Thai Kratom: Strains, Effects, & More
Posted by Laughing Lion Herbs on 18th Jul 2020
Thai Kratom Product Guide
There’s an interesting contradiction in the kratom world. About 95% of all kratom powder in the United States comes to us from Borneo, specifically from the South Kalimantarian region. At the same time, though, many kratom connoisseurs say they prefer Thai kratom. How, then, is it possible that Thai kratom could come to us from someplace outside Thailand? To fully understand products that have been labeled as Thai kratom, it’s essential to know a little bit about the history of kratom in Thailand.
Thai Kratom Overview
When we talk about kratom and kratom powder, we’re really talking about the leaves of the mitragyna speciosa tree. This tree is a tropical plant that is closely related to the coffee plant, and it grows naturally in many parts of Southeast Asia. Thailand is just one of the places where kratom grows naturally, so many people throughout the nation’s history have had a relationship with the mitragyna speciosa plant.
Since kratom can flourish in Thailand, many farmers started harvesting it and selling it in the early 1900s. The industry changed dramatically when Thailand passed the Kratom Act of 1943, though. Since kratom grows naturally in Thailand, existing trees could continue to grow and even be cut down, but using the leaves became illegal. It also became illegal to grow kratom intentionally and to export kratom.
Many citizens and politicians in kratom were interested in walking back the Kratom Act of 1943 because they appreciate the plant and the financial benefits it could have for the country. Attempts to make kratom legal failed in 2004, 2009, and 2013. Eventually, though, some new legislation did get through in 2018. This outlined some regulations for importing, exporting, producing, possessing, and using kratom medicinally. In other words, kratom still wasn’t completely legalized.
In late 2019, Thailand’s Justice Minister, Somsak Thapsutin, announced that his ministry no longer considered kratom to be a narcotic. At the same time, he announced plans to legalize the plant to restore its status in a place where it had been used traditionally for hundreds of years. Justice Minister Thapsutin said that his ministry made this decision by considering the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of a narcotic as having four characteristics:
- Substances with little to no medicinal use
- Substances that cause severe withdrawal
- Substances that cause severe health problems
- Substances that harm society.
Kratom Science says Thapsutin has been further quoted as saying he will pursue the legalizing kratom project as soon as possible because he believes it will truly benefit society.
In other words, people in the United States may be able to buy kratom from Thailand again soon. We’ll be able to source strains Thai kratom strains that grow naturally in the place of their origin. Until the industry opens up in Thailand again, though, we’ll continue to get kratom from Borneo’s island, Indonesian territory. So, then, how can products possibly be considered Thai kratom?
What Is Thai Kratom?
It’s easy to see why some people would be confused about this. If people who buy kratom in the United States are getting it from Borneo instead of Thailand, it’s hard to see why anyone would call it Thai kratom. The answer is that Thai kratom refers to a type of plant or a kratom strain, and the nature of the plant doesn’t necessarily change much when it’s grown somewhere else. For example, you can grow Thai chili peppers right here in the United States, and it’s still a Thai plant.
Borneo’s regions that grow kratom and provide it to the United States have environmental conditions similar to what you might find in Thailand. This makes it relatively easy for Thai kratom enthusiasts to continue growing and exporting these strains without waiting for laws to change in Thailand. Most people say they can’t notice the subtle differences between different types of kratom, while others prefer Thai kratom over other strains.
Kratom Colors Vs. Kratom Strains
Before getting into the nuances of different types of kratom strains, most people start their journeys with kratom by thinking about colors. You’ve probably already seen these categories if you ever buy kratom online or read articles to learn about kratom:
- Red Vein Kratom
- Green Vein Kratom
- White Vein Kratom
- Gold Vein Kratom
The color of your kratom powder can give you some of the biggest hints about its chemical composition. Specifically, different kratom types are associated with different qualities because they have different levels of alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. After understanding the differences between these main types of kratom, some people become interested in specific strains.
What Makes Thai Kratom Special?
Like most strains or types of kratom, Thai kratom is available in multiple varieties and even different vein colors. Each color is typically associated with its unique alkaloid profile. While most people who buy kratom online are doing so because of the alkaloids, they aren’t the only organic compounds that make kratom varieties unique. The plant also contains flavonoids, which will impact the scent of the plant.
Every strain of kratom is unique, even though there are very few noticeable differences between different kratom types with the same vein color. We usually recommend that people start by buying a kratom variety pack to help them learn about which type appeals to them the most. From there, kratom customers can hone in on which color is their favorite. Finally, some of these people like to buy different kratom strains with the same color to see if they can identify their favorite kratom strain.
With that said, it’s extremely uncommon for people to be able to tell the difference between types of kratom with the same color. Even those who can observe the nuances between different kratom strains say the differences are very subtle. Still, there is one primary reason that people like to buy different strains of kratom.
Over time, even a great strain of kratom can start to feel old. When kratom’s experience or enjoyment starts to get stale, many people find that they can revive their enjoyment by changing to a slightly different plant with a different ratio of alkaloids and flavonoids. For example, many people like to switch from Bali kratom to Thai kratom or vice versa when they stop getting the same enjoyment from their old favorite strain.
Buy Thai Kratom Online
Here at Laughing Lion Herbs, we pride ourselves on working with Borneo’s best harvesters and producers. This gives our customers access to a wide variety of kratom strains, all offering top quality. We test our kratom for purity, too, so you can count on an unadulterated experience. Check our online store today to find Thai kratom and other products.
Featured Image: Shutterstock / MIA Studio