No, it was the raw powder. I'm just saying we mixed the powder with hot water per the instructions.
Well, nobody and I mean nobody drinks it as tea, I mean the powder. The taste of kratom is so horrible that people keep coming up with different ideas how to take it.(putting it in pills is the best but you may have to take 6+ pills, or mixing it in chocolate milk, orange juice,etc) But any way you take it, they are all similar in one way: they have to be quick.
Usually people don't drink teas quickly that is why I am wondering just what kind of powder you took. One reason why I gave up experimenting with kratom because I couldn't stand the taste.
Also it is a trial and error to find the effective dose. Usually you have to take at least 3g, did you guys take at least that much? In local head shops they sell 3gs in 6 pills for $10, that is a cheap way to try it out. Another thing about the effects that it isn't just the weight but the strain too. So there are so many variables (30+ different strains using 3 to 10g dosage) that one try is usually not enough specially if the result was underwhelming.
Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that there are at least 3 forms one can get it: leaves, powder and extract (turbo powder).
Oh, and the making it even more complicated the very same strain has a different effect based on the dosage. Usually less is energizing and more of it is sedative.
Funny story: I ordered this edible Japanese film called oblate discs. The purpose of it is to roll bad tasting food into it so it can be quickly swallowed. Well, if you know what you are doing. I put the kratom in the film, rolled it up and put it in my mouth. Well, the film stuck to the top of my mouth were it quickly dissolved letting all the powder out. I started to cough and also almost threw up because the taste was so terrible. Needless to say, I never used oblate discs again...
I think you have to make the film wet first to slide it down quickly.