Thank you for asking! There are a few reasons why our price point is different:
1 – We source the very best quality botanicals.
We don't bother with cheap, low-quality kratom (and neither should you). Our kratom is harvested from fully mature Mitragyna speciosa trees that have been allowed to develop a balanced alkaloid profile. Happy Hippo kratom is potent and requires a smaller serving size than other brands.
2 – We insist on safety and quality.
Happy Hippo is proud to be certified by the American Kratom Association for meeting Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP). Our operations comply with 21 CFR (the FDA's standards for dietary supplements), an expensive but highly necessary standard.
Our products undergo extensive quality testing. Our kratom is sterilized at 170º – hot enough to kill pathogens, but not hot enough to disrupt the native alkaloid profile. We package our kratom in-house, so we can confidently say we know what's in every single bag.
3 – Our partners are, too.
Since 2017, Happy Hippo has used a third-party importer. The importer brings our kratom from Asia to the United States. Our importer uses an independent lab to test our kratom for contaminants. We receive a lab test results report for every single batch of kratom imported. Having met our standards of excellence, the kratom then makes its way to us. We, of course, conduct our own additional lab testing upon receipt – but nothing enters our facility without first undergoing thorough lab testing. These services are expensive, and we're a small operation, but our Happy Hippo customers deserve nothing but the safest, cleanest, and best-quality kratom on Earth.
4 – Craftsmanship and care.
We don't mass-produce our kratom in some enormous factory. In 2019, we did buy a machine to help us fill and seal our bags, but nearly everything else is done by hand. Our team is small, but dedicated, and many of us have been with the company since Day 1. You'd be hard-pressed to find a boutique kratom company that values the little details as we do.
5 – We treat our employees better.
Here in Idaho, the minimum wage is $7.25/hour. Happy Hippo believes that its employees deserve a better, more livable wage. In fact, no full-time employee makes less than $15/hour.
Additionally, our customer service team actually uses Happy Hippo Kratom - they can give you advice based on their personal experience. You won’t receive a cookie-cutter reply if you need personalized advice.
6 – We contribute large amounts of money to keep Kratom legal.
Happy Hippo is a huge advocate for kratom consumer rights. We donate $10,000 to the American Kratom Association each month. We’ve funded many local awareness campaigns to inform not only the general public, but also lawmakers and public officials of the safety and benefits of kratom.
For more information about our standards and an inside look at our operation, please check out the Happy Hippo Blog post: Why Happy Hippo is the Best Place to Buy Kratom.