Our environment is a treasure trove of beneficial plants. When it comes to effective, natural supplements, kratom is among the best. You may already know that kratom is farmed from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, but did you realize that it also grows in the wild?
As with any plant, there are subtle variations in farmed vs. wild kratom. Although some kratom users may not notice a difference, others have a strong preference for one type of kratom over the other. So which one is better?
At Joe’s Botanicals, we believe cultivated kratom is generally the best option. But we’re always happy to share our love of all things kratom, including the unique variations in this potent plant and how its growth affects the final product.
In this article, we’ll compare farmed vs. wild kratom and leave it up to you to decide!
What is Wild Harvested Kratom?
As the name suggests, wild kratom is, well, wild! That means the leaves are harvested from trees found in forests or other untamed areas. Like its domesticated cousin, these Mitragyna speciosa trees are native to the tropical climates of Southeast Asia. They grow naturally, with little to no tending from humans.
As a result, wild kratom trees are subject to a wide array of different environmental elements. Rainfall, humidity levels, soil properties, sunlight, and other factors that can affect the kratom leaves are uncontrolled.
Long before anyone planted kratom trees in farms, indigenous people in regions that are now Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries would collect the leaves from these wild trees. They discovered that the wild kratom leaves possessed unique benefits and effects when used in teas, salves, or chewed raw.
Today, some people prefer to seek out wild, forest-grown kratom to be part of this tradition or enjoy the variations that arise from its unique, untouched habitat.
What is Farmed Kratom?
Farmed kratom is also harvested from the Mitragyna speciosa tree. However, unlike wild kratom, these trees are grown on farms or plantations. They are planted with great care and consideration for their environment.
When kratom is grown intentionally, farmers choose areas with the best soil composition and sunlight exposure. They can also irrigate the trees during periods of drought, prune substandard leaves, and take other measures to ensure consistency as the trees grow.
Farmed kratom is commonly sold as powders, capsules, and teas or used in tinctures and extracts.
So What’s the Difference Between Farmed vs. Wild Kratom?
Consistency is the primary difference between these two varieties of kratom. When kratom is cultivated, growers can control the variables and help the plant produce a reliable harvest. But with wild kratom, Mother Nature is the one who decides!
This can result in key differences, including:
Alkaloid Composition
All varieties of kratom, whether wild or cultivated, owe their effects and benefits to natural compounds called alkaloids. The two primary alkaloids are called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. However, there are many more!
Farmed kratom has been domesticated to grow leaves where these alkaloids are dominant. The alkaloid balance shifts as the leaves age, which results in the different strains known as white vein, green vein, and red vein kratom. Although these strains offer different effects, their alkaloid profile is generally predictable.
Wild kratom isn’t so reliable. As environmental factors alter the growth of the wild plant, its alkaloid composition may vary on a much wider spectrum than the differences among strains of cultivated kratom.
This means that the effects and benefits of wild kratom may be different than what users expect. If you’re exploring wild kratom, it’s best to consume it as if you were a brand new user because you may not know how your body handles the different alkaloid profiles in wild strains.
Potency & Consistency
Additionally, the potency of wild kratom changes. For example, in an unseasonably dry period, the leaves of the wild kratom tree may be weaker than in wetter seasons. Conversely, there may be seasons where wild kratom is unusually strong.
While cultivated kratom is also susceptible to environmental factors that affect its alkaloid properties, farmers can help maintain consistency to keep these variations within a given range. Wild kratom is on its own.
This means that wild kratom may be much weaker or stronger than a user expects. Herein lies the risk of wild kratom. If a kratom enthusiast is used to enjoying a specific dose of cultivated kratom, they may discover that wild kratom isn’t enough to deliver the same effects. Conversely, they may accidentally take too much kratom.
Price & Availability
Another key difference is that wild kratom is much more expensive and less easily available in the United States. This is because the wild kratom trees are harder to access and may not produce a consistent harvest each season. However, as demand for kratom grows, we may see more suppliers offering special strains of wild-grown kratom.
For the Best Kratom, Choose Joe’s!
At Joe’s Botanicals, our kratom is sustainably sourced from small, Fair Trade farms to guarantee the highest quality, purest product on the market. Our kratom is also lab tested for purity and alkaloid consistency.
Whether you prefer the get up ‘n’ go vibes of white vein kratom, the chill effects of red vein kratom, or the smooth balance of both from green vein kratom, we’ve got something for everyone. Shop now!
