# Herb Stomp > Family-owned kratom, kava, ethnobotanical, and herbal apothecary in Portland, Oregon. Lab-tested kratom, kava, bulk herbs and spices, loose-leaf teas, essential oils, ethnobotanicals, books, and accessories. Ships within 24 hours from Portland. Machine-readable index: https://www.herbstomp.com/llms.txt This file contains the full text of our in-house guides plus store facts and shipping restrictions, for AI assistants and answer engines. --- # How to Make Kava: Traditional Prep, Taste & Tips URL: https://www.herbstomp.com/blog/how-to-make-kava/ Last updated: 2026-07-01 Kava - sometimes called kava tea - is the traditional beverage of the South Pacific, made from the root of Piper methysticum. Unlike most teas, it is not steeped in hot water; it is a cold-water extraction, kneaded in cool water to release the root's compounds. Here is how to make it both the traditional way and the fast way, plus what to expect from the taste. ## What is kava? Kava is a robust perennial shrub in the black-pepper family (Piperaceae), native to the tropical Pacific and believed to have originated in northern Vanuatu, from where early voyaging cultures carried it across Oceania. It is grown across Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii, and the Solomon Islands, and has been prepared into a shared drink - often called "grog" - for well over a thousand years. One term worth knowing: noble kava. Regulators and researchers distinguish noble cultivars - the traditional varieties long used for daily beverage drinking - from tudei ("two-day") or non-noble types, which have a different kavalactone profile and are not traditional drinking varieties. We stock noble kava like Fiji Waka and Vanuatu ceremonial kava. ## How to make kava the traditional way The classic method uses ground kava root, cool water, and a straining cloth. As food regulators describe it, dried kava is "ground finely, wrapped in cloth and infused in water," then "drunk from a cup or sometimes a coconut shell." - Combine root and cool water. A few tablespoons of ground root per cup of cool or room-temperature water is a common ratio. Put the root inside a muslin straining bag and set it in a bowl of the water. - Knead for several minutes. Squeeze and massage the bag under the water for about 5-10 minutes. The water turns cloudy and tan as the compounds release - this kneading (not heat) is the whole technique. - Wring it out. Squeeze the bag firmly to press out the last of the liquid, then discard the spent root. - Serve. Traditionally kava is served at room temperature in a cup or coconut shell and drunk promptly. ## The modern shortcut: an AluBall shaker If hand-kneading sounds like work, the AluBall kava shaker is the popular shortcut: add ground root and water to the bottle, drop in the AluBall strainer, and shake for a minute or two instead of kneading. Same cold-water idea, far less effort and mess. Kava is not steeped like tea - it is a cold-water extraction, kneaded in cool water. That cold prep is what makes a proper cup. ## Even faster options - Instant kava - micronized, dissolvable powder. Just stir it into water; no straining. - Kava shots and kava extracts - concentrated, ready-to-go formats. ## What does kava taste like? Earthy and peppery, a little bitter and muddy - it tastes like the root drink it is. (The name itself traces to Pacific words meaning "bitter.") The signature quirk is that it briefly numbs and tingles the tongue and lips: this comes from the local-anaesthetic action of the root's kavalactones, the characteristic compounds in kava. Many people drink it quickly and follow with a chaser. First-timers should expect "rustic," not "dessert." ## Tips for a better cup - Use cool or lukewarm water, never boiling - kava is a cold-water extraction. - Strain well; a smoother pour is a more pleasant drink. - Start with a noble kava like Fiji Waka if you are new. - Have a chaser ready if the earthy taste is not for you. ## Is kava legal? Yes - kava is legally sold in the United States as a dietary supplement, and it is enjoyed at kava bars across the country. As with all dietary supplements, the FDA does not approve it before sale. It is offered as a traditional beverage botanical. Ready to brew a bowl? Start with our kava collection - noble roots, instant, extracts, and the AluBall shaker to make it easy - all shipped within 24 hours from Portland, Oregon. ## Sources - Food Standards Australia New Zealand, "Kava (Piper methysticum) beverage," Proposal P1057 SD1 (risk assessment). foodstandards.gov.au - Kew, Plants of the World Online - Piper methysticum G. Forst. powo.science.kew.org - Soares RB, et al. Review of kava (Piper methysticum) constituents and cultivars. Molecules, 2022 (PMC9315573). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library, "Pacific Crops: Kava." guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu - NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), "Kava." nccih.nih.gov/health/kava --- # How to Make Blue Lotus Tea (Nymphaea caerulea) URL: https://www.herbstomp.com/blog/how-to-make-blue-lotus-tea/ Last updated: 2026-07-01 Blue lotus is the flower that appears again and again in ancient Egyptian art, and for most people who keep it at home, steeping the dried flower is the simplest way to work with it. This guide covers what the plant actually is, how it has traditionally been prepared, what it tastes like, and where it is legal - with sources. ## What is blue lotus? Despite the name, blue lotus is not a true lotus - it is a water lily in the family Nymphaeaceae. Its widely used name is Nymphaea caerulea, though the modern accepted botanical name is Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea. Native from Egypt along the Nile south through eastern and southern Africa and into southern Arabia, it is a day-blooming water lily with pale blue to sky-blue petals fading to a pale-yellow center, roughly 8-12 cm across. We carry it in a few forms: whole blue lotus flowers, hand-selected premium buds, milled powder, a concentrated extract, and a tincture in amber glass. ## The flower of ancient Egypt Blue lotus is inseparable from ancient Egypt. Peer-reviewed history notes that "the use of N. caerulea... in rites and rituals is depicted in the frescoes within the tombs, and in very early papyrus scrolls," and drawings of the flower appear on Egyptian papyri and tombs dating to the 14th century BCE. In the famous banquet scene from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun (c. 1350 BCE), guests "wear garlands and smell lotus flowers" beside jars of wine. The flower opens at sunrise and closes at dusk, which tied it to the sun and to ideas of creation and rebirth. ## How to make blue lotus tea Historically, the flower was often steeped not in water but in wine - classical writers like Dioscorides and Avicenna described the Egyptian water lily infused in wine. Today most people make a simple hot-water infusion: - Measure by weight. A few grams of dried flower or buds per cup. Because petals are light and fluffy, a "cup's worth" looks like a generous handful. - Use just-off-boil water. Pour water that has come off the boil over the flowers in a mug or teapot. - Steep 5-10 minutes, covered. Longer steeps draw out more flavor but can turn it bitter, so start on the shorter side. - Strain and enjoy. Strain out the petals. Many people add honey or blend the petals into a herbal tea base. The powder steeps faster; the extract and tincture are concentrated forms some people stir into an already-brewed cup. In Egyptian art the blue lily is rarely far from the wine bowl - steeping it in liquid is one of the oldest ways people have used the flower. ## Blue lotus vs. white lotus vs. pink lotus These names get mixed up constantly, so here is the accurate version: - Blue lotus - Nymphaea caerulea (a water lily, Nymphaeaceae). The Egyptian blue water lily, with pointed blue-violet petals. - White / Egyptian white lotus - Nymphaea lotus (also a water lily, Nymphaeaceae). A night-blooming white-flowered relative that grew along the Nile and appears in the same art. - Pink / sacred lotus - Nelumbo nucifera (a true lotus, in the separate family Nelumbonaceae). The lotus of Asia, botanically distinct from the water lilies above. We carry pink lotus as well. Bottom line: both "Egyptian lotuses" (blue and white) are water lilies; only the Asian sacred/pink lotus is a botanically true lotus. ## What does blue lotus tea taste like? Descriptions vary, but the tea is generally mild and floral with a faintly earthy note, often compared to a light chamomile, with a clean, slightly sweet finish. It is not usually bitter unless over-steeped or over-packed. (Taste is subjective - there is no authoritative flavor standard.) ## Is blue lotus legal? In the United States, blue lotus is federally legal and is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. The one exception is Louisiana: under state law (La. R.S. 40:989.2, from Act 159 of 2005), Nymphaea caerulea is a prohibited plant product when intended for human consumption, with an explicit exemption for material used strictly for aesthetic, landscaping, or decorative purposes. Elsewhere it is sold as a botanical for traditional, ornamental, and educational use. The FDA has not approved blue lotus for human consumption. If you are outside the US, check your local rules before ordering. ## How to store it Keep dried flowers and powder sealed, cool, dry, and out of direct light - the same as any dried botanical. Keep the tincture tightly capped in its amber bottle. Ready to try it? Browse our full blue lotus collection - flowers, buds, powder, extract, and tincture, shipped within 24 hours from our shop in Portland, Oregon. ## Sources - Kew, Plants of the World Online - Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (family Nymphaeaceae; native range). powo.science.kew.org - "Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea." Wikipedia (accepted name/synonymy, description). en.wikipedia.org - Bertol E, et al. "Nymphaea cults in ancient Egypt and the New World." J R Soc Med, 2004 (PMC1079300). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Dosoky NS, et al. Molecules 28(20):7014, 2023 (PMC10609367) - history + FDA status. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - British Museum / Google Arts & Culture, "A Feast for Nebamun" (c. 1350 BCE). artsandculture.google.com - Gutierrez Haddad D. "The Lily of the Nile" (Uppsala University thesis, 2021) - historical wine-steeping, citing Dioscorides, Avicenna, and Emboden (1978). diva-portal.org - "Nymphaea lotus" (Egyptian white water lily). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_lotus - "Nelumbo nucifera" (sacred / Indian lotus, family Nelumbonaceae). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera - Operation Supplement Safety (U.S. Dept. of Defense), "Blue lotus." opss.org - Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:989.2 (from Act 159, 2005) - lists Nymphaea caerulea; exempts aesthetic/landscaping/decorative use. codes.findlaw.com --- # Does Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test? URL: https://www.herbstomp.com/blog/does-kratom-show-up-on-a-drug-test/ Last updated: 2026-08-06 Short answer: a standard drug test does not detect kratom. The routine panels used by most employers and clinics look for a fixed list of substances, and kratom's alkaloids are not on it. Below is a clear, source-based look at how kratom relates to drug testing - purely informational, not consumption advice. ## Do standard drug tests detect kratom? The most common workplace test is the 5-panel (the "SAMHSA-5"), which screens for marijuana (THC), cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. Expanded 10-panel and 12-panel tests add classes like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and methadone. None of these standard panels include kratom's alkaloids - mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. As the NIH's StatPearls reference states plainly, "kratom is not detected on regular drug screens," and screening for its use "is primarily based on patient disclosure." ## Is kratom an opiate? Will it fail the opiate test? No. The opiate portion of a standard panel is calibrated to morphine-type molecules from the opium poppy, such as morphine and codeine. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are indole alkaloids - structurally unrelated to the morphinan opiates. They are often called "opioid-like" because they act as partial agonists at the body's mu- and delta-opioid receptors, but they are, in the words of the toxicology literature, "pharmacologically and structurally different" from classical opioids. Because the opiate immunoassay is built around morphine-like structures, kratom's dissimilar alkaloids do not reliably trigger it. Kratom's alkaloids are not part of the 5-panel, 10-panel, or 12-panel screens - catching them requires a test ordered specifically for kratom. ## Is there a kratom-specific test? Yes, but it is uncommon. Specialized laboratories can screen for mitragynine and confirm it with mass spectrometry - LC-MS/MS or high-resolution LC-HRMS, sometimes GC-MS. There is no nationally harmonized cutoff; one peer-reviewed method used a routine screening cutoff of 100 ng/mL with confirmation down to 1 ng/mL. This dedicated testing shows up mainly in addiction medicine, forensic and medico-legal toxicology, and pain-management compliance monitoring - it has to be requested on purpose and is not part of routine workplace panels. ## How long do kratom's alkaloids stay in your system? Detection depends entirely on whether a mitragynine-specific test is used. The best human data comes from a pharmacokinetic study of chronic users, which reported a terminal elimination half-life for mitragynine of about 23 hours (with wide individual variation). Other estimates in the literature range considerably, so treat it as a range rather than a single number. A roughly one-day half-life implies near-complete clearance in about five days for most people; clinical and toxicology sources commonly describe mitragynine as detectable on a specialized urine test for about one day up to a week after last use, longer in heavy chronic users. Those detection-window figures are clinical estimates, not a fixed laboratory value. ## Can kratom cause a false positive? It can, though it is uncommon. A peer-reviewed laboratory study found that kratom alkaloids cross-reacted with a common methadone-metabolite (EDDP) immunoassay: drug-free urine spiked with mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine produced positive or indeterminate methadone screens, and in the authors' clinical samples, half of the specimens that screened positive for the methadone metabolite but were negative on confirmation actually contained kratom alkaloids. The takeaway: an immunoassay is only a screen, and a positive result is meant to be verified with confirmatory mass spectrometry, which distinguishes what is actually present. ## Is kratom legal? (Updated August 6, 2026) At the federal level, kratom is legal and unscheduled - it is not a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. State law is where it gets complicated, and it has been changing quickly. As of August 2026, kratom is banned or prohibited from sale in eleven states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin. A few recent moves are worth knowing: - Louisiana added a full ban (Schedule I) effective August 1, 2025. - Connecticut moved kratom to Schedule I effective March 25, 2026. - Tennessee banned it effective July 1, 2026 - its law ("Matthew Davenport's Law") also covers 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). - Kansas scheduled 7-OH effective July 1, 2026; because 7-OH occurs throughout the leaf, the state treats this as a kratom ban. - California prohibits the sale of kratom statewide under a state health-department order, rather than a criminal possession ban. - North Dakota banned kratom by executive action effective August 5, 2026, with a special legislative session set for September 2 to codify it. - Rhode Island went the other way, repealing its ban and moving to a regulated, adults-21+ model effective April 1, 2026. Most other states allow kratom but regulate it under a Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) - rules covering labeling, purity, and a minimum purchase age. Individual counties and cities sometimes add their own restrictions, and laws change often, so verify your local rules before ordering. (This is general information, not legal advice.) ## A note on 7-OH You will see "7-OH" in the news. 7-hydroxymitragynine is a minor alkaloid present only in trace amounts in the natural leaf, but it is far more potent at opioid receptors than mitragynine. Recent federal and state action has targeted concentrated or semi-synthetic "enhanced 7-OH" products (tablets, shots, gummies) that boost it well above natural leaf levels - not the leaf itself. The American Kratom Association has supported that distinction. ## The bottom line Kratom does not appear on the standard drug panels most people encounter, because those tests are not designed to look for its alkaloids. A dedicated kratom test exists but is rarely used outside specific programs. If you want to learn about the plant itself - vein colors, origins, and lineage - browse our kratom collection, all third-party lab tested with certificates of analysis available on request. ## Sources - Eggleston W, et al. "Kratom." StatPearls, NIH National Library of Medicine. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585120 - "Drug testing for mitragynine and kratom: analytical challenges and medico-legal considerations." PMC. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10098727 - Trakulsrichai S, et al. "Pharmacokinetics of mitragynine in man." Drug Des Devel Ther, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25995615 - Pierre C, Gineste C, Bazydlo L. "A Kratom Metabolite Causes False Positive Urine Drug Screening Results for Methadone." Am J Clin Pathol, 2020. academic.oup.com/ajcp - Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA), "Kratom: Summary of State Laws." legislativeanalysis.org - Louisiana Department of Revenue, "New penalties for Kratom in effect Aug. 1" (2025). revenue.louisiana.gov - Tennessee Public Chapter 950 (HB1649), "Matthew Davenport's Law." legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1649 - Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, controlled-substance schedule update (Public Act 25-101), 2026. portal.ct.gov/dcp - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, "Prohibition of illegal kratom products" (CDPH, Sherman Act), 2026. gov.ca.gov - North Dakota Office of the Governor, "Armstrong, Wrigley announce executive actions to ban unregulated drug kratom amid growing concerns," August 3, 2026. governor.nd.gov --- # Damiana Tea: How to Brew It and What It Tastes Like URL: https://www.herbstomp.com/blog/damiana-tea-guide/ Last updated: 2026-07-01 Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a small aromatic shrub from Mexico and the American Southwest, and its dried leaf has been brewed as a folk tea for generations. If you have seen "damiana tea" on a menu or a shelf and wondered what it actually is, here is a plain guide to the plant, the traditional preparation, and the flavor. ## What is damiana? Damiana is a low, woody, aromatic shrub with small yellow flowers and pale green leaves that are strongly fragrant when crushed. Botanically it is Turnera diffusa, traditionally placed in the family Turneraceae - now often folded into Passifloraceae under modern (APG) classification. It grows across southern Texas, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America, favoring dry, sunny, rocky ground. The part people use is the dried leaf. ## A long history as a folk tea and liqueur Damiana has a deep place in Mexican tradition, where the leaves have been used "to flavor liqueurs, tea, and other beverages and foods" and appeared in several 19th-century patent medicines. It is still the botanical behind the classic Baja California damiana liqueur - the Guaycura brand, bottled in its distinctive goddess-shaped bottle, made by infusing dried damiana leaves in alcohol. In cocktails it is sometimes used in place of triple sec in a margarita. ## How to make damiana tea Damiana is brewed much like any other loose-leaf herbal tea. One traditional method is to pour about a cup of boiling water over roughly a gram of dried leaf and steep for about 15 minutes. A practical everyday approach: - Measure the leaf. A rounded teaspoon or two of dried damiana leaf per cup is a typical starting point. The leaf is light, so it fluffs up. - Add hot water. Pour just-boiled water over the leaf in a mug, teapot, or infuser. - Steep 5-15 minutes. Longer steeping pulls out more of the aromatic, slightly bitter character. Cover it while it steeps to hold in the volatile oils. - Strain and sweeten to taste. Many people add honey, or blend damiana with mint, chamomile, or hibiscus to round out the flavor. In Mexico, damiana has been brewed as a leaf and bottled as a liqueur for generations - it is as much a culinary herb as a botanical. ## What does damiana tea taste like? Damiana is aromatic and a little resinous. Credible descriptions call the brewed leaf "slightly bitter" with "an astringent quality," and note the leaves have "a strong spice-like odor somewhat like chamomile." It is more assertive than a mild chamomile and mellower than a strong green tea - which is why it blends so well with honey, citrus, or mint. ## Choosing your damiana We carry whole-leaf damiana leaf sold by weight - the same material used for brewing, blending, or infusing. Whole leaf keeps its aroma longer than pre-ground herb, and you can crush it yourself right before brewing for the freshest cup. ## Is damiana legal? Yes. Damiana is not a federally controlled substance, and it is widely available as a culinary and botanical herb. In fact, the FDA lists "damiana leaves (Turnera diffusa Willd)" as a permitted natural flavoring substance for food under 21 CFR 172.510. (As with any botanical, the FDA does not evaluate or approve herbs for health uses.) ## How to store it Keep the dried leaf sealed, cool, dry, and away from light to preserve the aromatic oils. Stored well, it holds its fragrance for many months. Want to try it? Pick up damiana leaf from our shop, or browse the full ethnobotanicals collection - shipped within 24 hours from Portland, Oregon. ## Sources - "Turnera diffusa." Wikipedia (description, range, family, aroma). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnera_diffusa - "Damiana." Encyclopedia.com (Gale) - description, Mexican history, traditional infusion, taste. encyclopedia.com - "Turnera diffusa." Wikipedia (liqueur + margarita / triple-sec use; 19th-century patent medicines). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnera_diffusa - "At the Bar: Damiana Liqueur - Exploring Baja's Herbal Liqueur." el restaurante. elrestaurante.com - FDA / 21 CFR § 172.510 - Natural flavoring substances (lists damiana leaves, Turnera diffusa). law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/172.510 --- # Shipping restrictions Restriction data last reviewed: 2026-08-07. Full details: https://www.herbstomp.com/shipping/ ## States we cannot ship kratom to - Alabama (AL) - Arkansas (AR) - California (CA) - Connecticut (CT) - Indiana (IN) - Kansas (KS) - Louisiana (LA) - Tennessee (TN) - Vermont (VT) - Wisconsin (WI) Every other state is fine. Kratom is age-restricted to 21+ under the Oregon Kratom Consumer Protection Act. ## Louisiana prohibited-plant law (La. R.S. 40:989.2) These botanicals cannot ship to Louisiana even though our other ethnobotanicals can: - Blue Lotus - Egyptian Lotus - Pink Lotus - Lotus Leaf - Wild Dagga - Klip Dagga - Kanna - Damiana - Mugwort - Indian Warrior - Salvia Divinorum - Bay Bean - Honeyweed - Dwarf Skullcap - Zornia ## Cities and counties with local kratom bans Kratom cannot ship to these localities even where the state allows it (county entries are advisory; check locally): - Denver, CO - Monument, CO - Sarasota County, FL (county-level, advisory) - Idaho Falls, ID - Kellogg, ID - Jerseyville, IL - Alton, IL - Edwardsville, IL - Belchertown, MA - Lowell, MA - Dracut, MA - Chelmsford, MA - Canton, MA - Marlborough, MA - Franklin, NH - Oxford, MS - Columbus, MS - Corinth, MS - Ridgeland, MS - Brandon, MS - Booneville, MS - New Albany, MS - Amory, MS - Aberdeen, MS - DeSoto County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Lafayette County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Lee County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Lowndes County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Madison County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Rankin County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Union County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Monroe County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Alcorn County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Prentiss County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Tippah County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Tishomingo County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Pontotoc County, MS (county-level, advisory) - Itawamba County, MS (county-level, advisory) --- # Store facts - Herb Stomp is a family-owned herbal shop founded in 2012. - Address: 5700 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213, United States. - Phone: 1-844-882-3133. - Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm PST, Saturday 12pm to 7pm PST, closed Sunday. - Online orders ship within 24 hours of being placed, via USPS or UPS. US shipping only. Direct signature is required on orders over $300. - Kratom is third-party lab tested for heavy metals, microbial contamination, and alkaloid content (mitragynine and 7-hydroxy-mitragynine). Certificates of analysis are available on request: https://www.herbstomp.com/coa-request/ - The facility is certified by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and operates under HACCP food-safety controls. - Unopened products carry a 100% money-back guarantee (customer pays return shipping). This product has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.