Kava Kava Powder

ABOUT KAVA POWDER

Where did the idea for kava powder originate? Kava pounding seems to have originated in Pohnpei or Samoa from what we have read. In all cultures that drink kava, the biggest challenge they face is to get the kava root from its natural form into something that can be infused in water to allow for the maximum extraction of kavalactones. In order for that to occur the maximum surface area of the kava root needs to be able to be saturated with water. Kava powder does indeed produce this maximum surface area. Long ago, someone figured out that taking dried kava root and pounding it with stones was a feasible option to creating kava powder. Our new line of Stone Kava was made to honor the tradition of pounding kava root on a kava stone. If you want some really fine kava powder, try our Tongan kava powder. It is exactly what you are looking for.  

KAVA POWDER VS. COARSE GROUND KAVA

We are frequently asked what the difference is between using kava powder and coarse ground Raga style kava when preparing the kava drink. We will attempt to tackle that question. For starters, kava powder can come in many grades of fineness. The finer the kava is ground the more powdery it will become. Working with very fine kava powder is difficult at best. It becomes airborne very easily and seems to coat all surrounding surfaces with a light dusting whenever it is used. Breathing in this fine particulate kava powder may not be very healthy at all. Also, very fine kava powder is hard to use to make kava Vanuatu style. In Vanuatu the extraction of kavalctones is more dependent on mechanical pressure applied while squeezing the soaked root stock than amount of kava root suspend in solution.When kava is made in Fiji for example, the fine,wet kava powder is massaged out of the kava cloth and the kavalactones end up in the kava by default with the suspended kava powder. When the powder is too fine it takes on a slippery, "muddy" consistency and it is very hard to squeeze indeed. As the coarseness of the ground kava powder increases in size the ability to put a very strong squeeze on it also increases to a point. Squeezing very hard is the true secret to making strong kava because the kavalactones are not water soluble and must be extracted with brute force. Kava made from kava powder often contains more fiber than that made from Raga kava. Consuming too much fiber can lead to intestinal cramping from our experience. Human stomachs do not digest cellulose fiber. This is probably why the cramping occurs.

We believe that we have found the optimal coarseness of kava powder for making the strongest kava tea possible. Try our new kava powder and see for yourself.