Kratom has been gaining popularity for the past few years in the modern world. Before this time, Mitragyna speciosa or Kratom has been used by locals belonging to Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. These locals consider Kratom to be one of nature’s greatest treasures – and believe us when we tell you that they are not kidding.
Kratom has taken the modern botanical industry by a storm because of the fantastic benefits that users have associated with the plant. Many new users who are jumping on the Kratom bandwagon often do not have the right information and are confused. Hence, they make the wrong decisions and later regret it, they think Kratom is poppycock. One of the most pertinent questions regarding Kratom that new users have is deciding which Kratom Leaf color would best suit them.
Several factors need to be considered before you decide upon a Kratom strain or leaf color:
- The significance of Kratom leaf:
There are three major types of Kratom, i.e., the red, white and green Kratom. Every experienced Kratom user has their preference when it comes to the vein color. In comparison, for new users, the task of choosing a leaf color can be pretty daunting.
However, if you have a general idea regarding all the three-leaf colors – you can quickly figure out which leaf color will meet your needs the best. A general overview of the three-leaf colors of Kratom are as follows:
- The Red Vein:
This vein of Kratom is a favorite of users who take Kratom for its sedation and relaxation and physical and mental discomforts (we can’t make medical claims here). The red vein of Kratom is famous for invoking a sense of well-being which some refer to as “euphoria”. For this reason, many people going through depression and insomnia have reported feeling much better after using the red vein of Kratom.
Another salient feature of Red-veined Kratom is its analgesic or pain relief properties. Many users who were previously addicted to modern painkillers and opioids have called red-veined Mitragyna their saving grace. The leaf is packed with alkaloids, which many people claim, give it a sedation/relaxation.
- The White Vein:
The white vein is generally not as popular amongst beginners as the red and green veins. However, the white vein is a refined taste that is majorly appreciated by experienced users of Kratom. The white vein is the most potent and, therefore, is generally neglected by new users.
However, if used correctly – the white vein becomes a life changer. It offers a potent hit and betters your mood. Users have also reported feeling a sharp increase in their productivity and focus upon using this vein of Kratom.
- The Green Vein:
The green vein of Kratom is hailed as the most beginner-friendly and balanced vein amongst the three veins. It has both the properties of the red and white veins in a perfect balance and synergy. However, the green vein still has more effects that resemble the white vein that those of the red vein. The green is the go between variety, mixing both aspects together!
- The various strains of Kratom:
Kratom is not only classified based on leaf colors. These veins are further sub-grouped into various strains depending upon the alkaloid concentration and the place where they are cultivated.
It is a widespread mistake amongst beginners to think that all strains are the same and only focus on leaf colors. However, this approach is wrong, and you need to read up on the strains you are contemplating buying.
Some famous strains amongst beginners include Cambodian Red Maeng Da, Green Malay and Red Bali. All of these strains have a balance of alkaloids that give a potent, yet not overpowering hit. There are many other strains in the Kratom world, each with its unique blend of alkaloids and associated benefits.
To avoid developing resistance against a strain, it is essential to shift between your top few strains every few weeks. This alternating method will help your body not to get acclimated to a strain.
- The journey from leaf to powder:
The best Kratom is grown in the lush tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Some farmers have been growing Kratom for ages there. The process by which lush leaves of Mitragyna are converted to the powder which is sold to the customers is nothing short of magic. It requires perfect precision, accuracy and practice.
Contrary to popular belief, the three veins of Kratom can be grown simultaneously. Often, the farmers tend to provide different leaves of the same tree different growing conditions and grow more than one vein in the same way.
The Red vein of Kratom is grown and dried using an excessive amount of sunlight. If the cultivators are using artificial lighting, UV lamps are used for this purpose. Kratom’s green vein is allowed more time to grow and mature than the other two veins before the leaves are picked out and dried. This maturing gives a darkish green and brown hue to the leaves. The smell of the red vein is also generally more pungent as compared to the other two veins. The white vein of Kratom is cultivated by picking the leaves at a young stage. This allows the alkaloids to give more rejuvenating and energizing effects than the relaxing effects we get from the red vein.
Furthermore, the white vein is then dried indoors without sunlight. After the drying process of all three veins has been achieved, the remaining process is somewhat similar. The dried leaves are sifted and cleaned before they are ground into a fine powder of granular consistency.
This powder is then tested from an independent lab to ensure that no contaminants are present in your powder. After that, the powder is either encapsulated or packed into airtight jars or packets.