Transparent gesso?

I have only been painting seriously for a couple of years and have used maybe 5 brands of gesso in that time. I always gesso my canvases to make them stronger and smooth out the canvas weave.

Is transparent gesso just as good as regular white/black/beige/whatever gesso, or is it better to use the appropriate coloured gesso, assuming you can find it?

I think of "universal" gesso as a white acrylic paint with chalky stuff in it. The transparent gesso I have tried is much more toothy, I'm not sure why