BananaSlug
Newbie
Greetings to all. It was in 1998 that I first visited Hawaii. I had heard of kava, and saw a huge kava bowl at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. I was fascinated by what I read of the Polynesian kava ceremony. But if there was a kava bar in Waikikki in those days, it was well hidden from tourists.
I was thrilled to find a small tanoa for sale at a shop on Kauai. I took it back to California, where it saw many years of use. Today, thanks to an abundance of instant kavas, the hot-water-in-blender triple squeeze, and the Alu Ball, this tanoa comes out mostly for festive occasions.
Back in those days I bought kava, as well as Fiji cloth strainers and coconut shells, by mail-order from Kava Kauai and Kulea Farm. When the Kavasseur's blog appeared, I followed his reviews with interest. Black Sand and Wow! from Nakamal at Home arrived in my kitchen. Hawaiian kavas remained my favorite, though, and I bought Mahakea, Nene and Hiwa from the Hawaiian Kava Center. When Paradise Kava offered frozen fresh black kavas by FedEx, I ordered it, and while this was not cost effective I will do it again if ever the opportunity presents itself -- kava made from fresh root is delicious. I've had extracts and instants, and a package of kava candy goes with me on economy flights, but I always come back to the root.
On my second trip to Hawaii -- over ten years later -- I found a kava bar: Uncle Robert's at the end of the road in Kalapana on the Big Island.
Today the kava market has flowered. This forum has alerted me to many fine vendors as well as nakamals in the San Francisco Bay Area! Perhaps one day I will meet some of you there.
To new users of kava reading this message: having used kava for twenty years, sometimes daily, while working and in retirement, I have experienced no ill effects -- not even the infamous dermopathy. Bloodwork done as part of my annual physical shows my liver is just fine. Admittedly I've never "lost my legs" or gone cross-eyed -- but I've never felt like going there.
I am grateful to those who have shared this gift.
I was thrilled to find a small tanoa for sale at a shop on Kauai. I took it back to California, where it saw many years of use. Today, thanks to an abundance of instant kavas, the hot-water-in-blender triple squeeze, and the Alu Ball, this tanoa comes out mostly for festive occasions.
Back in those days I bought kava, as well as Fiji cloth strainers and coconut shells, by mail-order from Kava Kauai and Kulea Farm. When the Kavasseur's blog appeared, I followed his reviews with interest. Black Sand and Wow! from Nakamal at Home arrived in my kitchen. Hawaiian kavas remained my favorite, though, and I bought Mahakea, Nene and Hiwa from the Hawaiian Kava Center. When Paradise Kava offered frozen fresh black kavas by FedEx, I ordered it, and while this was not cost effective I will do it again if ever the opportunity presents itself -- kava made from fresh root is delicious. I've had extracts and instants, and a package of kava candy goes with me on economy flights, but I always come back to the root.
On my second trip to Hawaii -- over ten years later -- I found a kava bar: Uncle Robert's at the end of the road in Kalapana on the Big Island.
Today the kava market has flowered. This forum has alerted me to many fine vendors as well as nakamals in the San Francisco Bay Area! Perhaps one day I will meet some of you there.
To new users of kava reading this message: having used kava for twenty years, sometimes daily, while working and in retirement, I have experienced no ill effects -- not even the infamous dermopathy. Bloodwork done as part of my annual physical shows my liver is just fine. Admittedly I've never "lost my legs" or gone cross-eyed -- but I've never felt like going there.
I am grateful to those who have shared this gift.
good to have another kava veteran around here.
