Bali Gold Kratom VS Gold Maeng Da – Navigating The Differences

If you are considering Bali Gold vs. Gold Maeng Da to reap the exceptional Kratom effects, you probably have lots of questions going through your mind right now.

Which is more potent? How much should I consume? How long will their effects last? Which is better for me?

We hear you loud and clear. And that is why we’ve come up with an easy-to-understand guide that will shed some light on the two strains, particularly their differences.

Ultimately, you want to choose the strain that will do the job, even if it’s going against what everyone else is saying. You don’t want to invest in an effective, albeit expensive, health supplement on just hearsay.

So, just as we did with other strains, let’s get into the differences between Bali Gold and Gold Maeng Da, and discuss which might be the better option for you. 

Bali Gold Vs Gold Maeng Da – Getting Straight to the Basics

Both Bali Gold and Gold Maeng Da are used for incredible Kratom effects.

As evident by its name, Gold Bali or Borneo Yellow Vein comes from the riverbanks around the Bali islands in Southeast Asia. The rainforests in Bali provide the perfect humid environment for the fermentation process required in growing Bali Gold. What’s more, the soil is rich in alkaloid matter, the essential component of any strain. Bali Gold results from harvesting and fermenting red vein Kratom in a particular way. Keep reading further to see how it’s done.

The word Maeng da, in Gold Maeng Da or Gold Horn, comes from the Thai word ’’pimp grade’’. You combine the green & white strains and sun-dry the leaves after removing the stems & the veins. Farmers keep the leaves moist throughout the drying season, which imparts a unique gold color to the strain. And the result is the potent strain- Gold Maeng Da.

Bali Gold vs Gold Maeng Da – The Major Differences

Source of Origin

Starting with the source of the origin for the two strains, they both come from Southeast Asia. However, they originate from different places in Southeast Asia.

Bali Gold grows around the river banks of the Bali islands within the jungles in Indonesia. On the other hand, Gold Maeng da grows in the jungles of the in-lands in Thailand. As far as Bali Gold goes, it is exclusively grown on the Bali islands in Indonesia. However, Maeng da also grows in other southeast countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. 

Uses

Speaking from experience, Gold Bali’s effects lean more towards inducing relaxation. This is why it has been termed with the best soothing Kratom strain out there. 

Coming to Gold Maeng da, its effects are a combination of inducing stimulation and relaxation simultaneously. And that’s not all. Gold Maeng da is also particularly famous for providing euphoric effects. And this perfect blend of helping you increase focus and boosting energy is why Gold Maeng da is my personal favourite. 

Here’s what Bali Gold is best for;

Here’s what Gold Maeng Da is best for;

How Are They Grown?

Starting with Gold Maeng Da, you need to know that this strain doesn’t occur naturally. On that note, neither does Gold Bali occur naturally. In short, both strains are created rather than grown naturally. And here’s how it’s done.

Farmers generally use a combination of Green and White Vein Kratom strains to create the Gold Maeng Da. They remove the stems off the mitragynine speciosa leaves and leave them to dry in the sun. And this is where the golden magic happens. The leaves start turning a beautiful shade of golden while drying in the sun. Keep in mind that the drying process for Gold Maeng Da is vastly different from other strains. Here the leaves are kept moist throughout the drying process, which takes around ten days. 

Next off is the Bali Gold that is grown in a couple of different ways. The first way is via the sun drying method. Farmers obtain the red vein mitragyna speciosa from the humid environments of rainforests and sun-dry it. Here the roasting process turns the leaves golden and increases the potency of the alkaloid content.

Another method of cultivating Bali Gold is via fermentation. Farmers ferment the red Bali using sunlight and water. And similar to the first method discussed above, the leaves turn golden, and the alkaloid profile increases. 

Lastly, farmers can also grow Gold Bali by mixing two different strains, including red Bali and green Bali. When you mix the two stains, the result is a yellowish or golden coloured strain. And again, the end strain Gold Bali is a whole lot more potent than the parent strains.

Dosage

Potency

Gold Maeng da will always come out on top when it comes to potency and strength. Here’s why. Generally, all Maeng da strains contain a higher amount of active compounds, i.e. alkaloids – responsible for rendering all Kratom effects. And the more the alkaloids, the higher the potency.

But don’t take this the wrong way. By no means is Bali Gold inferior. It is still a pretty decent strain that has rendered exceptional benefits in Kratom users. However, we suggest Bali gold only to those of you who are looking for something a little less potent. So if you are someone who is just starting their Kratom journey or want to keep your total intake minimal, Bali Gold is the way to go. 

How Long Their Effects Last?

Surprisingly enough: When it comes to how long their effects last, they aren’t much different. Both Bali Gold and Gold Maeng da’s effects will last you around three to four at best. Of course, this depends entirely on how much you consume.

However, the time required for their effects to start showing, aka the action time, is slightly different. Where Gold Bali takes around twenty to thirty minutes to render its effect on your body, Gold Maeng da will only take ten minutes to do so. And this is due to the higher number of active alkaloids present in Gold Maeng da. 

Smell

A common question that most users are interested in is, ‘’What does Kratom Smell like’’?

To answer your question, Kratom generally has an earthy smell to it. Users often find the smell similar to that of green tea. Also, some strains have an incredibly unpleasant smell which often leads to halitosis, aka bad breath. The good news is that this is a problem that a mint gum or a brushing session can easily fix.

As far as Bali Gold and Gold Maeng Da goes, the smell is slightly different. Where Gold Maeng has a strong earthy smell to it, Bali Gold’s smell is often likened to that of Matcha powdered green tea. 

Bali Gold vs Gold Maeng Da – The Breakdown Chart

Bali Gold Vs Gold Maeng Da – Which Is Better For Me?

Clearly, in comparing Bali Gold vs Gold Maeng Da, it’s a tight race. And the fact of the matter is that choosing between the two strains comes down to personal choice. 

If you are new to Kratom and want to try a mild, albeit effective strain, Gold Bali is the way to go. Whereas, if you are already well familiar with the herb and are looking for the unique, potent strain on the market, Gold Maeng Da might be the perfect option for you.

Whichever way you go, remember to make sure that you buy Kratom online from a reputable vendor that is fully transparent with their product ingredients. Ideally, you should be able to see third-party lab testing on their websites.

Better yet, read reviews from real-life users here to better understand the two strains.

And remember, always do your research before consuming a new strain, or for that matter, trying anything new in general.  Do you have experience using Bali Gold or Gold Maeng Da? We would love to know more about your journey.

Jennifer Kurtz

Jennifer Kurtz is a founder of KratomGuides.com and studied medicine at the New Jersey School of Medicine (Rutgers). She is passionate about developing her knowledge of Kratom, and nutritional supplements. In addition to attending medical webinars and conferences, she loves to write research-based articles for magazines, healthcare professionals, and medical agencies. Jennifer is always looking to develop her knowledge for the Kratom through scientific researches and frequently asked questions of customers looking to buy kratom from reliable sources.