a vendor is advertising Kratom as a “cure” for anything, they’re setting you—and the whole community—up for trouble.
Honest vendors stay compliant and let the product speak for itself.

6. GMP-Certified Manufacturing
The best vendors invest in true, independent GMP certification.
Clean facilities. Safe handling. Traceable products. Real accountability.
If they don’t have it, ask why.

Kratom consumers deserve better.
We deserve clean, tested, accurately labeled products from vendors who give a damn.

If we want Kratom to stay legal and respected, we have to demand better—and support the ones doing it right.