Maeng Da Indo Kratom

Kratom (mitragyna speciosa) has gained popularity in the Western world only in the past decade, but the cultures of Southeast Asia – where kratom trees grow in the wild – have been using this plant for thousands of years.

While Malaysia’s and Thailand’s native cultures have a rich history of kratom use, this is not true for Indonesia, where kratom lacks the tremendous local popularity in modern culture. Although there is evidence that past generations and indigenous Indonesian cultures have used kratom quite extensively.

Native Indonesian cultures long used kratom as a folk remedy for diarrhea, anxiety and pain. It was also used by laborers who enjoyed kratom because it would ease their pain, while also offering a boost of energy and improved mood.

The strains of kratom native to Indonesia have long been used by native cultures who favored the plant for its potent sedative and pain relieving properties. It’s said that Indo kratom has long been favored due to the lower incidence of side effects, particularly when compared to Bali strains, which have been linked to a high incidence of nausea and “the wobbles.”

In Indonesia, kratom grows plentifully in the southern regions of the country. Locally, it is called “Ithang” and “Kakuam.”

Notably, kratom is not illegal in Indonesia. As a result, Indonesian people are free to grow, sell, use and export kratom. In fact, Indonesia has become a top exporter of kratom, largely due to the plant’s illegal status in other areas where it grows naturally, such as Malaysia and Thailand.

In the past few decades, Indonesian kratom – better known as “Indo kratom” – was regarded as being of a lesser quality when compared to kratom leaves that were grown in Thailand or Malaysia. But this differential has been attributed not to the actual Indo kratom strain, but rather, to the lack of local knowledge concerning kratom cultivation.

Up until relatively recently – the past couple decades – Indonesian kratom farmers and harvesters lacked the knowledge required to produce a high quality kratom that is comparable to the quality of leaf that comes out of other Southeast Asian nations, where it has been cultivated for many generations.

In recent years – thanks in large part to the internet and improved education – Indonesian kratom farmers have learned how and when to harvest kratom in a manner that maximizes potency. Most have also mastered other techniques, such as understanding which leaves to harvest and how long to wait until performing the first harvest on a plant.

So today, Indonesia is a top exporter of Indo kratom strains, along with many other varieties of kratom. In fact, Indonesia is home to some of the world’s largest and most productive kratom plantations and the nation’s favorable export laws make it a go-to source for kratom.