A quick disclosure: As an appreciative customer of both InSense and Gold Leaf I thought it would be OK to ask for a sample of Gold Leaf's Green Riau, being that I thought it sounded extra interesting, very relevant to me and my situation, and I wanted to do a review of how it worked for me so as to give myself the benefit of putting thoughts to paper, so to speak. After an exchange of some personal messages talking about that, I was gratified to read that they would send me some, and spare me the hassle of making another order in between my other ones.
Introduction: Green Riau, which afaik is pretty much a legitimately distinctive strain, had piqued my interest in the past but I was never quite left with an urgent sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) regarding it. Lol, and part of the reason why is because the reviews of this, advertised as mellow, strain were written in a mellow tone that reflected reviewers impression of it.
Back then I was looking at several, new to me, vendors with their several varieties, so I was easily drawn away from seriously considering trying it. And back then I was also more about buying only in bulk, and of varieties that were no-brainers in regards quality and potency. Ah, how times change, and I learned that I could slow down, and take the time to see about being a bit of a connoisseur with Tea, at least so far in what I wanted for myself. Being a "Kratom User Whisper" and knowing what varieties and blends might work for other people is a whole other ball game. I've just been trying to be a good chooser for my needs and wants.
Lately this has involved buying more samples, and not concentrating as much on price per gram, or the potency of Kratom's two main alkaloids. InSense/Gold Leaf have one of best deals around on sample sizes, and they just made it better with their offer of five packs as well as three packs. Using that offer, multiple times, is an excellent way to get a better idea of how different alkaloid profiles can change the way we respond to a serving of Tea.
Earlier, I wrote the following, which I changed only very slightly after pasting it here.
It being a wild, and having received what I'm sensing was a mild drying process, seems to give this a pretty unique profile of alkaloid amounts. I have to wonder if this is a preferred strain of the locals. We know what most of the very demanding buying public wants, and often legitimately needs, so I guess the growers and suppliers have to cater to that.
They want lots of pain relief, and an all natural energy boost, and the more of that the better. Some strains can provide either of those, or even both of those, and still provide that something extra that you get from the broad profile of Kratom alkaloids.
This wild grown Green Riau seems likely to have been carefully harvested, and dried, with an eye to maintaining the full spectrum of benefits that this local strain is appreciated for having.
I'm guessing the plantation grown is an excellent compromise that offers a bit more energy, and a bit more pain relief. I'm now on the day after of my first day of using this wild grown Green Riau and there's no sense of having a come down that I might get from a strong White or Red, or even the less extreme feeling of "I wouldn't mind a cup of my Kratom coffee" that a very nice Green might leave me with on the day following using it the night before.
Though I have to allow that my tolerance has been good lately, and I took a day of just using a little bit of stem and vein and Hirsuta before starting with this Green Riau from Gold leaf.
Spoiler alert, it's a connoisseur strain for those who aren't looking for a blunt instrument to boosting mood. More subtle than even my favorite mellow strains, but extremely effective at what it does. For some people it could be an answer to stagnant strain syndrome. Excepting those who need pain relief for bad backs and such, regrettably this isn't a universal panacea.
Since writing the above I've come to gain a more informed impression of the Gold Leaf Botanicals Green Riau. I was working at coming up with a useful analogy of how I find it to be a somewhat unique experience. The best I've come up with is to say I see this Green Riau as nearly being a variant of the Mitragyna family, less different than Mitragyna diversifolia (Javanica), but still almost to be considered distinct.
But my analogy immediately failed, unsurprisingly, as it has its fair share of Kratom's two main alkaloids. It's how its lesser known ones set it apart in its effects that remind me of Hirsuta, which I have, and what I've read about Javanica, which I ordered and is on the way.
The balance of those other alkaloids has helped restore to me the sort of carefree good cheer that I associate with a much younger version of myself. Lol, probably a mistaken memory, with nostalgia giving it extra vibrancy, and a near mystical glow, but a memory none the less.
Like Darth Vader when he can feel the presence of the Force, after many years of missing it, but in a non-evil way! lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVdsUwFVQI
Yeah Darth, we call it Green Riau, and it's for everybody, including us non-Jedi.
I can imagine the reaction of younger readers to my referencing a movie from 1977.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SLL54Pm-a8
https://kratomguides.com/green-riau-kra ... ts-dosage/
The Riau province is located on the southeastern coast of Sumatra, a large island. Previously, Riau Kratom was known as Sumatra Kratom.
However many people believe that both of these are two separate strains with similar effects.
I found that interesting, as an internet acquaintance recounts the effects that Red Sumatra has on her, and it sounds in several ways similar to what I get from Green Riau. She got it from InSense Botanicals, which has the same owners as Gold Leaf, but uses plantation grown tea for their versions. At their site I read this about Red Sumatra.The climate of Riau rain forests is ideal for the Kratom growth. It makes the alkaloid content higher than other strains. Some of the alkaloids are familiar with Sumatra and Borneo Kratom strains.
I found that fascinating, and I'm wondering if my Green Riau has a similar alkaloid profile, and if the Raubasine is helping impart what I've been getting from it. Ajmalicine seems to be its more formal name.Kratom Variety: Red Sumatra
Harvested from: Sumatra, Indonesia
Description: Strong but balanced Red Sumatra contains a special alkaloid called Raubasine which is said to have relaxing properties that are around for a longer time than others. Definitely one of the most popular kinds that we always try to keep in stock.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajmalicine
And interestingly enough that's also in Javanica, which I ordered from Tea Time Botanicals to compliment the Hirsuta and Stem and Vein I got from them.
I don't blend my Green Riau, though I do use some stem and vein, and Hirsuta, with it as part of my efforts to keep my tolerance low. I might save the Javanica for other strains of Kratom.
In the future I'll likely at times add dashes of other strains to the Green Riau, like maybe White Hulu or White Indo for daytime, and maybe a dash of something fermented darker for the nighttime.
But right now I'm enjoying it straight up, with stem and vein and Hirsuta, for it's relief of anxiety and its helping to foster a good mood. Two effects that are very welcome indeed.
For a kick in the butt to get out the door, or serious pain and inflammation relief, I might consider going half and half with some other varieties known for being suited for delivering that. While I really like this Green Riau it's not a universal panacea. And I still look forward to using other strains.
Gold Leaf Botanicals (and InSense) now offers "5 oz Sampler Pack – Pick any 5 strains at 1 oz each" as well as their "3 oz Sampler Pack – Pick any 3 strains at 1 oz each".
Edited due to spelling errors.
