strains

Strain Comparison: Why Are There Different Kratom Colors?

June 3, 2021 by Jacob

Most plants develop into many varieties out of a single species. Just as there are different types of lilies that might grow in your garden, different Kratom types grow in the world. Variation in how the plants grow, where they grow, and how they are harvested leads to various Kratom strains appearing on the market.

One of the broadest ways to define these Kratom variations is by color: why are there different Kratom colors? Kratom enthusiasts often find they prefer certain colors of Kratom, but they aren’t always aware of why the colors exist at all.

Today, learn more about Kratom color variation, where it comes from, and how the powders differ because of this variation.

Kratom: What Is The Plant?

To get a better idea of how strains make a difference when it comes to Kratom, it’s best to start with some base knowledge of the plant itself.

Kratom is a type of evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian regions, including Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea. The hot, humid climates in these locations pair with highly fertile soil to make a perfect growing environment for Kratom.

The botanical product comes from the leaves of the Kratom trees. Kratom leaves are harvested, dried, and processed to make Kratom powder and other Kratom-based products. Kratom may interact but not bind with important receptors in the body, potentially leading to beneficial effects.

What Are Alkaloids?

Before getting into more specifics of different Kratom color strains, it’s essential to understand a bit more about alkaloids.

Alkaloids are found in many plants, not just in Kratom leaves. Caffeine is an alkaloid found in coffee beans and some tea leaves, for example. Alkaloids each react with the body differently, and each of these reactions can cause different physiological or psychological effects.

Kratom is known to contain more than 40 different alkaloids, and these alkaloids appear in different concentrations. The concentration varies for many reasons:

• Growing conditions
• Growing season
• Time of harvesting
• How they are harvested
• How the leaves are dried
• Soil composition
• Weather patterns

Individual alkaloids found in Kratom are being studied to learn more about their specific effects when consumed. Two compounds, however, are currently attributed for most of the effects seen with Kratom use: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

As the two most common alkaloids, the composition percentage of these two chemical compounds is written Kratom labeling for consumer knowledge.

Different Colors, Different Strains

As mentioned above, the exact chemical composition of Kratom varies depending on a wide variety of factors. The changes in those factors create the range of Kratom strains that we see on the market today.

Just as tea leaves are harvested at different times or ways to establish variety, the same can be done when Kratom leaves are harvested.

The simplest way to categorize Kratom strains is by their color. Kratom is found in red, green, yellow, and white varieties. Much of the distinction between these color strains lies in the number of alkaloids in each of them. Still, there are some other important distinctions to point out. Let’s find out more about the color strains and where they come from.

Red Vein Kratom

When Kratom leaves are harvested at full maturity, these leaves are known as red vein Kratom.

At this point in the growth cycle, Kratom leaves begin to put less energy into overall tree growth, and more of that energy stays in the leaves. This causes changes in the chemistry of the leaves and affects the balance of alkaloids in them.

Red vein Kratom has a mellow profile that is exceptionally high in the alkaloid Mitragynine. These leaves’ earthy tone sometimes looks brown in appearance; most see its color as a dark, muddy green.

Yellow Vein Kratom

Yellow vein Kratom is dried through a small-batch process that was initially popular in Vietnam and Thailand. The leaves selected for this process are typically mature, green leaves rich in alkaloids.

Here’s how the leaves are then processed:

1.) Green leaves are spread out evenly on drying racks.
2.) For several days, the leaves are left in direct sunlight.
3.) The sunlight breaks down the chlorophyll in the leaves, which causes the leaves to begin to yellow.
4.) The process is stopped after the leaves dry. Timing variation means there is a good variety in the number of potential yellow strains.

As you can see, harvesting and processing yellow vein Kratom is particularly time-intensive.

Green Vein Kratom

Green veins have one of the most balanced alkaloid profiles of all strain colors of Kratom.

To make green vein Kratom, leaves are typically harvested after budding is completed, before the leaves have completely matured. This created the vibrant color seen in the final processed form of green vein Kratom. Most green vein varieties contain a wide array of alkaloids but are very balanced in each alkaloid’s amounts because of the leaves’ age.

White Vein Kratom

White Vein Kratom is harvested earlier in the growing process than any other color of Kratom. Leaves that are still growing are harvested from Kratom trees and then allowed to dry. This process causes the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine to be present in higher concentrations than in any other color strain.

While it is called white vein Kratom, the color of this Kratom powder is typically a light tan.

Find Reliable Strains At LCK

Left Coast Kratom offers various color strains for our customers, and each is a unique blend with different concentrations of alkaloids! Whether you’re looking for a completely balanced profile or something high in a specific alkaloid, we can offer something that fits your needs.

Our company prioritizes the safety and reliability of our products. As a GMP-compliant company, we do our part to have our products tested for safety with a third-party agency. If you have any questions about colors or the strains in our catalog, please contact us!

Kratom’s Malaysian History: What’s Worth Knowing

October 9, 2019 by LCK

One of the coolest parts of our job here at Left Coast Kratom is to get the opportunity to learn more about kratom, where it comes from, and where it’s going. We spend a lot of time talking about the future of kratom. Will it become fully legalized? Will it be easier to obtain? How will its usage change over time?

What we often gloss over, however, is the past. Where did kratom come from, how was it used, and what can this teach us about it today? Will the future of kratom look anything like the past?

One of the most interesting areas of the world to look at when taking time to understand Kratom’s past is Malaysia. Much of the world’s kratom supply comes from Malaysia, and this has been true for more than one hundred years. Why and how did this happen?

We’ve asked a lot of unanswered questions in this introduction, but don’t worry. We’re here to answer them today! By the end of this article, you’ll know more about kratom’s history than your average user. Let’s dive into a brief history of kratom in Malaysia.

Growth: Why Malaysia Grows Kratom Prolifically

One of the things that I found myself most curious about when learning about kratom was that it grows so well in tropical areas. What was it about these areas that made it flourish, and how did Malaysia manage to have some of the best growth of all? After all, the lands that make up Malaysia have seen fertile kratom tree growth for hundreds of years.

The climate in Malaysia happens to be perfect for kratom growth. The climate is very humid, and there is a long rainy season. This means that the soil is at least somewhat wet for most of the year, and that is what kratom loves. Plus, all the soil is incredibly fertile.

These conditions are perfect for the tropical tree that can grow up to fifty, sixty, or even seventy feet tall in the right conditions. Those large trees furnish a lot of leaves, and that is how Kratom exportation is so prolific in kratom.

Legality: Is Using and Selling Kratom Okay In Malaysia?

Now that we know why kratom trees grow well in Malaysia, let’s talk about its legal status. Can kratom be bought in Malaysia? Can it be used? What do the rules say? Before we can talk about the present, we need to talk about the past.

Before 1952

Up until 1952, kratom usage, production, and sale were largely unrestricted by the government in Malaysia. While there were occasional rules and bans, the substance could be processed and used as needed.

People were using kratom, but not very regularly. Kratom was used most frequently in the northern areas that border Thailand. In these regions, people tend to work long, hard days. Using kratom provided relief and relaxation for them.

Additionally, kratom was used for ritual cultural practices. Kratom was thought to be a powerful plant-based healing tool. Brewed as a tea, it was used to restore strength to tired minds and bodies during ceremonial practices and in everyday life.

People also used kratom instead of opiates. Opiate use began booming in the 1800s, and opioid addiction skyrocketed as it became more accessible to the general public. Malaysians soon found that taking kratom tea or leaves would often prevent people from ingesting opiates.

Year: 1952

The Poisons Act of 1952 changed the way that kratom was legally viewed in Malaysia. This law forbids the use and domestic sale of kratom leaves and related substances. While there had been subtle bans in the past, this was the only complete and clear outlawing of the substance.

This law happened around the same time that many other countries in the region passed their own laws about kratom and similar substances.

Today

Today, it is illegal to take kratom in Malaysia. It is also illegal to process the leaves into other forms of the substance.

The exportation of kratom leaves, however, remains legal. As long as a farmer has the appropriate permit, they are permitted to harvest and export the leaves to other countries. This exportation has become a big money-maker in the Northern parts of Malaysia.

While it is illegal to use kratom in Malaysia, these laws are not heavily enforced. Clear information about how many people are using kratom and why they take it is hard to come by, but most seem to believe that kratom is most heavily used in rural areas where traditional rituals and ways of life are still very strong.

Looking Forward

It’s difficult to be sure of what will happen in the future of kratom legality in Malaysia. Exportation, it seems, will remain legal for many years to come as the international popularity of the substance continues to grow. Domestic usage and sale legality, however, seems more unlikely for the immediate future.

The biggest problem with knowing what will happen with kratom in Malaysia in the future is the lack of research about its uses and effects. Until scientific research can prove the safety of kratom, anecdotal evidence and horror stories continue to plague the industry.

Are My “Malay” Strains From Malaysia?

Now that you know more about the history of kratom in Malaysia, you might be wondering if the last green Malay strain that you tried came from the forests in Malaysia. While it is quite possible that the leaves were imported from Malaysia, the name alone does not guarantee that.

The names of different strains of kratom are based on the variety, chemical makeup, and processing method more than they are based on where the kratom leaves originated from. While the strain names originally denoted origin, they are now used more as an identifying tactic than anything else.

Regardless of whether or not the leaves that you’ve used have come from Malaysia, the history of kratom in Malaysia has still had a huge effect on the product that you love and use today!

Kratom’s History in Thailand: What All Kratom Lovers Should Know

July 17, 2019 by LCK

Finding factual information about Kratom online can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. You want to learn more, but you just don’t know what is true and what is not!

Unfortunately, the constantly changing laws surrounding Kratom in both exporting and importing countries can make it hard to keep up with exactly what is going on. In Thailand, for example, the laws have changed several times in just the last few years.

Still, learning the history of Kratom in Thailand can help you begin to picture more about Kratom’s path through history, how it is today, and where it might go in the future.

How Kratom Grows So Well In Thailand

Kratom is native to Thailand, and that is because the growing conditions that are present in Thailand are just right for this tree! The conditions are nearly perfect as they are hot, moist, and there is a lot of rich soil in the region. All of these factors help Kratom to grow more easily.

If you didn’t know, Kratom is a tree! It’s a deciduous and tropical tree that has grown wild in Thailand for hundreds, if not thousands, of year. Kratom has been used in many forms for a long time in Thailand, but it has only been grown as an export crop since the early 1900s.

The best conditions for growing Kratom include:

• Hot weather
• Very wet soil
• Very high humidity
• Fertile soil

Thailand fits the bill for all of these things, and that is why the plant has grown wild there for so long.

A History of Kratom Growing & Using In Thailand

It is a common misconception that Kratom is used legally, widely, and publicly in Thailand. While it’s true that there is Kratom use and, historically, Kratom has been used in a number of specific ways, the truth of its legal status in Thailand is a bit more complicated.

Pre-1943

Kratom was more widely used in Thailand prior to 1943, especially throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. People in Thailand used Kratom for various purposes including during shifts on the job and when they were winding down after the workday.

While people were not abusing Kratom and it was largely used for positive means, changes would soon occur to the legality of Kratom in Thailand.

1943 & On

The Thai government created and passed Kratom Act 2486 in 1943. Under this law, Kratom trees were no longer allowed to be planted. This meant that while Kratom was still growing in the wild, anyone who planted a Kratom tree intentionally would be prosecuted.

By 1979, Kratom was classified as a Category 5 narcotic. While this is the lowest level of ranking in Thailand, it still made the list. Because it is a Cat 5 narcotic, Kratom possession and usage could land you with an arrest, but the police didn’t typically pursue these charges. For that reason, there weren’t a lot of people being arrested because of Kratom use in Thailand.

Is Kratom Currently Legal In Thailand?

The short answer is no; Kratom is not fully legal in Thailand at this time. But there are some specific cases where Kratom can be grown and used – similar to the way that specific laws allow Kratom use in the US.

That doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some attempts to change the rules about Kratom, however. Just as people in America are fighting for positive Kratom legislation, there are those in Thailand who are pushing for very similar things.

After failed attempts in 2004, 2009 and 2013, Kratom was made somewhat legal in 2018. The law passed in that year set up rules for the following:

• Kratom import
• Kratom export
• Kratom production
• Kratom use
• Possession of medicinal Kratom

For all intents and purposes, Kratom is only legal in Thailand when it is being used for medicinal purposes.

The Origin of Thai Strain Kratom

Most of the Thai strains of Kratom that you see online are not actually grown in Thailand due to the constantly changing laws and precarious legal situation in Thailand. While some Thai Kratom is now being exported as a medicinal product, there isn’t a huge scale of this happening yet.

So, where do Thai strains actually come from?

Strain names are more about the qualities of a strain than where it is from. While the names originally lined up with regions of specific Kratom types, the names have become more linked to how it the strain’s lineage than where it is grown.

At this time, most Thai strains of Kratom come from neighboring countries with very similar growing conditions.

Strain names are nothing more than names. While it would be nice if every name perfectly identified where a strain comes from, that is simply not the case in the industry today due to legal issues about Kratom around the world.

Where Kratom Comes From

At this point, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering where your Kratom comes from. Simply put, most Kratom is currently exported from tropical islands including Borneo and Sumatra.

The places that most Kratom vendors import from are, unsurprisingly, those that can legally export Kratom without having to jump through too many hoops! The laws are constantly changing around the world, however, so you can expect exporting countries to change over time, too.

Kratom in Thailand: A Unique History

Kratom is only legal to use for medicinal regions in Thailand, and that has surely come as a shock to some of our customers! Many imagine that every single person in Thailand enjoys Kratom, and that is simply not the case. Just as everyone here doesn’t use CBD despite its relative legality, the same goes for Thai people and Kratom.

Thai strains are still being grown around the world so that you can experience the quality of what is typically found in this region. As opinions about Kratom change, it is likely that Thailand may further de-criminalize and regulate the export of Kratom for sale around the world!

3 Tips For Kratom Veterans: How To Continue Using Kratom

June 12, 2019 by LCK

So you’ve discovered the world of Kratom. You’ve tried different strains, you’ve figured out how you like to take your Kratom, and it has become a pretty regular part of your life because of the benefits you feel the botanicals offers.

Over time, however, you start to notice that the Kratom just doesn’t seem to have the same positive qualities as it did when you first started consuming. Why are you no longer noticing the same benefits? Why does it seem like you need to consume more Kratom?

Even as an experienced Kratom user, you may find yourself in a dilemma about how to continue using Kratom in a positive way. Today, we’re here to discuss three tips that can help you to continue using Kratom in effective and targeted ways.

Tip #1: Spread Out Your Servings

If you are starting to notice that your Kratom serving doesn’t seem to have the same effects that it once did, you might be tempted to start double serving or taking more than one serving a day. Before you do that, however, it’s important that you take some time to analyze what is happening.

Think about the following questions:

• How often do you take Kratom?
• How much Kratom do you take?
• Do you take more than one serving a day?
• Have you ever taken a break from Kratom?

Kratom can cause a tolerance if you consume the same amount every single day, and that tolerance built up by your body will cause you to feel less of the original effect of Kratom. In most cases, the only way to get rid of it is to take a break from Kratom. Then, spread out your servings.

When you find yourself in this situation, this is what we recommend doing:

• Reduce your intake to a quarter of your normal daily serving. Or, stop taking it altogether for at least one month, preferably two. The longer you can wait to take any Kratom at all, the faster your existing tolerance will break down.
• When you start taking Kratom again, start with a very small serving, and pay close attention to the effects. If it seems like your tolerance is still there, try to extend you abstinence a bit longer to restore your baseline tolerance level.
• Once you return to consuming Kratom for good, make sure that you are only taking one serving per day. Drinking one larger serving per day is better than taking multiple smaller servings when it comes to tolerance.
• Another thing to change when you return to Kratom is how frequently you consume. Ideally, you would never overlap servings. This means that all of the alkaloids in the Kratom would be out of your system before you have more.

Why does spacing out servings work to prevent tolerance form going up?

When you take Kratom very frequently, alkaloid levels will start to stabilize because they will always be present in your blood and nervous system. When this happens, the body will expect that level to exist at all times. When you take Kratom, it won’t cross this stable point, and you will feel little to no benefits.

Spacing out small portions can help you to avoid this type of stabilization. When consuming in this way, every serving that you consume will be raising your alkaloid levels past baseline, and that will allow your body to truly feel the effects of Kratom.

The Main Takeaway: Space your servings out more and reduce the size of each serving if possible to prevent tolerance from taking away the positive benefits of using Kratom regularly.

Tip #2: Don’t Use One Variety Forever

When you’re just starting to use Kratom, most people will tell you that you should try out a lot of different strains to find out what you like the most.

What many people forget to say is that you should continue to change up the type of Kratom you are using to prevent tolerance to any one particular strain from building up!

Ideally, you should rotate between different strains and mixes of strains as much as possible. When you switch it up, the amount of and specific type of alkaloids in your body will not be consistent, so it will be harder for your body to build up any type of tolerance to the compounds in Kratom.

Generally, we recommend that you have at least four different strains on hand to complete your strain rotation. By doing this, you’ll be able to avoid Kratom “burn out.” Burn out is when a particular strain no longer has any effects on you because of a high tolerance to that particular Kratom’s makeup.

The Takeaway: Be sure to have at least four different strains of Kratom on hand, and rotate between them as much as possible to reduce your chance of building up a tolerance to their particular alkaloid profiles.

Tip #3: Adjust To Balance

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are some products that can help you to slow down any tolerance building up because of your Kratom usage.

In particular, many consumers say that taking magnesium has helped to stop their tolerance from getting too high.

Magnesium is a natural NMDA substance. NMDA antagonists, as they are known, interfere at some of the binding sites for Kratom. These particular binding sites may be partially responsible for Kratom tolerance, so taking magnesium can prevent some of these effects.

That being said, it’s important to remember that even too much of a good thing is too much. Taking an excessive amount of magnesium can cause you just as many problems as taking too much Kratom can, so be sure that you only take it in moderation.

Keep The Kratom Coming

Once you’ve incorporated Kratom into your life, you’ll likely want to keep a healthy positive relationship going with this botanical.

It is important, then, to remember that you can build up a tolerance to Kratom if you don’t consider the right ways to spread out your servings and rotate what type of Kratom you are using. By spacing out servings, changing varieties, and adding a small amount of magnesium to your diet, you can prevent yourself from being seriously affected by the tolerance!

Choosing The Perfect Strain of Kratom For You

April 12, 2019 by LCK

Whether you’re brand new to the world of Kratom powder or you have been using the same one over and over with relative success, you might be curious about the greater options that the Kratom market has to offer.

From green veined varieties from Bali to Thai specialty extracts, there are a lot of different Kratom products on the market. Finding the one that you want to try next can be an overwhelming task, and many people keep using the same strain to avoid the difficulty altogether.

But we don’t think that’s enough.

Rather than settling for a Kratom powder that you like just okay, we believe you have the power to find a powder that fits perfectly with your preferences, tastes, and needs. Figuring out how to do that, however, can be more difficult.

Today, we’ll talk about how to find and choose the right strain of Kratom for you. Let’s get started!

Step #1: Choose The Right Supplier

The first thing that you need to do when you’re choosing new Kratom options to try is to select a high-quality supplier that is going to be honest about their products, where they come from, and how they are tested.
Of course, we have to throw in a reminder here that we consider our own company to be one of the most reliable places to buy Kratom. Our products are lab tested, and we have the utmost trust in the products that we offer for sale.

But we don’t want you to blindly trust any supplier, and the same rule goes for us as well!

Check every store’s website for information about find out how they handle the following:

• Do they lab test their products?
• Do they use clear and accurate labeling?
• Do they have a way of verifying the sourcing of their products?
• Are they available to answer your questions?

By researching these four things before you settle on which store you would like to buy from, you’ll be making a more informed decision about your Kratom vendor.

Step #2: Learn The Basics of Strains

Now that you have found a few companies that you like purchasing from, you will want to learn a bit about the basics of strains and how they differ from each other. By gaining basic knowledge about the various strains, you’ll be able to narrow down to which strains might be right for you more quickly.

Red Vein Kratom Strains

Many Kratom users find that red vein varieties are their favorites. Red strains are typically known to be the best selling. So what is it that makes these strains so popular?

These types of Kratom are mostly grown in Southeast Asia, and the reason for their popularity is likely their specific alkaloid content, i.e. the ratio of mitragynine to 7-hydroxymitragynine and other components. There a lot of different red strains, but some of the most popular types that we carry are Red Vein Kali, Red Vein Sumatra, and Red Maeng Da.

Green Vein Kratom Strains

Green vein Kratom powders are known to be more balanced, whereas reds and whites are both known for packing two different kinds of punches. Green Kratom strains are also known to be slightly less bitter than red strains, and that can make them more enjoyable to drink for some users.

Green strains tend to be a great option for those who are new to Kratom. OG Bali, our bestselling strain, is a green vein. Other popular green strain options that we sell are Super Green Malaysian and OG Bali Leaf.

White Vein Kratom Strains

Finally, let’s take a look at white vein Kratom strains. These tend to be at the opposite spectrum from red vein, harvested when the leaves are young and have not had much time to mature. White leaves are often used in Kratom powder mixes with great success. Some consumers prefer white strains used in combination with a red or green strain for the best results.

Give them a try on their own or mixed with other strains. You might start with our popular white strains, like White Borneo and White Sumatra.

Step #3: Give It a Try!

Once you’ve learned a little bit about why there are so many different names and what common terms like red vein and white vein mean, it’s time to jump in! The simple fact of the matter is that you will never find the perfect strain until you give a few different strains a try.

Try to select a sampler pack or get a few small bags of at least five different varieties. Use each for a few days and write down what you liked and what you did not like about each strain. Once you’re done with this, move on to step 4.

Step #4: Tweaking & Searching

Now that you have found out what you like and what you don’t like about five different strains of Kratom, you can find your perfect Kratom.

First, write down all of the traits like you liked about various types of Kratom. Be as specific as possible! Then, write own the things that you absolutely want to avoid.

Once you have this list of traits as well as the accompanying strains that go with them, you’ll be able to see which of the strains is closest to what you want.

Let’s say that you really enjoyed a Red Borneo strain, and you also liked a Green Thai sample. You might try mixing them together, or you could go for a different colored strains from the same region – a White Borneo or a Red Thai. By making small adjustments like this, you’ll be able to find the ultimate strain for you!