Here at Kavahana, we want everyone to love and drink kava as much as we do. But we know that involves building trust and helping you have a great experience from the start. To do that, we created a list of our top tips and tricks to keep in mind when you are beginning your kava journey.
Drink kava on an empty stomach
When your stomach is empty, there is nothing else for the kava to compete with for absorption. This means that the active ingredients in kava, called kavalactones, can be absorbed quickly and efficiently. Drinking kava at least 3-4 hours after a meal or snack is best. Traditionally, kava is drunk as an after-work beverage before going home for the day, similar to going out for a drink with friends after the work day.
Use room temperature or cool water to make traditional kava
There are a few different ways to make kava, but we recommend starting with the traditional way. It’s the most time-intensive, but it’s a great introduction to the culture and preparation of kava. The key is to use room temperature or cool tap water when you mix the kava root. It’s not too hot and not too cool, but just right.
You’ll take the kava powder and put into a cloth tea bag for steeping. You want to be sure that you are massaging the kava around while you steep to be get all the kavalactones out. You’ll do this for about 3-5 minutes or until the water becomes a chocolatey brown in color.
For a more detailed description of how to make traditional kava, check out our article on the four ways to make kava at home.
You may get some unexpected feelings but for the better
The most common and well-known effect of kava is its ability to make you feel relaxed, mentally calm, and social. There are different types of kava that have different effects. Some are heady, where you feel the effects mentally; calm, focused, and social. The other is heavy, where the feelings are more in your body; limbs are heavy, and you feel tired and calm. It’s important to know what type of kava you use so you know what feelings to expect.
Kava also can give your mouth and tongue a tingling feeling. It may even feel a little numb. This is due to the different kavalactones in the kava root. Kavalactones are kava’s active ingredients and have different effects on your nervous system. This ranges from the calming and relaxing kava it is known for to an anesthetic or numbing effect that you feel in your mouth.
The quality of kava matters
The quality of kava you drink can seriously impact your experience. Poorly sourced kava may use other parts of the kava plant rather than the root, which affects the strength of the kava and how it makes you feel. We recommend buying from small, Pacific Island farmers who produce fresh, high-quality kava. This has the added bonus of supporting the cultural tradition of kava, which is important when consuming it.
Kava can give you a reverse tolerance
Most of us have heard of tolerance when talking about drugs and alcohol. This is when you need more substance to get the same effects. For example, as we drink alcohol, we need more alcohol to get us to feel the tipsy effects.
Well, with kava, it’s the opposite. Kava is a natural adaptogen; it helps support your body’s response to emotional and physical stress. This means the more kava you drink, the less you need to get the same effect. This is called a “reverse tolerance”. As we drink kava, our bodies learn to manage stress, and the effect of kava is less noticeable since we are experiencing less stress. You can find the right strength in kava in the long term.
You may not feel the effects when you drink kava at first
For some new users, they don’t feel the effects right away. Don’t lose hope! Many factors affect how kava affects us.
Some things to think about:
- It’s important to remember everybody is different. If you are a larger person, you may need to drink more kava than your smaller friends to get the effects. (Similar to alcohol).
- As mentioned above, it’s important to drink kava on an empty stomach to fully absorb it without competing with other nutrients.
- Not preparing kava correctly or drinking low-quality kava could also be a factor.
- It’s also important that you are drinking the right dose for you, so make sure you measure properly if preparing it on your own.
- If you follow these simple strategies, you are bound to have a great kava experience—and hopefully, the first of many.
* Please note that the majority of kava research pertains to kava extracts, which often undergo significant processing and may contain additional ingredients and fillers that can influence their efficacy. It is crucial to consider this distinction when reading about kava studies. To draw an analogy, enjoying natural kava as a beverage can be likened to experiencing a freshly brewed cappuccino, whereas kava extracts are akin in functionality to a caffeine pill. Both forms have their unique benefits and can cater to different preferences and needs. While it’s helpful to understand research on kava extracts, please view it critically and remember that natural kava offers a uniquely holistic experience.
