First and foremost because I've been blown away by the consistency of favorites HL has provided me. Vendors provide the "mojo" we seek in the occasional "fire" we find and it is acceptable for stuff to often just be "great"-but after ordering and observing for a significant amount of time and drops I can say safely "great" would not be suitable for HL's menu standard... excellence or bust is the bar, and the bar is high.
Also... and I have to be honest... even though I can't assume this to always be the case, because it would be terribly time consuming- after placing some order's, the lovely miss running HL actually went out of her way to state plainly "be sure to let me know you are satisfied and if not please let me replace whichever doesn't work for you".... I can count on a single hand how many times someone has gone out of their way to touch base and say that before the leaf has even arrived on my doorstep. I mean really, who goes out of their way to GUARANTEE their leaf? Someone 110 percent confident, which makes me a consumer feel so as well
No, that ^ is in no way akin to a ginormous blanket statement on a website saying guaranteed or your money back. That is a human being saying "let me know I knocked this out of the park for you and here is you're invitational to be honest with me about it"- there is obvious distinction and it is the hallmark of the brave who believe in their product as well as their customers.
Enough exposition now, yes????
I'm sorry, but with the aforementioned being the case, I'd be a negligent kratomic journalist to have left it at "great leaf and great service, two thumbs up" 
Gold Kedamin : Speed mid, low mid as it scales to higher grammage : I say often Gold's are really integral blenders for me. Without getting into it, they impart anxiolytic qualities for me that aren't always inherent so a fantastic gold is one I can reliably blend to achieve this as part of the equation. Sometimes though, a gold is robust and well rounded enough to stand on its own two feet in my book and there just IS something characteristically exquisite about the GK that elevates to a tier of "i dont want to compromise what this offers me". A chatty-cathy nootropic-edged extrovert slam dance into mild muscular meltdown-for-the-count netflix my way to another day capped with pleasant dreams strain
why would I want to mess with that?? Red Kedamin 2 :slow: I don't need to be windy about this one here- its the heavy red I scour menus for. I really like a euphoric 1-2 punch knockout red on my shelf and I loved this enough to double dip.
Green Kedamin 4 : mid slow: See a trend here???
-- Well truly I say, pay attention because the Kedamin strains are special. GK4 once again tends to my propensity for slowly coasting on cruise control through the tumult of the day.NOTE: I favored these kedamin strains for the analgesic qualities as well- the red in particular (obviously) blending into faster strains to slow them, and my agony, down reliably.
Premium Green Vein : fast: i take far less fast strains both in quantity and frequency. I've never liked how caffeine makes me feel. I just run naturally on all cylinders so when I DO take faster greens and whites I'm picky in certain respects.... I like looong steady stream stamina and mental fortitude- I want to jog a marathon AND be happy about it (I like to run alot-LOL)- I don't appreciate when faster strains get inherently more manic and tense feeling as I increase dosage, moreover I appreciate a more pronounced duration.
So when the consensus is "fast" not everything will just suit the profile I want. A lot of words to say I'm sensitive to ill effects of some fast leaf
So as to not be redundant the Premium Jungle White also struck the same chords.
Dark White Malay Mid /dose dependent : this is a very productive and creatively focused strain for me. Motivational in the best senses to embark on a cardio- clean- a- thon and reorganize and categorize the closet stash
.... again!! Yea, it's funny but it is SERIOUS - I need a strain like this in my life for creating good art and sitting with the monotony of it lovingly and willfully. Strains that quell the capacity for distraction by all the shiny tempting things that whirl about in the peripheral vision so as to focus on a goal.I believe the "dark" refers to the curing process involved being sundried as to darken it compared to otherwise. I note this because other HL "dark" strains have various processing methods and these do lend inherent qualities. It isn't simply coincidence of naming convention- so i pay attention and scoop these up as I have enjoyed each since may/june.
Sial Baik Bali : full spectrum - robust mid : talking about kratom often involves just talking about talking.. often with perfect strangers
if that sounds identifiable to you and you appreciate being able to find the secretarial duties in life to be what you look forward to this COULD be the strain for you 
- i mean, the inclination towards extrovert'ish tendencies isn't always something I can find, or want to find in a strain but IS exceedingly valuable and inherent in many of these referenced and preferred in this review. It's difficult to not repeat myself but at least I can enjoy doing so with some of these! TECHNICAL STUFF: Grind is important to me. I favor certain vendors specifically that I deem "grind perfect" and they are my reorders because I need the versatility to make tea as that is my preferential way to dose. It is unrealistic to seek strictly crushed leaf for this and miss out on fantastic strains. That said, I'll rarely review anything without a congruent toss and wash at least in part because I do find tea to vary with some strains. I dose considerably higher with a toss and wash equivalent of between 4 and 8g depending... that creeps up to a stack of bonus g's of heavy reds toward bedtime
.... I know this can matter to some reading a review to know where I am coming from but the key note being I have dosed consistently in this fashion, with preference to tea, for a long time now to discern both what to expect and what I like. And being that I hit higher gram numbers sometimes (often) that is also why i reference that these I reviewed well, work well at those higher numerals without causing unwanted side effects. ------
UPDATE
Yellow Gold 2 The recently released yellow gold 2 really demanded attention. Almost an antithesis to the Gold Kedamin I reviewed favorably above, the YG2 suits me much earlier in the day when I don't have the wherewithal to feel as though approaching life is a good idea
If I twisted up a good mental disposition with the pizazz to move enthusiastically on the motivation AND put a pretty bow on it I'd have the YG2. I can see this being a strain I re-update my assessment on with more time, as my relationship with it deepens to an empty bag - LoL-------
UPDATE
White Kedamin 2 I think I am becoming committed to the name "Kedamin" - no joke, this white is a daytime red the likes of which REALLY suit my tastes. Yes, I said daytime red. It is just one of those slower euphoric whites that maybe got sun-kissed to a cozy perfection. Incredible accolades to the lady of the hour for bringing these strains my way and this one in particular I am ashamed to say I slept on as it is just as satisfying as the other Kedamin, maybe a little more so than the green 4 to me even
Classic Red I was lucky enough to get a chance to test this before the upcoming drop. This is a bent that is NOT for the faint of heart
I predict this will be a seriously well regarded strain though so I'm doing that thing where I shoot myself in the foot and impress upon anyone who is enticed by uber potent mood lifting bents- get an order in on the drop cause I promise I and any other who tested will be reordering this. The grind itself is a bit coarse with bonus stem and vein material- fantastic for anyone brewing tea and looking for something truly novel. One of the few honeymoon burns I've had since exiting my "mondo burn" induction into kratom and then discovering some TFH gems of the last year 
ALSO ON THIS UPDATE: I corrected my typo in the subject line of this post
someone could have called me out on that ya know!! --------
UPDATE
Classic Green This strain is most assuredly in the running for one of my favorite 2021 selections. I've been enjoying kratom for a good minute, and still this managed to shake things up with an incredibly characteristic burn and unique enough profile to remind me of the honeymoon burns of yesteryear
It was a fast offering with all the kratomic bells and whistles one hopes for- great mood and body, solid relief and just the right twinge of extrovert to REALLY get me talking! -- It sold out fast but I highly suggest keeping an eye out for it in trades or however one can procure some. Quite the treat and illustrative of just how an endearing and exotic strain may humbly hide behind a simple unassuming name.Classic Gold If one were to slow down the well rounded majesty of the classic green a bit and aim for a more riveting evening as opposed to feeling as though they could save the world- than by comparison you would have the classic gold! Many gold's I champion as efficient blender's because they reliably impart their qualities to the mix but some stand on the foundation of their own experience and the classic gold is a fine example of the latter total mid spec package.
Pink Cloud Pink blends can be hit or miss. We all desire the glow and exuberance a solid white can provide coupled with the relief of a fine red. Sadly just adding a red to white doesn't always achieve this symphonic aim with one strain dominating the other creating a real kratom cacophony. In a perfect world however, we have pink cloud. A faster yet soothing orchestra moving to a beat all it's own where both red's and white's can play in the same band harmoniously!!
NOTE: If you are following my reviews and reading this, it would be wise to note that I suspect strongly the HL cloud strains to be released soon are NOT to be missed. I will report in upon more cloud's prior to release based on what I am graced with by way of testing.
Super Red Borneo Sometimes the job calls for a straight shooting heavy red with one goal of getting me in bed and keeping me there! Often times I find even strains people report as slow are still energizing and not conducive to a good nights sleep. The strains that actually satiate with such duration to evoke 7-8 hours comfortably with my lids shut are treasures and such is the SRB. Should be noted, I think this one's sweet spot really comes to light dosed a bit higher.
Classic Green 2 Naturally with how much I loved the first classic green I was trying to go into 2 without expectations. And as it turned out, that was precisely how to approach CG2 because it is the anti-thesis of CG1 in the best possible way! Where CG1 compelled me to be a social butterfly, CG2 makes holding a game controller in my hands for the evening VERY enticing
- It's a feel good, uplifting bag of happy with just about as much pain relief as I could hope for out of strain be it green or red OR otherwise. It's most dominating suit for me was as an anxiety slaying beast, ranking high as my weapon of choice to battle uneasiness inherent with adulting Gold Borneo I must include this one in this listing as well, right after classic green 2 because it too does it's part in the battle that ensues in my mind!! LOL-- If classic green 2 was my sword to combat anxiety than gold borneo would be my shield to protect against negativity. Mid- leaning slow enough to make one calm as a cucumber with a bit creative flair. Good for applying my mind to an endeavor without a hint or self doubt roaming about in my grey matter. I've more on the way and may update this one when I get a better opportunity to see how well it scales up to higher grammage doses as well as its reliability for blending.
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Red Kedamin 3 I am somewhat in awe of the RK3 here. I am going to call this a straight SLOW offering. I did have some lofty praise for RK2 which I will champion as a fire strain if ever there was one to scorch my receptors
but I DO feel like RK3 cranked up the heat a bit! Firstly, where I found RK2 to work it's magic dosed higher (and I dose most red's higher)- RK3 was very pleasurable at low doses offering a motivational alternative to a nightcap-indulgence sporting some additional weight. Warm and comforting for a snooze and uplifting enough to read for hours before I shut my eyelids. Probably pure coincidence but I noted some vivid dreams after making this my final selection for the evening, not once but twice. As a dude who rarely dreams (or recalls them) I'm giving RK3 some of the credit for the cerebral REM activity.Classic Green 3 FAST!! More in line with CG1 than CG2 was, the return to form of CG3 is welcome! I had more emphatic motivation from CG1 which I touted as well-rounded, but now I find in contrast CG3 works a bit better as a jack of all trades. It's fast for sure but easier to sit down and enjoy something or have a great time pretending I truly AM an extrovert
The very signature feeling of CG1's super hero powers seem absent but a more reliable steady energy and head oriented mood boost provides a more conventional speedy burn for those who may not want to sign up for something quite as riveting as it's predecessor.Green Putussibau Mid, leaning slow at higher doses. This is great sober-minded offering that I imagine would really satisfy fans of the Dark White Malay I listed in the past. Sometimes, all I want from a strain is to be calm and collected with enough relief to believe I'm still in my 20's and operating unhindered by my mind and body's failing. Dosed higher for the slow down I do find a great deal of comfort here making it quite the "red" green, without sedation, if that's the flavor one is hoping to be served up!
Yellow PMD Mid, energy unaffected and completely worth the time of a yellow/gold lover looking for the intrinsic notion the world is in fact a beautiful place to be! In all seriousness, it's hard to talk about a yellow such as this without bringing up what I want a true yellow to do well and that is just make my skull a comfortable casing for my grey matter. Great yellow's achieved through oxidation and not just strictly blending have a hallmark of making everything seem "right" to me. In this sense, I understand where kratom fans come from who say "they don't work" because some of the best DON'T work to achieve conventional burns...... Instances when I know a shift in the trajectory of my thinking is necessary, now THAT is when a strain such as this can flex it's muscle. Blended and dosed higher with a selection such as the super red borneo may make my couch infinitely more comfortable for a night off and alleviate all the guilt associated in taking it easy!
Silver Cloud Upper MID almost FAST! It's got too much mood and chin lift (optimism) for me to call it a tank of gasoline but saying it's anything short of GREAT workout strain would be selling it short. I really enjoyed testing this one for it's respective drop and feel like it could easily prove a strain to retroactively be sought after when it's availability is inevitably a thing of the past. The duration for something as uplifting is noteworthy, flexing it's own special brand brain boost. I wouldn't hesitate to sign off on this for anyone who enjoys consistently peppy whites or greens.
Amber Cloud MID leaning slooow..... I almost wanted to say this one is JUST slow but whenever I get myself moving about and talking it's like a ball in motion- it just keeps gaining momentum. Some impressive bodily relief is the signature mask it wears, appropriating the "cloud" moniker as one can find themselves floating from one thing to the next until their following dose
UPDATE
Classic Green 4 Fast!! Fast onset, great energy, fast thinking, even faster lips
Really, speed is the identity of CG4 at it's best but it may be worth writing home about the mood boost as well. I am really impressed with the fact that now at 4 iterations, none have proven lackluster with this one probably being my favorite. I said the super powers imparted in CG1 were not inherent in the last 2 despite them still being favorable to me whereas 4 is absolutely a return to super-human-form.PMDD15 I won't lie, not every single one of the PMDD's were exactly enthralling with some being head and shoulders above the rest for my particular tastes. Objectively speaking they all worked reliably but 15 hits a signature note of "all is well and right with the world". Mid spec and just "comfortable" or "content" is the best way I can convey the good day in a bag that is 15. If one fears getting their socks knocked off with speed of CG4 above than PMDD15 could be RIGHT on the money!
Gold Kedamin 3 Fantastic day ender and another that appropriately pays homage to that which came before it.... this is a very fitting continuation of the anxiety slaying tradition that has been GK1 and 2. To go into greater detail would be a more colorful re-telling of how I admonished GK1 and that should sound like a GOOD thing considering GK1 is not available. Absolutely one to grab for any who felt bummed they missed the others!
UPDATE
TWO SNEAK PREVIEWS OF THIS INCOMING DROP (6/25) IN ENTERTAINING "CANDLE CODE" FORMAT
**Platinum White** ::: I'll concede officially this candle melts fast but deceptively so, in a great way! The aroma fills the room slowly, lending to a calmer happier environment, the likes I'd expect from some cool-as-a-cucumber mid-spec-melting-green-fragrance. However, the flame burns HOT, that wax picks up the pace and before I know it I'm signing up for some bonus cardio just because it smells THAT riveting
A fast fragrance for those who genuinely appreciate the pizazz even when adding more material for bigger candle. That is to say, I didn't find the rate this melted to slow down whatsoever when scaling up for a stronger scent. Don't burn at night... smells so invigorating it might wake the neighbor up
**SG Samarinda** ::: A positively soothing scent if ever I did smell one, with a hint of some excitement behind the scenes. If you could smell a winning lottery ticket before scratching it off I'm positive it would smell like SGS .... In fact whip up some candle or incense, breathe in, breathe out, buy the ticket and put it in your pocket and you may just walk around believing it IS a winner for at least a few hours.
Ok all kidding aside, this one proves a tried and true "any time of the day" is a good time to aromatize the environs type of burn. I mean, really i ask you, is there any time of the day you don't want it to smell like you won the lottery??? I don't know about you guys but generally my back doesn't even hurt when it smells that good (ok perhaps I couldn't put the lottery thing aside quite yet )
This one DOES burn slower when using more material to craft you're incense, candle or cone. An approach that proves very appealing as an odoriferous fashion to bring one's day to a close.
This is FANTASTIC first impression from the new supplier. To put that in perspective, my personal favorite has been supplier D, while other suppliers have provided fire in their own right with some sincere gems- and SG Samarinda is a refreshing, potent set of smelly alkaloids to sit pretty next to all those "favorites".
If anyone has membership inquiry or the like PMing me is welcome. If PM isn't your cup of tea (pun intended) email away.. [email protected]
