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Types of Kratom Explained: Strain Chart, Vein Colors, & How to Choose

TYPES OF KRATOM EXPLAINED: STRAIN CHART, VEIN COLORS, & HOW TO CHOOSE

By Andrew Ehlert

Oct 21, 2026

Table of Contents

Types of Kratom Explained: Strain Chart, Vein Colors, & How to Choose

Browse any kratom shop and you'll see dozens of names: Red Bali, Green Malay, White Maeng Da, Super Indo. It looks like dozens of different plants. It's one. Every product on that list comes from the leaves of a single tree species, Mitragyna speciosa, a member of the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Southeast Asia. The differences come from vein color at harvest, where the tree grew, how the leaf was sorted and dried, and the format it's sold in.

We've been selling kratom since 2009, and "which one should I get?" is still the question we hear most. This guide gives you a straight answer, a full strain chart, and the part most charts leave out.

Quick answer: what are the types of kratom?

Kratom is sorted four ways. Vein color (red, green, or white) reflects leaf maturity and drying. Strain names like Bali, Malay, Thai, and Vietnam usually point to a region or a trade name. Grades like Maeng Da and Super Green describe how leaves were selected. Format covers powder, capsules, gummies, shots, and extracts.

Customers often describe red as mellower, white as brighter, and green as somewhere in between. Lab studies, though, haven't found that these labels reliably predict alkaloid content. A batch Certificate of Analysis (CoA) tells you more than the name on the bag.

Key takeaways:

All kratom comes from one species, so strain names are trade labels, not separate plants.
Red, green, and white are the only vein colors that grow on the tree.
Maeng Da is a grade of leaf. It isn't a place.
Researchers at the University of Florida found no significant alkaloid differences between the red, green, and white products their survey respondents used.
Check the batch lab report before you trust any color or name. You can look up Kratom Country lab results by batch.

How kratom types get their names

Most product names stack two or three labels, like "Red Bali powder" or "Green Maeng Da capsules." Once you can read each piece, any kratom name makes sense.

Label	What it describes	Examples	How much it tells you
Vein color	Color of the leaf's center vein at harvest, plus how it was dried	Red, green, white	A starting point. Batch testing tells you more.
Region or trade name	Where the leaf grew, or a name the trade adopted	Bali, Borneo, Malay, Thai, Vietnam, Indo	Mixed. Some names are geographic, some are legacy labels.
Grade	How leaves were selected or sorted	Maeng Da, Super Green, Super Indo	Set by each seller. There's no industry standard.
Format	How the leaf is prepared	Powder, capsules, gummies, shots, extracts	Changes taste, convenience, and serving consistency

Here's something most vendors won't say out loud: a region name doesn't always mean the leaf came from that region. Most kratom sold in the US is grown in Indonesia. Much of what's sold as "Bali" is Indonesian leaf from Borneo or Sumatra, and the name works more like a style than a GPS pin (our Bali kratom strain guide covers the history).

"Thai" is a similar story. Thailand only removed kratom from its narcotics list in August 2021, so for years a Thai label in the US rarely meant Thai-grown leaf. For the full backstory, see where kratom comes from.

Kratom vein colors: red vs. green vs. white

Every kratom leaf has a vein running down its center. That vein tends to shift from white to green to red as the leaf matures. Drying also changes the finished powder: sun-drying and fermenting darken it, while indoor drying keeps it lighter.

Red, green, and white are the only vein colors that grow on the tree. Any other "color" you see online is a drying or blending label.

	Red vein	Green vein	White vein
Leaf maturity	Most mature	Middle	Youngest
Typical drying	Sun-dried, sometimes fermented	Indoors, then a short time outside	Indoors, out of direct light
How customers often describe it	Mellower, smoother	Balanced, middle of the range	Brighter, crisper
Often picked for	Evening routines	All-day routines and first orders	Morning routines
Kratom Country options	Bali, Maeng Da, Thai, Indo, Vietnam	Maeng Da (Kali), Malay, Vietnam	Maeng Da
Shop	Red vein kratom	Green vein kratom	White vein kratom

Red vein kratom

Red vein is the biggest part of our lineup, and it's where many repeat customers settle. Red leaves are harvested at full maturity, and customers often describe them as the mellowest of the three. Popular picks include Red Bali kratom powder, Red Thai kratom capsules, and Red Indo capsules. Our red vein kratom guide goes deeper.

Green vein kratom

Green sits in the middle of the range, which is why so many first-time buyers start here. At Kratom Country, green comes as Green Maeng Da (sourced from the Kalimantan region of Borneo, so you'll also see it called Kali kratom) and Green Malay kratom. Not sure which green to try? Compare them in Malay kratom vs. Maeng Da.

White vein kratom

White comes from the youngest leaves and is dried indoors to keep its light color. Customers often describe it as the crispest of the three and tend to reach for it earlier in the day. Our white lineup centers on White Maeng Da kratom capsules and powder. Read the white vein kratom guide for more.

Kratom strain chart: every major type compared

Find a strain in the first column, then read across. The "customers often describe it as" column reflects common customer and survey feedback. It isn't a promise, since any batch can differ.

Strain	Vein colors you'll find	What the name means	Customers often describe it as	Shop or learn more
Maeng Da	Red, green, white	A Thai term for a top leaf grade, not a region	The strongest-reputation strain; popular with experienced customers	Maeng Da kratom
Red Maeng Da	Red	Maeng Da grade, mature red-vein leaf	Full-bodied and smooth	Red Maeng Da kratom capsules
Bali	Mostly red	Trade name for Indonesian leaf	Smooth and easygoing; a common first red	Red Bali kratom capsules
Borneo	Red, green, white	Island shared by Indonesia and Malaysia	Often compared with Bali, a bit earthier	Red Borneo vs. Bali
Kali (Kalimantan)	Mostly green	Indonesian Borneo	Balanced, a steady green	Green Maeng Da kratom powder
Malay	Green, red, white	Malaysian-style leaf. Malaysia restricts kratom sales, so most "Malay" is Indonesian-grown.	Green is the classic; Red Malay is a milder take	Green Malay kratom capsules
Thai	Red, green, white	Thailand, where kratom has been legal since 2021	Crisp, closely tied to the Maeng Da family	Thai kratom
Vietnam	Red, green	Vietnam, or similar Southeast Asian leaf	Lighter and more upbeat; Green Vietnam is the popular pick	Vietnam kratom powder or Vietnam vs. Bali kratom
Indo	Red, green, white	A catch-all for Indonesian leaf	Mild and approachable	Indo kratom
Sumatra	Red, green, white	An Indonesian island	Close to Indo	Not stocked; see factors that affect alkaloid content
Super Green / Super Indo	Green (Super Indo in any vein)	A grading term for larger leaves	Varies by seller	Super Indo appears in our Indo collection
Enhanced blends	Any	Leaf powder plus kratom extract	More concentrated; for experienced customers only	Enhanced kratom

Where does Maeng Da fit?

Maeng Da trips up a lot of shoppers because it shows up in all three vein colors. It isn't a place or a vein. It's a grade: a claim that the seller picked leaves from high-yielding trees. Because "Maeng Da" has no legal definition, the only way to check that claim is the lab report. Our breakdowns of Red Maeng Da and Bali vs. Maeng Da explain how it compares with other strains.

What vein color can (and can't) tell you

This is the part most strain charts skip. When researchers test the actual leaf, the tidy red, green, and white story gets messier.

Customers notice differences, but labs haven't confirmed them. In a 2023 study by University of Florida and Maastricht University researchers, survey respondents described red, green, and white strains differently, in ways that matched how the strains are marketed. When the team checked the CoAs of the products those people used, they found no significant differences in alkaloid content between strains. The authors suggested marketing and word of mouth may shape what people expect.
Season beat color in the field. A 2023 study of kratom trees across Thailand found similar alkaloid production in red-veined and green-veined plants. Harvest timing mattered far more: mitragynine peaked at 4.94% of dry leaf weight in June and fell to 0.74% during October's rainy season.
Chemistry varies inside a single label. Researchers at UNC Greensboro identified distinct kratom "chemotypes", meaning some plants lean high in mitragynine and others high in the related alkaloid speciogynine, whatever the product is called.

So treat vein color as a sensible place to start, and let batch data make the final call. Several things move alkaloid content more than a color label does:

Harvest season and rainfall
Growing region and soil
Leaf age when picked
Drying and curing method
How the product is stored after milling

That's why every Kratom Country batch goes through third-party lab testing for alkaloid content, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants. Heavy metals aren't a hypothetical concern: FDA testing of 30 kratom products found lead and nickel above safe daily exposure limits in some samples. If you've never read a lab report, start with what to look for in kratom lab tests.

Kratom alkaloids 101

Alkaloids are the naturally occurring compounds that make kratom, kratom, and researchers are still mapping how they work. Researchers have isolated about 54 of them from the leaf, but a CoA usually reports only one or two, partly because measuring them takes specialized lab methods. These are the names worth knowing:

Alkaloid	What it is	Learn more
Mitragynine	The most abundant alkaloid in kratom leaf. Most CoAs list it as a percentage.	What is mitragynine?
7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)	Present in natural leaf only in trace amounts	7-hydroxymitragynine explained
Speciociliatine	One of mitragynine's diastereomers (same atoms, different 3D shape) and one of the more abundant minor alkaloids	Speciociliatine guide
Speciogynine	Another diastereomer; dominant in some chemotypes	UNC Greensboro chemotype study
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl	Forms from 7-OH; not a normal leaf compound at meaningful levels	Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl

Kratom leaf vs. 7-OH products

Not everything sold as "kratom" is kratom leaf. A growing category of products is built on concentrated or semi-synthetic 7-OH, which the FDA treats very differently. In 2025 the FDA recommended scheduling action against certain 7-OH products, and the agency has said its actions target concentrated and synthetic 7-OH products, not natural kratom leaf with naturally occurring trace levels. In July 2026, the DEA published notices of intent to temporarily place 7-OH above a set threshold, and three related synthetic compounds, in Schedule I.

When you read a strain chart, remember it describes leaf. A 7-OH tablet isn't a "type of kratom" in any sense this guide uses. [Editor: confirm with Kratom Country that no product in the catalog is a 7-OH isolate before publishing this line: "Kratom Country sells kratom leaf products and leaf-derived extracts, not 7-OH products."]

Types of kratom products: powder, capsules, gummies, and more

Strain and vein tell you about the leaf. Format decides how you'll actually use it, and for many customers that choice matters just as much.

Format	What it is	Often a fit for	Shop
Powder	Dried, finely milled leaf	Flexible serving sizes and the lowest price per gram	Kratom powder
Capsules	Pre-measured powder in capsules	Consistent servings with no taste	Kratom capsules
Gummies	Kratom in a flavored gummy	A flavorful, convenient alternative to powder	Kratom gummies
Shots	Liquid kratom in a small bottle	On-the-go routines	Kratom shots
Extracts	Concentrated leaf extract	Experienced customers who want a more concentrated option	Kratom extracts

Still torn? Our kratom capsules vs. powder comparison covers cost and convenience, and kratom shots vs. capsules vs. powder adds liquids to the mix. If you'd rather compare strains side by side, kratom variety packs let you try several without buying full bags.

How to choose a kratom strain

You don't need to memorize the chart. Five steps get most people to a sensible first order.

Pick your format first. Capsules make sense if you can't stand the taste; powder gives you flexibility. Our tips on the easiest way to take kratom powder and kratom tea vs. powder vs. pills help here.
Use vein color as a starting point. Many first-time customers start with green because it sits in the middle of the range. If you already know you like a mellower or brighter profile, go straight to red or white.
Stick with one strain long enough to judge it. Switching every order makes it hard to tell what you like.
Read the batch CoA. Look for a mitragynine percentage, a heavy metals panel, and microbial results. Here's how to tell if you've bought pure kratom.
Buy small first. A 1 oz bag, a variety pack, or a kratom gummies sample bundle costs less than a mistake. Check current kratom deals too.

Before any first order, confirm kratom is legal in your state and that you meet the minimum age to buy kratom. For neutral background, NCCIH and NIDA both keep plain-language kratom pages.

Why buy kratom from Kratom Country

A strain name is only as good as the company standing behind it. Here's what backs ours.

Everything is made in our FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We don't outsource to overseas factories.
Independent ISO-certified labs test every batch for alkaloid content, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants.
Each bag has a QR code that links to the lab report for that exact batch.
There are no fillers and no artificial dyes, only kratom.
Our kratom was selected for the first FDA clinical study on kratom.
Every order is covered by our 30-day satisfaction guarantee and ships fast (see our shipping policy).

We've been doing this since 2009, and you can read what thousands of customers say in our Kratom Country reviews.

Types of kratom FAQs

What are the three main types of kratom?

The three main types are red, green, and white vein kratom. The color reflects the leaf's maturity at harvest and how it was dried. Red is the most mature, white is the youngest, and green falls in between. Strain names like Bali or Malay are added on top of the vein color.

What is the strongest type of kratom?

No leaf strain is guaranteed to be the strongest, because alkaloid content varies batch to batch. Extract and enhanced products are the most concentrated. Among plain leaf, Maeng Da has the strongest reputation. To compare products, check the mitragynine percentage on each CoA. See our strongest kratom capsules roundup.

What's the best kratom strain for beginners?

There's no single best strain. Many first-time customers start with a green vein capsule in a small size, then adjust based on what they notice. Our list of Kratom Country's top 5 selling products shows what other customers buy most.

Is Maeng Da a strain or a vein color?

Neither, strictly. Maeng Da is a grade, meaning a seller's claim that the leaves came from high-yielding trees. You'll find red, green, and white Maeng Da. The name has no legal definition, so the lab report is the only way to check it.

Do different kratom strains really feel different?

Many customers say they do, and a 2023 survey backed up that people report distinct experiences by color. The same study found no significant alkaloid differences between the strains respondents used. Batch, season, and freshness likely matter more than the name.

How long does kratom stay fresh?

Stored airtight, cool, and away from light, kratom powder keeps well for a long time, though quality slowly fades. Our guide to kratom shelf life covers the details.

Is kratom legal everywhere?

No. Kratom leaf isn't a federally controlled substance, but several states and some cities ban it. The FDA also hasn't approved kratom for any use. Check your state's current rules before ordering.

Finding the right kratom type for you

The short version: pick a format, start with a vein color that fits your routine, and let the lab report settle the rest. If you'd like a head start, browse our best-selling kratom products. Every one ships with its batch results a QR scan away.