Posted by I appreciate small businesses. Small batches of products will always appeal to me more than bulk. On the business side, they tend to have a closeness and teamwork that many large businesses don’t.
Kratom is a botanical that’s unregulated. That doesn’t make it bad or dangerous, but it’s up to the vendor to make safe products. It’s also up to you as the customer to vet them.
Reading vendor reviews is one way to do so, and a side-by-side comparison lets you better judge two possible options. Both Real Botanicals and Panacea Natural offer small-batch kratom products, so I’m going to tell you what else you should know about each.
Company Backgrounds
Real Botanicals was founded in 2021. Their lifestyle wellness and balance approach shows in their products to help boost mood, energy, focus, or calm. Whether you’re looking to be more productive, have emotional support, or relax, there’s a botanical for you.
Founded in 2007, Panacea Natural was around shortly after kratom started becoming popular in the United States. What sets them apart from other vendors is their fast shipping, cGMP approval, and educational information on kratom.
Sourcing and Manufacturing Practices
Real Botanicals has reliable coops and partnerships in Southeast Asia from which to ethically source their kratom – a sustainable approach that respects the plant’s cultural value and traditional cultivation. After that, they handle everything else, since they’re a manufacturer-direct vendor. One thing they use for processing is an advanced technology called ChromaPure. It’s their own, and it removes the kratom alkaloids into an extract while removing contaminants.
Panacea Natural has lots of informative articles about kratom, but unfortunately, there’s not much about their sourcing and manufacturing practices. One fact – and a huge one – is that they are AKA cGMP qualified. That already tells you there’s annual auditing of the facilities and processes to keep them on the same level of care and safety as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It’s voluntary, but it signals hygiene.
Quality Control and Product Testing
Real Botanicals has a private lab, which is pretty much unheard of as far as botanical vendors go, kratom or otherwise. So while “AKA” and “GMP” really makes a vendor stand out, if they have their own lab, they can freely create their own formulations and quality control standards. They test in small batches and also have an independent, third-party lab do a comprehensive report, which is available for each product listing.
Panacea Natural, like many other kratom vendors, have strong quality control. Theirs in particular is from their AKA cGMP qualification, which means they test every single batch of product for consistency. It also means they are hygienic, organized, and do proper labeling. All of these things contribute to trust, safety, and transparency no kratom customer wants to be without.
Product Line
Real Botanicals is all about full-spectrum kratom for a unique, holistic experience of up to 40 kratom alkaloids. It’s not just about mitragynine and a bit of 7-hydroxymitragynine, because it’s not your typical standard high-MIT kratom. Instead, you get more powerful effects with nuance you won’t find anywhere else with mild, moderate, or maximum doses of kratom capsules for dose-dependent effects that steadily release. You can also choose the soothing, talk-inspiring moderate and maximum doses of kratom and kava shots (the kava amount stays the same) if you’re a bit experienced or want an alcohol alternative.
Panacea Natural offers kratom capsules, powders, shots, and gummies with green, red, white, and yellow strains. There are also specialty blends – like kratom with turmeric – along with combos and variety packs. They are “whole-leaf,” meaning they use the entire leaf to make the basis of their products and not just, say, the leaf blade (which contains the most alkaloids). Powders and capsules work about the same, while gummies may work a bit faster and affect the whole body. Shots are the fastest to take effect and the most potent but can be overwhelming, harder to dose, and last half a day tops.
The Shopping Experience
If you’re in a hurry, or you’re just plain tired of colorful branding and a gazillion choices, Real Botanicals has your back. They have a no-fuss menu. Yeah, you will end up paying a bit more than average because of the attention to detail, but there are a few different ways to save money. Sign up for a newsletter coupon and consider making the minimum purchase for free shipping. To make sure you’re satisfied, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re in NC or SC, you may be able to find their products in person at one of their retail partners’ stores.
Panacea Natural offers same-day shipping when you order before 3 pm EST. It cannot be guaranteed during busy periods, but if you’re in a crunch, your order won’t have you waiting much. Several smoke shops offer their products. Take advantage of the free shipping with a minimum purchase as well as the loyalty program, which earns you reward points for purchases and things like registering an account. That’s after the competitive pricing, which includes sales. Last but not least, they have a 30-day guarantee and won’t even need the product back, but may want photos of the packaging.
The Verdict
Nothing beats the highest quality you can find in kratom products, or a reliable kratom vendor. That’s why Real Botanicals and Panacea Natural are both such strong presences for fans of the tropical plant leaf. The question remains: How do you like your kratom?
Both vendors carry kratom capsules and shots. Panacea Natural offers several formats and strains. Real Botanicals focuses on dose-dependent effects rather than strains and also offers shots that have both kratom and kava, a popular combination that works well for unwinding and getting rid of any kratom jitters. Their capsules can suit anyone, while the shots are more for familiar users. That’s also why I lean towards Real Botanicals.
You might also be interested in “Best Kratom Strains: Which One Should I Buy?”
Also, check out “Real Botanicals vs. VIP Kratom: To Stock Up or Not?“