Everything You Need to Know About White Kratom

The Kratom tree has recently caught the public eye’s attention in Western countries for its alleged benefits.  Like other plants, Kratom may be used as a herbal remedy to provide substantial therapeutic effects. In North America, this tropical evergreen tree can only be found on the Internet. The products are normally categorized by their corresponding Kratom color, an example being white Kratom. Even though modern medications and medical practices continue to develop, many people still use white Kratom as a herbal remedy. Some researchers remain skeptical of Kratom as a herbal remedy and continue to research them in clinical trials. However, in the USA, Kratom products are permitted for research use only. Still, researchers find the chemical diversity of the plant exceptionally intriguing. Natural products often used as enhancers are exceptionally complex in terms of their chemistry. As a result, white Kratom is increasing in popularity to uncover further and understand its claimed health benefits. The following outlines White Kratom’s history, specifically about the tree itself and its harvesting and production process.

Kratom History

While the complete history of Kratom’s origin is ambiguous, it’s known that the plant is native to Southeast Asia. Kratom, or mitragyna speciosa, can be found in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. The tree stands at about 80 feet tall and normally displays an abundance of green leaves. The word Kratom comes from a specific group of tree-like plants of a certain species, which also contains coffee and gardenia plants. The native cultures would chop either fresh or dried leaves of the tree for chewing. They would also use the leaves for making tea. Kratom would not be used to extract flavor since it is quite bitter tasting; rather, they would commonly use the plant as a remedy for the fatigue and strain that comes with manual labor. Kratom helped combat exhaustion and provide pain relief and, as a result, increased productivity. Other reported effects include overall mood enhancement. Beyond its impacts on mood,  higher doses of Kratom were even used to help treat wounds, coughs, and intestinal infections. While Kratom may potentially possesses all of these benefits, it is not a unique plant in this regard. Throughout history, humans have used plants as a traditional medicine to treat diseases and help with stress. 

Researchers examine Kratom for its complex pharmacologic effects. Kratom strains contain several phytochemicals, making their effects complex to understand, particularly in conjunction with other chemicals. The main psychoactive elements in the leaves are two particular alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These alkaloids are found only in Kratom, although similar variations have been discovered. The effects of Kratom on an individual will depend on the dose. Smaller doses produce stimulant effects that are comparable to coffee or tea. That being said, all the Kratom strains vary, and an individual can also have a different reaction to a certain color of Kratom than someone else—in the same manner, two separate bodies may respond differently to the same ingredient. Every brain interacts with chemicals and natural compounds in its own way. Compounds in the Kratom leaves interact with receptors in the brain, resulting in varied impacts from brain to brain. All Kratom products produce positive effects; however, a product’s strength and intensity can vary from person to person. 

The three main colors you will likely see in Kratom products are white, green, and red. The color of Kratom relates to the age of the plan. White Kratom is the youngest, green Kratom is middle-aged, and red Kratom is the oldest. All the colors have subtle differences in their effects. Even certain strains within the same color can vary from one another and produce different results. Other factors that can impact strains are the geographic location, climate, quality, and harvest method. 

The Kratom Tree (Mitragyna Speciosa)

The mitragyna speciosa thrives in humid tropical rainforests. As mentioned, it is indigenous to Southeast Asia. As an evergreen tree, the leaves remain on its stems year-round. Fresh new leaves grow periodically, and leaves that have fully matured will fall off. Kratom tree farmers may collect the fallen leaves or pick them before they break off. Many of the Kratom products imported come from native growing Kratom trees. Local Kratom farmers sometimes plant trees of their own in specific regions, targeting areas of sunlight with high-quality soil. It’s possible to grow Kratom trees outside of their home region, but rather difficult if not in hot and humid climates. As these trees are native to Southeast Asia, they would not survive in the colder and inconsistent climate in North America. As a result, the majority of supplies remain located in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Thailand being the largest producers.

White Kratom Harvesting

Although Kratom is found in nature, its transformation from plant to product is often a long, tedious process. There are numerous harvesting techniques involved before it is shipped across the content, processed, and packaged. If the plant is harvested with caution and care, the final product will be of the utmost quality.

On a Kratom farm, the white Kratom will be harvested early on in the plant’s life. The farmer will monitor the color of the leaves by inspecting their veins. The white color is visible on the leaf’s stems and veins. Since white Kratom is harvested earlier than the red and green strains, the potency can be stronger due to the plant’s immaturity. Like the harvesting of white tea leaves, a Kratom tree is premature when white leaves are harvested. 

Once the white Kratom leaves have been picked or collected, the leaves are cleaned in water to remove any dirt. All debris must be removed from the lead before it is processed so that it is pure and ready for lab testing. After rinsing the leaves, they will be dried on hanging racks. These hanging racks may be indoors to prevent sunlight exposure. Alternatively, the leaves may be kept outside to dry under direct sunlight or indoors with UV lamps as a substitute for sunlight. The differences between the Kratom leaves become clearer during the drying process. The length of time spent in the sun impacts the resulting alkaloid levels of a strain. The drying stages vary—some leaves will have a longer drying process, while others will undergo an additional step, such as fermentation. 

After the drying phase is complete, the leaves are either kept in their raw form or are grounded in industrial grinders to prepare the Kratom for further production. Following this stage, the next step is to process the grounded tea leaves to their final desired form. Then, the Kratom product will be packaged to uphold its freshness. As with most organic substances, its quality can get worse with time if not packaged properly or if it is stored in contaminated spaces.

White Kratom Products

Kratom can be used in its raw form, or it can be molded into various products. For example, Kratom may be processed into pre-formed capsules. Like a vitamin, the exact dose amount is specified, so you know the exact amount being used. Capsules are the most efficient form of Kratom since they can be quickly measured, and you do not have to deal with the bitterness. 

Extracts are another popular option on the market. Extracts are essentially highly concentrated formulations created by boiling and evaporation. They can make for a subtle addition to any beverage. You might still detect the bitter taste if the other flavors are rather bland. 

Lastly, powder is the most common of Kratom products. The powder contains a strong bitter taste best masked with a sweetener. While bulkier than both capsules and extracts, the powder can be blended into drink form with other ingredients.  

3 White Kratom Strains

There are many white Kratom strains. These are some of the most popular Kratom strains on the market:

Indo White Vein

This well-known white Kratom strain grows in the high-quality soil of the forests in Indonesia. It contains higher amounts of mitragynine and lower amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine, two of Kratom’s primary alkaloids.

White Maeng Da

The White Maeng Da Kratom is native to Thailand. It is one of the most well-known strains of Kratom, and is believed to contain a higher level of alkaloids compared to the other white Kratom strains. It is commonly used as an energy booster.

White Borneo Kratom

This strain of Kratom is rarer than the strains above, making it difficult to find. It originates from the island of Borneo. It contains alkaloids commonly found in white Kratom strains that enhance mood.

Although Kratom has only been introduced to North America in recent times, its use in Southeast Asia has been widespread throughout history. Each color strain of Kratom is associated with particular effects, all of which seem to generate positive outcomes. That being said, be diligent when purchasing any Kratom for research by looking into the vendor’s background to ensure that the Kratom is lab tested and safe. The herbal product definitely deserves more attention and should continue to be researched to understand its potential fully.