Kratom, a native tree from South East Asia, has gained popularity in the US and other parts of the world for various reasons. Users of the plant swear by its effectiveness to ease pain, anxiety and other conditions. However, due to the vast number of kratom products available in the market, it may seem overwhelming for many individuals to choose the right kratom strain. If this is your case, keep reading below to discover the top 10 kratom strains and its main uses and effects to find out which one will work best for you.
Kratom Main Uses
Kratom is used for many purposes, but not all of them at the same time. Depending on the strain and variety, kratom can have very different effects on the person. Typically, kratom is used for one (or more) of the following reasons:
- Relieve anxiety and achieve relaxation
- Get extra energy throughout the day
- Relieve insomnia
- Ease pain
- Get off opioids or to relieve the symptoms of opiate withdrawal
- Relieve social anxiety
But not all kratom varieties are equally effective to use for all of the above purposes. For this reason, it is important to learn the properties of each variety.
Differences Between Kratom Strains
Although there is only one kratom (or Mitragyna Speciosa) species, there are different so-called strains or varieties with different properties. How can this be possible? There are a number of factors that may have an impact on how the plant develops and on the final product, including the environment and soil where the plant grows and the harvesting and drying conditions. However, this is still unclear.
So, what are kratom strains? Typically, different kratom varieties are called strains. This term may refer to the region where the kratom comes from, or to the color or the veins on the back of its leaves. The kratom colors have a big influence on the properties of the final product, namely:
- Red vein kratom: relaxing and calming properties.
- White vein kratom: euphoric and energizing effects.
- Green vein kratom: a middle ground between the other two.
But not only the color affects the properties of the plant, but also the origin and variety of the plant. In the following paragraphs, we’ll learn the top 10 kratom strains and their main properties.
The Top 10 Kratom Strains
The number of kratom varieties available in the market may seem overwhelming for new users. So, if this is your case and you want to know what the best-sellers are according to many vendors and users, see below the top 10 kratom strains.
Plain Leaf Maeng Da Kratom
Maeng Da is probably the most popular kratom strain. Meaning literally “pimp grade”, Maeng Da was traditionally used by manual laborers in Thailand due to its affordability and its potency. Although you can also find red and white Maeng Da in the market, many vendors will also sell plain leaf Maeng Da. Thanks to its high alkaloid concentration, this strain is very effective when dealing with the following conditions:
- Relieve pain and discomfort
- Provide energy and stimulation
- Natural mood enhancer
Additionally, Maeng Da kratom can be used to relieve anxiety, however other strains are more suited for this purpose.
Bali Kratom
As you may have guessed by its name, this strain is originally from the region of Bali. As of today, Bali kratom is one of the most popular kratom varieties thanks to its affordable price.
But what makes Bali kratom so special? As we said, Bali kratom is one of the most popular strains that you can find. This variety belongs in the red family, so it produces the typical effects of the red kratom types. Some of the main Bali kratom properties include:
- Analgesic and pain-relieving
- Antianxiety and relaxing
- Calming and sedating
- Mood elevating effects
Although Bali Kratom has many effects, it is not recommended if you are looking for an energizing strain.
White Vein Borneo Kratom
White Vein Borneo is one of the most popular kratom strains in the market. As its name suggests, this strain is originally from the island of Borneo. Like any other white kratom varieties, white vein Borneo holds energizing properties. But this type doesn’t provoke the uneasiness of other white varieties.
This strain is very effective to produce the following effects:
- Energy and stimulation
- Increased focus and motivation
- Improved cognitive function
Thanks to its properties, White Vein Borneo is the variety of choice for many users that take kratom in the morning to get extra stamina to go to work. In fact, some use this strain instead of the much-needed cup of morning coffee.
Green Malay Kratom
Originated in Malaysia, Green Malay kratom is the most popular amongst the green varieties. In fact, despite green vein kratom is not a very popular type, Green Malay remains one of the best selling kratom products. But why is this?
One of the peculiarities of Green Malay kratom is its long-lasting effects, that can go up to 8 hours. Additionally, Green Malay is one of the most affordable kratom strains. On the other hand, being on the green family allows it to have many different and well-rounded effects, including:
- Increased energy
- Improved focus and motivation
- Pain relief
- Mood elevation
Thanks to these properties, Green Malay is praised among individuals looking to relieve pain without the calming and sometimes drowsing effects of the red varieties.
Thai Red Kratom
Despite what the name suggests, the Thai kratom varieties don’t come from Thailand. This is due to the prohibition of commercialization and use of the plant in the island that has been in place for various decades. Although this ban was recently lifted, most of the Thai kratom that we find in our market is grown in Indonesia.
Thai Red kratom has all the properties of the red vein varieties and long-lasting effects, hence its popularity. Its main properties include:
- Analgesic and pain-relieving
- Calming and relaxing
- Sedating (it is a very useful strain when dealing with insomnia)
Additionally, contrary to most red varieties, Thai Red kratom has some mood-elevating properties.
White Vein Maeng Da Kratom
Although it belongs in the Maeng Da family, White Vein Maeng Da is not the same as plain Maeng Da. However, both share common properties and effects.
Like other white varieties, White Maeng Da Kratom has all the stimulating and energizing properties of its cousins. But this strain is probably one of the strongest white types. Typically, White Vein Maeng Da kratom produces the following effects:
- Increased energy and stimulation
- Reduces the symptoms of social phobia
- Increased focus and mood elevation
- It can produce euphoria at higher doses
If you plan to use white vein Maeng Da, remember that this strain is more potent than other white types, so, as we always recommend, it is advisable to start on a low dose.
Green Vein Borneo Kratom
Green Vein Borneo is another popular green kratom strain. Like its cousin, White Vein Borneo kratom, this is a variety that is native to the island of Borneo. But its effects are different than those of the white varieties.
As we said, green vein varieties are typically milder than the red and white types, but Green Vein Borneo has a set of properties that makes it a very popular and interesting strain. People typically use Green Borneo kratom for the following purposes:
- Get extra energy and stimulation
- Increase motivation and focus (it is praised among people facing exams)
- Relieve pain
Moreover, like its white vein cousin, Green Vein Borneo can be an excellent substitute for coffee in the mornings.
Green Thai Kratom
Another popular green strain is the Green Thai kratom variety. As we mentioned when we talked about Red Thai, this strain is not grown in Thailand, due to the old kratom ban. So, many times, the Green Thai kratom that you find in the market comes from Indonesia.
Green Thai kratom is short of a middle ground between the red and the white Thai varieties, and it has its own effects, including:
- Mood elevation
- Mental clarity
- Improved focus and motivation
- Energy and stimulation
Thanks to these effects, this variety is highly appreciated among individuals looking to ease social anxiety.
Horned White Kratom
As its name suggests, Horned White Kratom belongs to the horned kratom varieties. The difference between horned and regular kratom resides in the shape of its leaves. While regular kratom’s leaves are rounded, horned kratom’s leaves have jagged, pointed edges. But, despite its physical appearance, regular and horned kratom have similar properties.
Horned White kratom belongs in the white family, so it holds similar properties to the regular kratom types, including:
- Energizing and stimulating
- Mood elevating
- Nootropic
- Euphoric
Although horned kratom is not as widely available as regular kratom, it doesn’t affect the price. So, if you’ve never tried horned kratom before, and you like the white varieties, why not try it?
Indo Kratom
Last, but not least, Indo Kratom is a very popular choice among kratom users. Being one of the most abundant kratom types, it is also one of the most versatile. As you may have guessed, Indo Kratom comes from Indonesia, where is grown, harvested and processed.
Like most kratom strains, you can find Indo Kratom in three different colors, each with their own properties and effects:
- Red Indo Kratom: this variety has strong pain-relieving properties. On the other hand, depending on the dosage it can have relaxing or stimulating effects. So, at lower doses, Red Indo tends to be more stimulant, while more relaxing at higher doses. But mind that it can be sedative at higher doses, so be careful and measure your dosage well. Additionally, it has mood-enhancing effects.
- White Indo Kratom: improves mood and motivation, increases energy levels while combating symptoms of depression. At the same time, it has relaxing effects. For this reason, contrary to other white types, White Indo kratom is not a great stimulant. It also holds mild analgesic effects.
- Green Indo Kratom: Green Indo is mostly appreciated for its relaxing and mood-enhancing effects. At the same time, like the white variety, it has mild pain-relieving effects.
Additionally, you can find products such as UEI kratom (Ultra Enhanced Indo) which is very popular among individuals looking to go the extra mile. However, mind that this type of product is more potent than regular kratom, so you must be very careful with the dosage.
And, how about you? What’s your favorite kratom strain and why? Let us know in the comment section below!
