What is Kratom?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Kratom is a botanical leaf from an evergreen tree, Mitragyna Speciosa, in the Rubiaceae family (coffee is too) that has grown naturally in Indonesia for thousands of years. Indonesia is one of the few regions in the world with the ideal climate to grow this magical tree on an industrial scale. Kratom prefers to grow in hotter tropical climates that have no winter and no hurricanes. This mixed with the legal status is why most Kratom in the world is grown in Indonesia and why it will most likely continue to be.
Overall Kratom use has been documented for hundreds of years and most likely has been used for thousands of years. Indonesians have used it to aid their work in the fields, primarily chewing the leaves and also drinking it in tea. Kratom is especially great for physical labor which causes soreness and fatigue.
Kratom Alkaloids
Kratom primarily gets its beneficial properties from two main alkaloids but there are over forty that contribute to its wide spectrum of effects from strain to strain. Different parts of the plant can also contain particular alkaloids in varying concentrations. For example, the stems might have more stimulating alkaloids than the leaves. White Vein Kratom typically contains the “bones” or the stems and veins of the leaf; thus those strains tend to be more stimulating than the straight Green and Red Vein Kratom which usually gets those removed.
Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are the two main alkaloids and overall determine a product’s per-gram potency. Kratom grown in different areas even within the same region might have different alkaloid profiles which is the main reason why strains have different attributes. Also keep in mind that some strains are blends of Kratom from different areas, leading to even more nuance in the phytochemical composition of each blend. Another factor in determining the alkaloid profile is how the Kratom is dried. Some strains like Red Vein are often fermented while usually being more heavily sun-dried but this can vary from strain to strain as well.
Types of Kratom
The huge variety of different strains and blends may be confusing to those who are new to Kratom so we will discuss them individually. Primarily there is Green Vein, White Vein, and Red Vein. The rest of the colors are essentially just various blends of the three main types of Kratom.
Green Vein Kratom is probably the most popular type of Kratom in the world and is well-known for its balanced and energetic properties. This Kratom starts with farmers harvesting it in the early morning and then removing its veins and stems to leave pure kratom leaf. It is then typically first dried indoors for 30-40 hours and then moved outdoors in the morning sun to finish drying for an hour or two. Green Vein Kratom powder is probably the closest to Kratom’s natural state in terms of effects – similar to chewing it right off the tree as the Indonesians do to help speed through their workday. Shop Green Vein Kratom.
White Vein Kratom is similar to Green Vein but it is typically more energizing and overall better for mornings. This type of Kratom pairs nicely with coffee as well if you’re looking for an extra energetic boost. White Kratom is typically dried indoors in a controlled environment for the entire time. Additionally, this Kratom has stems or “bones” added to it which some believe contain additional alkaloids than just the straight-up leaf. The slightly different drying processes and the added bones are responsible for the slightly different color and effects from Green Vein Kratom. Shop White Vein Kratom.
Red Vein Kratom is quite different from the two types above. The primary differences are that its veins are red on the tree and that once picked this type of Kratom dries longer in the sun, and overall. It also often undergoes fermentation, a process that turns the Kratom a rich reddish-brown color but can vary depending on how long it’s fermented. Typically, Red Vein Kratom is first put in special fermentation bags out in the sun for 1-3 days. After that, it is moved indoors into a controlled environment for 1-2 more days to finish drying. It’s thought that the more extensive drying and fermentation process is the more it oxidizes the Mitragynine into 7-Hydroxymitragynine, giving Red Vein Kratom special properties and alkaloid profiles better suited for nighttime and evening. We carry some unfermented Red Vein strains such as OG Red and Red Horn; the rest are either 100% fermented or a mixture of both fermented and unfermented. Shop Red Vein Kratom.
Unfortunately, there are no “Gold” or “Yellow” Kratom trees in the wild. They are both just special blends with different ratios of at least Green and Red Kratom. Gold Kratom is primarily a Green dominant blend but can also contain some White Kratom. This blending creates a more balanced overall alkaloid profile and broad-spectrum effects which makes for a versatile type of Kratom that can be used anytime. Yellow on the other hand is primarily a more Red-dominant blend buffered with Green, so it’s better suited for the evening and nighttime, but still good for all-around use. Shop Gold or Yellow Kratom
Kratom Blends
Our Kratom Blend category contains Blends of all types of Kratom but unlike Gold and Yellow, there are no set rules and rations. We’ve crafted our recipes for balanced and versatility with an eye for specific properties highlighted by the major strain in each blend. We aim to showcase Kratom’s colorful, dynamic, and varied phytochemical composition with our blends. This category contains Kratom that is overall more balanced and is good at just about any time of the day; great for those who enjoy a range of effects from their Kratom. Shop Kratom Blends