Kava layers

[kavadude]

I noticed that if you leave kava to sit for a long time, it separates into layers.

The bottom layer is obviously sediment, but I wonder what the deal with the top one is. It's thin and kind of watery. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[yepimonfire]

Kava doesn't really seem to dissolve well in water, more of a suspension.

 

[kavadude]

Hmm yeah its probably just water. I was just thinking of how nice it would be if all the kavalactones separated into that top layer and you could just drink that and leave the rest of it alone.

 

[infraredz]

Yeah, I've noticed this with both water and stronger solvents as well. I think that it could be due to differing polarities of some of the compounds (as in, it wouldn't be just H20 on top, but H20 and soluble carbohydrates in the H20). Like yepimonfire said, it's a suspension so depending on the solubility/polarity and sheer weight, you will end up getting that sort of separation.

If only it was as easy as pipetting off the top layer with pure kavalactones...well

 

[endwatcher]

Happens alot with carb.water