New to Kava? A Quick Guide

What is kava?

Kava is an ancient plant from the South Pacific islands, where it has been prepared as a traditional drink of peace and community for over 3000 years. Learn more about the plant, drink and its effects →

Like wine or coffee, kava comes in different cultivars, each with its own character. Learn what makes the best cultivars →

And like any food product, quality matters enormously. See why processing matters →

What does kava do?

The kava experience depends on your choice of cultivar and how you prepare and consume it.

In Pacific island cultures, kava has long been enjoyed for its calming, grounding qualities and its ability to foster unhurried conversation. It induces sociability and a feeling of harmony without diminishing mental clarity or awareness. Many people describe it as helping them slow down and be present.

Professor Robert Gregory from Massey University captured the experience well:

"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 social drinks. While coffee gives a mild buzz and kick of energy, kava is known for its gentle calming qualities. It's regulated as a food product in New Zealand.

Where to start? Which kava to choose first?

Your best options are traditional ground roots (for the fullest experience) or instant kava (for convenience). We don't recommend kava pills or extracts. Here's why →

For a full comparison of kava forms, see our guide →

Traditionally, kava was consumed fresh, immediately after harvest. That's when it's at its best. Our obsession has been capturing that fresh kava experience in shelf-stable form. Our kava is made exclusively from carefully selected noble cultivars, organically grown and harvested to order. Processing takes place within days at an advanced HACCP-certified facility (the gold standard for food safety) with in-house laboratory, using proprietary drying methods developed to preserve fresh kava's character. Every batch is tested for purity and potency, then vacuum-sealed or nitrogen-flushed to lock in freshness. See what makes our kava exceptional →

We specialise in specific noble cultivars, each with a distinct profile.

For beginners, we recommend:

• Instant Green — Our smooth, balanced instant blend. Classic Vanuatu character, no straining required.
• Melo Melo (traditional or instant) — Our most balanced single cultivar. Warm, mellow, good for any time of day.
• Palarasul (traditional or instant) — Perhaps our smoothest cultivar. Pleasant and uplifting, particularly suited to social or creative sessions.
• Borogoru (traditional or instant) — A classic "heavy" kava. Best for evening wind-down when you want to fully switch off.
• Pacific Elixir (traditional grind) — Our flagship blend. A balanced all-rounder for any occasion.

What's the difference? Single cultivars like Melo Melo or Palarasul deliver a consistent, specific character every time. Our blends (Pacific Elixir and Instant Green) may vary slightly between batches depending on cultivar availability.

Note: Traditional grind requires a strainer bag for filtering. Instant can be mixed straight with water or juice.

How to prepare and drink it?

Traditional preparation involves kneading dried root powder in water and straining. It's a calming ritual in itself, and delivers the fullest experience.

Instant preparation is simpler: stir powder into water and drink.

Our complete preparation guide shows you exactly how to make perfect kava, with video. For session tips, see how to make your kava session great.