Mitra 9 is a brand of botanical beverages built around two plant-based ingredients: kratom and kava. The company sells seltzers, shots, and drink mixes infused with extracts from these plants, marketing them as alternatives to alcohol or traditional energy drinks. The products are sold online and in retail locations across much of the United States, though their legal status varies by state and their active ingredients carry meaningful health considerations.
What’s in the Products
Mitra 9’s lineup breaks into three categories based on the active ingredient: kratom-only products, kava-only products, and combination kratom-plus-kava shots. The kratom seltzers contain 45 mg of full-spectrum mitragynine extract per can. The shots are more concentrated, with 57 mg per serving (each bottle contains two servings). Drink mix packets contain 64 mg per packet in some formulations and 45 mg in others.
For the kava line, the brand uses an extract standardized to 30% kavalactones, the compounds responsible for kava’s relaxation effects. The kava drink mix, for example, contains 333 mg of kava extract per serving. The seltzers themselves are low-calorie, typically around 10 calories per can, sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia. Flavors range from berry and watermelon to root beer and cream soda.
How Kratom and Kava Work
Kratom comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its primary active compound, mitragynine, interacts with opioid receptors in the brain. At lower doses, users generally report mild stimulation and increased energy. At higher doses, the effects shift toward sedation and pain relief. This opioid-receptor activity is why kratom is both popular and controversial: it can produce dependence with regular use, and withdrawal symptoms resemble those of other opioids.
Kava is a root from the Pacific Islands that has been used ceremonially for centuries. Its active compounds, kavalactones, promote relaxation and reduce anxiety by affecting the brain’s signaling pathways for stress and muscle tension. The sensation is often described as a calm, clear-headed relaxation without significant mental impairment, though higher doses can cause drowsiness. According to Mitra 9’s own product information, effects from kava beverages typically begin within 20 to 30 minutes and peak over the following 2 to 3 hours, with stronger preparations potentially lasting 5 to 6 hours.
Safety Concerns Worth Knowing
Neither kratom nor kava is FDA-approved for any medical use, and the FDA does not regulate these products the way it regulates food or pharmaceuticals. That distinction matters. In 2002, the FDA warned that kava-containing dietary supplements might be associated with severe liver injury, following reports of acute liver failure and even liver transplantation linked to kava use. In 2020, the FDA went further, concluding that indiscriminate kava use is not safe as a recreational or relaxation beverage.
A 2025 CDC report highlighted a rise in poison center calls linked to kratom-containing kava products specifically. The report emphasized that commercially available kava products sold in the U.S. are not regulated and have been associated with adverse health effects, particularly when consumed in large quantities. Combining kratom and kava in a single product, as some Mitra 9 shots do, layers two psychoactive substances that each carry their own risk profiles.
On the contaminant side, Mitra 9 entered into a consent judgment with the California Attorney General’s office requiring the company to conduct annual lead testing of its products sold in California. The settlement mandates testing of randomly selected samples using sensitive laboratory methods, with results retained for three years. This type of legal action under California’s Proposition 65 is common for supplement and botanical companies, but it signals that heavy metal contamination is a real concern in this product category.
Where Mitra 9 Is Legal
Kratom is legal at the federal level but banned outright in six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of these states, you cannot legally purchase Mitra 9’s kratom products. Several other states allow kratom but restrict it in specific cities or counties. San Diego bans it in California. Denver prohibits it for human consumption in Colorado. Sarasota County bans it in Florida. Jerseyville restricts it in Illinois. In most other states, kratom products are legal to buy and sell without age restrictions, though some states require purchasers to be 18 or older.
Kava faces fewer legal restrictions. It is legal in all 50 states, though the FDA’s warnings about its safety mean it occupies a gray area: legal to sell, but not recognized as safe by the federal agency responsible for food and drug oversight.
What the Experience Is Like
People typically turn to Mitra 9 looking for one of two things: a social drink that replaces alcohol, or a way to manage stress and low energy without caffeine or prescription medications. The kratom seltzers, at 45 mg of mitragynine, sit at what most users consider a moderate dose. New users may feel mild stimulation, improved mood, or slight euphoria. Some report feeling more talkative and sociable, which is part of the brand’s positioning as an alcohol alternative.
The kava products lean more toward relaxation. Users describe a loosening of muscle tension and a sense of calm that can feel similar to a glass of wine without the cognitive fog. The taste of kava is naturally earthy and somewhat bitter, which is why Mitra 9 formulates its kava line with fruit flavors and sweeteners to mask the root’s natural flavor.
Tolerance builds with regular use of both kratom and kava. With kratom in particular, daily consumption can lead to physical dependence relatively quickly, meaning you may need more to feel the same effects and may experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, muscle aches, and sleep disruption if you stop abruptly. This is not a theoretical risk. It is a well-documented pattern among regular kratom users, regardless of whether the kratom comes in a seltzer can or as a raw powder.
How It Compares to Raw Kratom or Kava
The main difference between Mitra 9 and buying loose kratom powder or kava root is convenience, dosing consistency, and flavor. A can of seltzer delivers a measured 45 mg of mitragynine in a flavored, carbonated format. With raw kratom powder, the mitragynine content varies significantly between batches and vendors, making it harder to know exactly how much you’re consuming. The same applies to kava: Mitra 9’s standardized 30% kavalactone concentration is more predictable than brewing kava root at home, where potency depends on the root’s quality and your preparation method.
That consistency cuts both ways. A standardized product makes it easier to control your dose, but the approachable packaging and soda-like flavors can also make it easy to forget you’re consuming a psychoactive substance. A can of berry seltzer feels casual in a way that spooning kratom powder into a glass does not, which may lower the psychological barrier to frequent use.