New to Kava? A Quick Guide
What is kava?
Kava is an ancient plant and a traditional drink of peace from the islands of the South Pacific. Kava has been consumed for social, cultural, medicinal and political reasons for millennia. Kava is regulated as a food product in New Zealand (and across the Pacific). There are quite a few different kava cultivars (just like there are numerous coffee or wine varieties) with distinct characteristics. You can read more about the kava plant and drink here, and about different kava cultivars here and about our selection of cultivars here.
What are the effects of kava?
The effects of kava depend on such factors as the choice of cultivar, the quality of a specific product (you can read more about kava quality issues here), and the methods of both preparation and consumption (you can read about the different ways in which kava is consumed here). Generally, kava is known for its relaxing properties and ability to induce sociability and a feeling of harmony without diminishing mental clarity or awareness. For many users, kava is a pleasant, soothing drink that relieves fatigue, relaxes the body after hard work or effort, clarifies the mind and brings a sense of well-being.
Robert J. Gregory (a Professor of Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand) offered perhaps the best description of the nature of the kava experience:
Kava makes you quiet and able to think and listen to your thoughts. Your mind opens to what has been and should be done. The subjective feeling after kava is to be slowed down, for it almost forces one to become quiet. Sometimes it is like entering a light relaxed dream. The altered state of consciousness is subtle and mild. Noise, interference with thought processes, bright lights, movement, all hinder the effect, the mildly altered stream of thought. The effect is maintained only if there is peace and quiet.
Many people like to compare drinking kava to the opposite of drinking coffee. Both are used as social drinks. While the latter can give a mild buzz and "kick" of energy, the former is known for its gentle calming and relaxing effects.
Where to start? Which kava to choose first?
If, like traditional kava users, leading kava experts and us, you want to stick to real kava (as opposed to “kava pills” - read this post to understand the difference), your two options are to either use traditional kava roots or instant kava. Traditional kava means fresh or dried kava roots that need to be agitated in water and filtered with a strainer cloth. Instant kava is simply the dehydrated version of the ready kava drink (you can read more about the difference between kava forms and types here)
We specialise in the highest quality kava (read why to choose our kava here, and learn about our gold standard selection and processing techniques here). Our kava shop has a wide selection of both traditional and instant kava powders. Each product is made using a different kava cultivar (or a blend of cultivars), which means it offers a slightly different experience. You can find more information about our range of kava cultivars here.
We generally recommend starting with a more balanced cultivar or blend. We think that the best single cultivar options for a beginner (though also popular among veteran drinkers) would be either Bir Kar (traditional grind version or instant) or Melo Melo (traditional grind or instant). Our Pacific Elixir blend (traditional grind) and our Instant Green blend (instant) are also suitable option for new drinkers who aren’t sure what they are looking for in kava, but unlike our single cultivar products their profile can vary from batch to batch as each batch is made from a different composition of cultivars. If you choose traditional grind kava (which offers the richest experience - just like making coffee from whole coffee beans offer a fuller experience than making a cup of instant coffee), don’t forget you will need a strainer bag to filter it. If you choose one of our excellent instants, you don’t don’t need any accessories.
How to prepare and drink it?
It’s easy! Traditionally, kava is made by mixing fresh or dried roots with water and filtering tough fibres out with a strainer bag. This traditional preparation method is quite relaxing in itself. But if you are in a hurry or want to start the easiest way possible, you can also use instant kava. Visit our kava preparation page for simple instructions (including a quick video!) on how best to make and drink your kava. Also check out our blog post on how to make your kava session great.
Other Questions?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or check out of Kava Blog. If still need answers, feel free to contact us.