Why Choose Our Kava

Our Vision

Our kava shop has grown organically out of our informal Auckland University Kava Society (you can read about our story here). From the beginning of our kava journey, we've had one simple goal: to enjoy amazing, authentic kava without needing to travel to remote islands of the South Pacific.

Traditionally, kava was prepared using the finest noble cultivars and mature, healthy plants. It was consumed fresh, immediately after harvest, following meticulous cleaning and peeling, retaining a fresh, pleasant aroma and rich properties. It is still consumed this way in traditional communities in Vanuatu. Unfortunately, nothing resembling this quality experience was available in New Zealand. We decided to change it.

Working with our Vanuatu friends and through years of research and development, we've created kava powders as close to the authentic traditional green kava experience as modern technology allows.

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How Our Kava Is Made

It has taken us mountains of samples, hundreds of sampling sessions and thousands of kilometres of travel around the Pacific to select the rare and unique kavas we currently drink and sell. We are in close contact with kava growers and processors, and can trace every batch to its source.

Our processing partners only work with green plants that farmers harvest to order and deliver as fresh as possible. This is a very unique approach in the kava industry, as most other exporters buy village-dried roots, which are cheaper and require less effort but inevitably of lower quality.

Unlike village-dried roots, our fresh plants are meticulously peeled and washed using purified water, then dried using proprietary methods perfected over many years of research and development. The technology and techniques are specifically designed to preserve the aroma, taste, and, most importantly, the effects of freshly harvested green kava as closely as possible, while ensuring rigorous food safety at every step. Nobody in the industry comes close to this level of care. This truly is the world's best kava, by every measure.

In addition to obviously superior quality, this level of care and purity means our powders are also significantly more potent per gram than most sold in New Zealand and beyond. A small amount goes a long way.

We import small vacuum-sealed or nitrogen-flushed batches using the fastest shipping options possible. While this means extra costs, it dramatically reduces the risk of spoilage and gives us kava with unsurpassed freshness, potency and aroma. All of our kavas are packed in durable, air-tight zip-lock bags and are either vacuum sealed or purged with nitrogen to ensure maximum freshness.

Check out this blog post to understand our process in more detail.

Pictured above: kava root chopping machine preparing a fresh batch of our kava

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Organically Grown

Our kava is sourced from farmers working on their own or their community's land in pristine, fertile kava growing areas of Vanuatu. It is grown using traditional methods without chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides. We know that the kava plant absorbs its surroundings, so the clean air, fertile volcanic soil and clean water are essential elements responsible for our kava's purity, character and effects.

Each plant matures for 3-5+ years using traditional organic farming methods passed down through generations. Our partners on the islands cultivate specific single cultivars in regions best suited for each variety, ensuring optimal growing conditions and the fullest expression of each cultivar's unique character.

Pictured above: Our kava farmers and a local plant quality expert examining kava plants in a community garden on the island of Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu)

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Food Safety and Batch Testing

We only sell kava in its pure and traditional form: no adulterants, no aerial parts of the kava plant, no additives, no fillers. All our kava is compliant with the New Zealand Food Standard (2.6.3) for kava and processed in a dedicated, food-grade, HACCP-certified facility. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is the international gold standard for food safety management, ensuring strict hygiene and safety controls at every stage of production.

Many kava vendors claim to test their products. Few publish the results. We maintain a publicly accessible database of detailed certificates of analysis for every single batch of kava you can buy on our website, covering the chemical composition of key active compounds as well as compliance with strict purity and microbiological standards. To the best of our knowledge we are the only kava vendor in New Zealand to offer this level of transparency.

An analyst at the in-house laboratory in Vanuatu

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Supporting Kava Farmers and Kava Science

By buying our kava products you support our kava growing friends across the Pacific, as well as our research activities and our mission of kava advocacy and responsible kava consumption in New Zealand and around the world.

Our single cultivar range has afforded local growers the opportunity to value-add to their raw products based on the quality of their harvest and their cultivation skills, as well as the opportunity to showcase cultivars that have been unique to their region and local customs.

Pictured above: One of our kava suppliers

We don't just carefully study kava; we support and participate in various kava research projects in New Zealand and overseas. Over the years we've organised academic workshops, seminars and conferences on kava. We are in regular contact with some of the key kava researchers. You can be assured that we select our kavas in accordance with the latest kava science and the recommendations of the leading kava experts.

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Experience and Community

We've been sourcing and selling kava since 2011, making us one of New Zealand's longest-running kava suppliers. In that time we've co-founded Auckland's Four Shells Kava Lounge, New Zealand's largest kava venue, and built a reputation backed by consistently excellent customer reviews.

Kava is our biggest passion, and we're always happy to chat about it. If you have any questions about our products, preparation, or anything kava-related, get in touch.