Zaphod
Kava Lover
@Mrbinx69 and @verticity I had some free time this week, while at home watching a sick kid, to finally go back and try both of your methods for extracts. First I started with verticity's method of just oil, and a little bit of heat and was moderately successful. The extract was similar to other extracts but, not really that strong - very mild. It was a bit of a mess trying to filter the kava after being in the coconut oil. The second try was using the suggestion of Mrbinx69:
(1) I mixed ~1/4 cup of kava with 5-6oz of everclear - let sit for 1 hour with occasional stirring
(2) Strained the kava through mesh strainer bag (kavafied bag)
(3) Heated up ~1/4 cup of coconut oil and mixed in with alcohol/kava extract
(4) Placed in water bath and slowly boiled off all the alcohol - this took a long time (~1 hour).
(5) There was still a little bit of plant matter in the bottom of the jar at this point so I carefully poured out 90% of the oil trying to keep the remaining sediment in the bottom - if I good sized baster it would have been easier.
(6) Poured the remaineder in a small tupperware and tossed in the freezer.
Mrbinx69's method made a coconut oil extract that at least to my tastebuds/experience is every bit as strong as some of the 70% CO2 extracts on the market. I have no reasonable way to test the KL% but it is pretty high. I can't say I am a huge fan of extracts but there are times where it is convenient and fits the bill. As long as you are comfortable with an ethanol extract then this is a method to get there cheaper than buying one if you have the time. Since I have a large bag of a so-so kava that is pretty weak on its own and not very tasty I plan to continue making these for occasional usage in a pinch. If one is not comfortable with the ethanol extract then the oil only method was acceptable but probably closer to 1/2 as strong...
(1) I mixed ~1/4 cup of kava with 5-6oz of everclear - let sit for 1 hour with occasional stirring
(2) Strained the kava through mesh strainer bag (kavafied bag)
(3) Heated up ~1/4 cup of coconut oil and mixed in with alcohol/kava extract
(4) Placed in water bath and slowly boiled off all the alcohol - this took a long time (~1 hour).
(5) There was still a little bit of plant matter in the bottom of the jar at this point so I carefully poured out 90% of the oil trying to keep the remaining sediment in the bottom - if I good sized baster it would have been easier.
(6) Poured the remaineder in a small tupperware and tossed in the freezer.
Mrbinx69's method made a coconut oil extract that at least to my tastebuds/experience is every bit as strong as some of the 70% CO2 extracts on the market. I have no reasonable way to test the KL% but it is pretty high. I can't say I am a huge fan of extracts but there are times where it is convenient and fits the bill. As long as you are comfortable with an ethanol extract then this is a method to get there cheaper than buying one if you have the time. Since I have a large bag of a so-so kava that is pretty weak on its own and not very tasty I plan to continue making these for occasional usage in a pinch. If one is not comfortable with the ethanol extract then the oil only method was acceptable but probably closer to 1/2 as strong...
