In the world of Kratom, there are ‘Reds’, ‘Greens’, ‘Whites’, hybrids, and other Kratom categories, leading many consumers to believe that there are just as many different kinds of Kratom plants as there are strains.
But, this isn’t true.
Contrary to what some may think, there is only one species of Kratom plant. That species is Mitragyna speciosa.
All Kratom Comes from Mitragyna speciosa Plants
How could it be, then, that there are literally hundreds of different Kratom powders and capsules available?
Virtually all Kratom strains are made from the same species of plant. However, there are very real differences between the 40+ Kratom strains and blends available through Kats Botanicals. And, in this article, we’ll deep-dive into how we get the different types of Kratom, how Kratom blends are made, and what kinds of Kratom benefits come from these blends.
Let’s get started!
Blends and Strains: What’s the Difference?
The terms ‘strain’ and ‘blend’ are sometimes used interchangeably. Because there is no established panel of botanical experts that make rules about how the Kratom plant is supposed to be named after it has been harvested, the industry itself makes the rules.
This can create confusion when comparing the offerings from multiple Kratom vendors. At Kats Botanicals, we’ve simplified Kratom nomenclature by grouping our Kratom powders and capsules into the following categories:
We also group some strains together because their alkaloid profile is similar enough that it makes sense to do so. To keep things simple, Maeng Da and Bali Kratom have their own dedicated corners on the Kats Botanicals’ website.
There is a lot to be said about what differentiates one strain from another. For more information on this topic, it might be helpful to read our recent post titled, ‘The Different Methods of Harvesting and Drying Kratom’.
In this article, we’re keeping our focus on the specialty blends we offer.
In short, a Kratom strain can be thought of as any Kratom product that has a distinct alkaloid profile unique to itself. Some strains are sole-sourced from a single harvest that is given the same drying and post-processing treatment resulting in a uniform alkaloid profile for the entire batch. Other Kratom powders and capsules can be combinations of more than one strain, even though the combination itself is referred to as its own strain.
A good example of a sole-sourced, single-harvest Kratom strain is our Green Bali Kratom. This strain is not blended with any other strain.
By comparison, a good example of a blended strain would be our Red Maeng Da Kratom, which is actually a blend of Red Vein Kratom (60%) and White Vein Kratom (40%).
Before the Blend: Whites vs Greens vs Reds
Directly associating the effects of Kratom with different color categories can be problematic, because every Kratom user responds slightly differently to each strain or blend.
For some, a Green Vein Kratom strain might be just what they need to enhance their well-being during the middle of the day, whereas for others, Green strains don’t seem to provide a noticeable effect. For this reason, we always suggest that those new to Kratom experiment with multiple different strains at different times of the day so they can find out for themselves what alkaloid profiles best suit them.
All of this being said, most Kratom users agree on a few broad descriptors that are often used to describe White Vein, Green Vein, and Red Vein Kratom strains whether they’re blended or unblended:
White Vein Kratom strains are typically considered best for ‘morning-time’ use. They often provide effects that put an extra kick in your step – White Vein Kratom is sometimes used instead of or alongside coffee for a morning boost in productivity.
Green Vein Kratom strains are generally best for midday enhancement. Greens are great for improved feelings of optimism and for helping to roll with the ups and downs of everyday life.
Red Vein Kratom strain effects are most closely associated with feelings of tranquility, calm, ease, and comfort. This makes Red Vein Kratom strains ideal for use later in the evening or before bedtime.
On their own, the use of any of these Kratom strains can have immense benefits for the consumer. When blended, however, the result can be truly life-changing for some.
Spotlight on Specialty Blends
Formulating the best specialty Kratom blends isn’t just guesswork done on a wing and a prayer.
It has taken years of experimentation to arrive at the blends that have proven to be the most powerful and useful for our customers. More often than not, a blend candidate will make sense in the formulation phase only to be underwhelming when it’s actually tried by a test population of Kratom consumers.
Only the best and brightest specialty blends make it into the commercial production phase.
Let’s take a closer look at the most popular specialty blends in the Kats Botanicals suite of Kratom powder and capsule offerings.
Above the Waves
Properly blending Red Vein, Green Vein, and White Vein together takes precision and accuracy. Our Above the Waves blend hits the mark with a Red Vein (70%), Green Vein (15%), and White Vein (15%) strain representation.
The Above the Waves specialty blend gives you the ‘oomph’ to rise above the chaos of daily life. Furthermore, this blend is a top choice for those looking to disrupt ‘Same Strain Syndrome’ – something that can happen when the same Kratom strain is used consistently over time.
Above the Waves is the only Kats Botanicals strain to include a proprietary blend of two fermented Red Vein Kratom strains combined with Green Vein and White Vein Kratom varieties. Sourced from the Bunut region of Brunei, Above the Waves is a perfect choice for those looking for a ‘full-spectrum’ Kratom experience.
Digital Buddha
Achieving a centered state of being and elevating your presence is made easy with our Digital Buddha Kratom strain, a truly unique signature Kratom blend.
To create this comforting-yet-invigorating Kratom strain, we’ve blended together White Vein (50%), Red Vein (20%), and Green Vein (30%) Kratom sourced from the JongKong region of Indonesia. These ratios are ideal for producing an even, balanced suite of effects that many users swear by.
As with all of our Kratom products, the multiple Kratom strains that are combined in our Digital Buddha specialty blend are each tested for purity and potency using an independent, third-party laboratory.
Spacebird
When the Spacebird specialty strain was being developed, Justin Kats – the founder and CEO of Kats Botanicals – wanted to produce a Green Vein-dominant strain that had just the right amount of White Vein and Red Vein additions to ‘round out’ the blend.
After trying numerous different percentages to add with the Green Vein (50%), he found that White Vein (25%) and Red Vein (25%) were perfect.
Because Spacebird is heavily Green Vein, it’s more suitable for daytime use. That being said, the White Vein and Red Vein strain inclusions make this blend a perfect ‘go-to’ choice to pinch-hit for other strains. Spacebird is one of the original blended strains exclusively developed and sold by Kats Botanicals. You won’t find this strain anywhere else!
The Wedge
So far, we’ve looked at blends that are predominantly Green Vein or Red Vein with just a dash of White Vein thrown in for good measure.
With The Wedge, the tables are turned. This blend is 50% White Vein, 30% Green Vein, and 20% Red Vein. Proportions like this make The Wedge much more of a morning-time Kratom strain useful for promoting invigoration and a positive attitude.
The Right Blend from the Right Kratom Supplier
Since the Kratom plant first began being used as a wellness enhancer more than 200 years ago, a lot of trial and error has gone into discovering high-quality, effective blends.
Kats Botanicals has Kratom strain blending down to a science, and now you can benefit from our hard work through the informed and responsible use of our most popular specialty blends.
Which one is your favorite? Be sure to let us know by writing a review or providing us with your feedback!
