How long can kratom last if it's unopened?

[SimonBcv]

Hey guys, do you know how long can kratom last if it was never opened?
Can it last for 30 years?

[whiffypants]

It can last many months -- probably several years -- if it's sealed well and was absolutely dry when it went in the airtight bag.

But 30 years? Hell if I know. I don't think anyone else in the US knows either. They'd have to have been sitting on a bag untouched since 1988, and I don't think it's likely to have been here in the US that long, let alone unused. Maybe some folks in Indonesia might know. But my guess is that the alkaloids would age out eventually, the active components would fade in strength, and you'd end up with impotent dust.

I can tell you right now that that is a problem that I personally will NEVER have. Sit and look at a bag day after day without opening it even to sample for that long, even years after I'd run through all the rest of that strain I may have had on hand? Oh hell no. You must be someone with a lot more self-control on tap than me.

[SimonBcv]

Hey thanks Whiffy, I guess buying a lifetime supply is out of the question huh.

[whiffypants]

At this point in time, I'd personally think it unwise. A year or two supply, sure -- and congrats on having the cash to do it -- but a lifetime supply, no, I wouldn't even if I could.

Wait and see what happens in the next few months to a year. I think chances are excellent you won't have to worry about getting kratom in the US, and neither will anyone else. But support your bulk vendors like RVA and BB here, because in my opinion the scummy headshop vendors who sell kratom at hundreds of $$$ a kilo are going to try to massage the legislation involved in making kratom legal to edge out all the good vendors who undercut them by selling at a reasonable markup. Even if/when kratom goes federally legal here, that's not the end of the battle by a long shot.

So keep your eye on this space. Too many people are making too much money off kratom for this current shipping problem to last too long, IMO.

[Psilocyberdemon]

Found this post on mewe in reply to someone asking the same question.

“If kept in a stable environment out of direct light it is believed to last indefinitely. I have some 7+ years old that works as well as it did “fresh”. Farm Fresh is merely a marketing term in this business.”

[whiffypants]

Good info, Psilo. That's what I'd heard but it's nice to see an actual number of years to go along with all the guesses. I know I have some top end teas that are over 15 years old, carefully stored, and still great (if a bit weaker) but I also don't count on tea for pain relief. Thanks for the post!

[Psilocyberdemon]

Top end teas like green/black teas? Or like chamomile/valerian/rooibos teas? And by weaker I’m guessing you mean the amount of caffeine that’s broken down

[whiffypants]

Top end like private reserve first flush Darjeeling (black). Weaker as in flavor -- which is no problem, just use more when brewing.

[Madison808]

I have some from two years ago and tried it the other day. Still good as ever. I stored it in a mason jar and it was in back of a closet cabinet the entire time.

[BlendsAreMyFriends]

Keeping it dry is essential. Moisture is the enemy as it can lead to mold.

[whiffypants]

Yep, this exactly. Early on I made a noob mistake of sticking a wet spoon into a bag of kratom, but since I'm all too familiar with mold -- it's very humid down here -- I just stuck it in the freezer until I had it used up and it was fine.

But you're right: at room temps even a slight amount of dampness will lead to mold eventually.