What is Kratom?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Kratom is a botanical leaf from an evergreen tree 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 that has the ideal climate and weather 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 is why most Kratom in the world is grown in Indonesia and why it will most likely continue to be.
Overall Kratom has had documented use for hundreds of years and most likely has been used for thousands of years. Kratom has primarily been utilized as a work aid in Indonesia by chewing the leaves. It is great for more physical labor that causes soreness and fatigue.
Kratom Alkaloids
Kratom primarily gets its positive properties from the two main alkaloids but there is also a range of different ones that can impact it. Different parts of the Kratom leaf could also have more certain types of alkaloids than others such as the stems might have more stimulating alkaloids than the leaf part. For example, White Vein Kratom typically gets the addition of “bones” or the stem part of the leaf and those strains are typically more stimulating than the straight Green Vein Kratom that usually gets those removed.
Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are the two main important ones and overall determine its per gram potency. Kratom grown in different areas even in the same region could have different alkaloid profiles which is the main reason why they may have different attributes. You also need to keep in mind some strains are blends of Kratom from two different areas. The last factor in determining the alkaloid profile is how the Kratom is dried. Some strains like Red Vein are fermented while being more heavily sun-dried but this can vary from strain to strain as well.
Types of Kratom
There is a variety of different Kratom types and it may be confusing to those who are new to Kratom so we will discuss them individually. Primarily there is a Green Vein, White Vein, and Red Vein. The rest of the colors are essentially just blends of the three main types of Kratom.
Green Vein Kratom
Green Vein Kratom is probably the most popular type of Kratom and the world and is well known for its balanced to energetic properties. This Kratom is typically first dried indoors for 30-40 hours and then moved outdoors in the morning sun to finish drying for an hour or two. Additionally, the stems get removed so it’s just pure Kratom leaf. Green Vein Kratom is probably the closest to Kratom’s natural state in terms of properties you can find.
White 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 very well with coffee as well if you are looking for an extra energetic boost. White Kratom is typically dried indoors in a controlled environment for the entire time. Additionally, this Kratom has the stems or “bones” added to it which some believe contain additional types of alkaloids than just the straight-up leaf. The slightly different drying processes and the added bones are responsible for the slightly different color and effect than the Green Vein variety of Kratom.
Red Vein Kratom
Red Vein Kratom is quite different than the two types above. The primary difference is the fact this type of Kratom gets fermented typically and the veins on the leaves are red. We have some unfermented Red Vein strains such as OG Red and Red Horn and the rest are either straight fermented or a mixture of both. The fermentation process typically turns the Kratom a dark reddish brown color but varies based on how much 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 then moved indoors in a controlled environment for 1-2 more days to finish drying. This is what makes Red Vein Kratom have different properties and alkaloid profiles. It is believed that the fermentation process for Kratom converts the Mitragynine into 7-Hydroxymitragynine which is why this variety is typically better suited for the nighttime or the evening.
Gold & Yellow Kratom
Unfortunately, there are no “Gold” or “Yellow” Kratom trees 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 gives it a more balanced overall alkaloid profile and makes it a pretty versatile type of Kratom that can be used anytime. Yellow on the other hand is primarily a more Red dominant blend with Green so it is better suited for the evening or the nighttime.
Kratom Blends
Our Kratom Blend category is obviously just Blends of any type of Kratom but unlike Gold and Yellow, they don’t have to follow any general rules to achieve certain types of properties. This type of Kratom is typically more balanced and is good at just about any time of the day. Blends are great for those who enjoy a variety of different properties with their Kratom.
