Kratom Guide

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Introduction to Kratom

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a tropical plant of the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. The kratom plant is a source of kratom, a herbal component known for its long-standing cultural use.

The kratom tree is known as Mitragyna speciosa (botanical name), belonging to the Rubiaceae family (coffee family).

The tree grows in the regions of Southeast Asia, a region characterized by high temperature, humidity, and heavy seasonal rainfall. Kratom originates from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, primarily growing in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Fertile soil and tropical geographical conditions are the reasons why Southeast Asia is considered a natural habitat for kratom. Kratom naturally grows in these regions and is cultivated on a large scale by local farmers.

When it comes to physical form, kratom leaves are ovate-acuminate in shape. The size of the leaves can be large, measuring up to 180 mm in length and 100 mm in width. The leaves’ surface is green and glossy, with prominent vein structures. At the same time, the colour of veins could be green, white, or red.

The colour of the vein indicates the leaves' age:

• White vein: The youngest leaves on the plant are white-veined with prominent pale or white colored veination.
• Green vein: The green-veined plants' leaves are of intermediate maturity and lie between white and red-veined varieties.
• Red veins: The fully mature leaves on a kratom plant have prominent red veination. The red vein color is evident from dark green leaves upon full maturity.

People have been using kratom for thousands of years. Back then, people used to chew kratom leaves, brew leaves, or even use them in food preparation.

However, Dutch botanist Pieter Willem Korthals brought kratom to the West in the 19th century. He was the first person to document the plant and name it “Stephegyne speciosa” in 1839.

After that, its popularity gradually increased, driven by the traditional usage by labourers and rising research interest.

This led to an in-depth study of kratom, with a focus on its natural plant alkaloids.

Kratom’s modern rise began in the early 2000s, driven by an increased interest in natural health practices.

A report states that the kratom market's worth is USD 2.56 billion in 2025, and this segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% by 2032, which shows a significant rise.

In modern times, kratom is globally popular, and it is available in a variety of different forms. This is due to the growing popularity of remedies and easy access to kratom products and information.

However, finding reliable kratom information is still difficult, especially for those who are new to it. Worry not, as Klarity Kratom’s User Guide 2026 is your go-to learning source.

From kratom strains to available product formats, our guide covers everything that you need to know before experiencing or buying kratom.

History and Evolution of Kratom

Kratom has a long-standing history of traditional use. The use of kratom in Southeast Asia is centuries old. Due to its perceived impact, kratom was part of their daily routine.

Cultural Roots

In many Asian communities, kratom holds cultural significance beyond its use. It is often associated with customs, community meetings, or informal ritual practices.

Community members would offer kratom to one another as a sign of respect or as a gift. It reflects how kratom has been an integral part of the cultural and social environment over many generations.

Global Awareness

In the 19th century, during the era of colonial botanical exploration, Western scientific awareness of kratom began. For the first time, formal documentation of the plant is credited to a Dutch botanist, Pieter Willem Korthals, who initially named it Stephegyne speciosa.

Later, British surgeon and naturalist George Darby Haviland reclassified the plant as Mitragyna speciosa. This classification was given due to the unique venation structure of its leaves. Furthermore, he classified the kratoms within the Rubiaceae family, alongside plants such as coffee.

In this way, by the 20th century, kratom largely remained limited to Southeast Asia.

However, ethnobotanical research gradually increased scientific interest in its alkaloid profile. These discoveries encouraged further research into kratom’s traditional uses.

But kratom's reputation and its legal status have become a primary reason for the delay and gap in kratom research.

Regulatory Journey

The early 2000s marked a turning point in kratom’s evolution. Kratom entered international herbal markets with an increase in plant-based solutions and natural alternatives. Consequently, global trade networks and online education contributed to its rapid spread beyond Asia.

Today, kratom is available worldwide in various forms and has a vast audience.

In the USA, Kratom isn’t officially approved yet. However, many scientists continue to explore it further every day.

Due to this continued research with a focus on its safety, kratom has the potential to gain worldwide recognition in the future.

Understanding Kratom Strains

Kratom is a diverse plant with many possible variations in nature. These variations, aka strains, are defined by leaf vein color, growing regions, and processing techniques. The kratom strains are classified on the following basis:

Kratom Strain Categories Based on Vein Color

The kratom vein color that indicates the age of plant leaves at the time of harvest is a major difference in strain classification. The time a leaf spends in nature changes the leaf vein color and determines its alkaloid profile. Here is the detailed kratom strains classification based on the vein color:

• Red Vein Kratom

Red vein kratom is the kratom harvested from the fully mature leaves of the kratom plant. The leaves have prominent red venation running across the leaves, which indicates that the leaves have reached full maturity.

Red-veined leaves spend the longest time in nature, which results in a mature alkaloid profile. Moreover, the red-veined leaves have a dense, earthy aroma that feels heavy and distinguishes them from other similar varieties.

Common red vein strains include Red Bali, Red Borneo, Red Maeng Da, Red Malay, Red Thai, Red Indo (Red Indonesian), Red Sumatra, Red Vietnam, Red Hulu, Red Jongkong, Red Kapuas, and Red Bentuangie, each known for its distinct origins and characteristics within the red vein category.

• Green Vein Kratom

The green-veined kratom strains are sought-after kratom products that are known for their balanced alkaloid profile. For harvesting green strains, leaves with prominent green venation are selected.

The leaf vein color suggests that the leaves are of intermediate maturity and have an alkaloid profile that lies between white and red-veined varieties. The green-veined kratom varieties have a fresh aroma with leafy notes.

Common green vein strains include Green Bali, Green Borneo, Green Maeng Da, Green Malay, Green Thai, Green Indo (Green Indonesian), Green Sumatra, Green Vietnam, Green Hulu, Green Jongkong, and Green Kapuas, each recognized for its unique regional origins and balanced characteristics within the green vein category.

• White Vein Kratom

The white vein kratom strains are harvested from the youngest leaves of the kratom plant. The white-veined leaves have a prominent pale or white venation. Due to being the youngest on the plant, these leaves have a relatively smaller size.

White-veined leaves have an immature alkaloid profile as they are harvested at the earliest. The aroma of the white-veined leaves is subtle and fresh with a hint of herbal notes.

The most common white-veined kratom strains include White Thai, White Bali, White Borneo, White Maeng Da, White Malay, White Indo (White Indonesian), White Sumatra, White Vietnam, White Java, White Hulu, White Jongkong, and White Kapuas, each known for its distinctive regional origins and energizing characteristics within the white vein category.

• Yellow/Gold Vein Kratom

Yellow or golden vein kratom strains don’t exist in nature. Yellow in the strain name doesn’t refer to the vein color but indicates the harvested strain's color that has a characteristic golden or yellow hue.

As no natural yellow vein kratom exists, these strains are a result of post-harvesting modification of the regular kratom varieties. The common modifications include drying for extended periods of time, fermentation, or blending that yields gold or yellow kratom products.

The common yellow and gold kratom varieties include Gold Bali, Gold Maeng Da, Gold Reserve, Super Yellow Vein Borneo, Yellow Bali, Yellow Borneo, Yellow Gold, Yellow Hulu, Yellow Maeng Da, Yellow Sumatra, Yellow Thai, and Yellow Vietnam, each offering a unique profile shaped by their specific processing methods and regional origins.

Kratom Strain Categories Based on Geographical Region

The kratom strain classification is also possible based on the cultivation region. The strains are influenced by the cultivation conditions in the regions where they grow. Differences in the soil condition, climate, and rainfall alter the plant characteristics. Here is the kratom strains classification based on their geographical location:

1. Borneo Kratom

   Borneo Kratom is a staple in traditional and modern kratom collections. The strain originates from the island of Borneo, a region known for its fertile soil and climate conditions that support kratom cultivation. Borneo Kratom has red, green, and white vein varieties available in nature.

2. Sumatra Kratom

   As the name suggests, Sumatra Kratom is a widely recognized kratom variety growing on the island. The strain is known for its unique alkaloid and botanical profile, which sets it apart from other similar kratom varieties.

3. Bali Kratom

   The Bali Kratom is a highly sought-after kratom strain that grows in the Borneo and Sumatra islands. The tropical climate and fertile soil result in a well-developed alkaloid profile. Multiple Bali strain variants are possible, including red, white, and green Bali.

4. Malay Kratom

   Malay Kratom is the kratom strain of Malaysian origin. The most common Malay kratom strain is Green Malay, with other possible variations.

5. Thai Kratom

   Thai Kratom is a kratom variety that was initially widely cultivated in Thailand, a region known for wild and man-grown kratom cultivations. The environmental conditions in the region impart Thai kratom its unique alkaloids. Further, variations are available on the basis of vein color differences.

6. Vietnam Kratom

   Vietnam kratom strain grows in the nutrient-dense soil of the Mekong Delta and surrounding regions in Vietnam. Vietnam kratom has multiple variants based on vein color differences at the time of strain harvest.
   
   
   
   

Kratom Strain Categories Based on Processing

Kratom strains can also be categorized based on post-harvesting modifications that alter the plant’s natural alkaloid composition, yielding different kratom varieties. Common post-harvesting modifications include drying, fermentation, and blending. Here are the kratom strains based on processing methods: 

1. Maeng Da Kratom

   Maeng Da is a hybrid kratom variety that is a result of the selective cultivation of wild-grown kratom plants. The strains combine the best characteristics of the parent kratom plants, yielding a premium-quality kratom variety.

2. Gold Kratom

   Gold Kratom is a strain obtained after the post-harvesting modification of plant leaves. The leaves are dried for extended periods and then subjected to fermentation. The process changes the plant alkaloids, changing its color and aroma.

3. Trainwreck Kratom

   The Trainwreck Kratom is a unique blend of multiple kratom strains combined in specific ratios. The strain composition may vary depending on the strains used in the blend and their respective ratios.