At $20 per pound, GHK's Boroguru seems to be an incredible value to me. This kava is rated at 11% kavalactones, so isn't appreciably stronger than the Fiji Loa Waka I had recently, but the strength is there. Perhaps explained by the difference in chemotype.
This Boroguru is 423651, so Kavain, DHK and Yangonin are dominant. That gives it a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. "Heady" qualities with Kavan (euporia) and Yangonin (described as anxioGENic) and then some body effects with the DHK which is NOT, I repeat, NOT a so called "doubled-bonded" lactone, but in fact is described as a "saturated" one. DHK effects are sedation, axioLYTic effects, body effects in general. So it's a nice mix.
And I'm feeling it all. Pink cheeks, ringy ears, easy amused grin on the one hand, and body looseness, relaxation, slightly heavy lids (but not heavy) sense of calm on the other. Nice mix! I'm also getting eye lag and balance effects, which I'm starting to think can be contributed to ol' #2 on the chemotype list, DHK. Anyone know a correlation?
Preparation and Taste
I'm doing one-bowl prep now (rather than soaking bowl/squeezing bowl) by lining the squeezing bowl with the cloth, putting dry powder directly into the straining bag, and then mixing water into it, stirring inside the bag, and then letting soak.
2 heaping (Mt. Everest style) tablespoons of GHK Boroguru to 2 cups of water. After water loss to bag and pulp, about 1 3/4 cups of grog. Kneaded for only 10 minutes as it started to feel dry quickly. No second wash.
Vanuatu is evident in the taste. This doesn't taste like Hawaiian 'Awa. It's more pungent than GHK's stuff. Reminds me a little bit of Nambawan in smell and taste, but is a totally different kava. Must be the mud in Vanuatu. The flavor is also more complicated. The taste lasts a long time after a shell, and does all kinds of different things before petering out into bitter. There's definitely some spicy peppery quality to it.
Onset and Effects
I didn't feel much for the first 40 minutes or so. I even drank my shells fairly close together. Then, about 45 minutes after my first shell, I felt the onset of calm, first and foremost. Then a goosebumpy feeling that I think some people experience as being cold, and then warmth in my face, eye lag, and a fluid feeling as I moved around. Ears started to ring a bit. Very relaxed and happy. Easy smile. This built until about 1:30 hours from first shell into a nice even plateau from which I'm now quite contentedly starting ride downwards to bed. I suspect the effects will last longer as well, so probably four hours?
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
I expected something more sedating, though I'm not sure why. This is a balanced kava but the potency I found to be quite good. It's balanced between some headiness and loose relaxation, but is really both at once and not half-of-each, if you know what I mean. At $20 for a half pound and $38 for a full pound, it's an incredible value. I didn't need to use much of it, or knead long and got 20 or so ounces of a good strong grog that was absolutely lovely on a Monday evening after a long day.
I'll return with second day effects tomorrow.
This Boroguru is 423651, so Kavain, DHK and Yangonin are dominant. That gives it a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. "Heady" qualities with Kavan (euporia) and Yangonin (described as anxioGENic) and then some body effects with the DHK which is NOT, I repeat, NOT a so called "doubled-bonded" lactone, but in fact is described as a "saturated" one. DHK effects are sedation, axioLYTic effects, body effects in general. So it's a nice mix.
And I'm feeling it all. Pink cheeks, ringy ears, easy amused grin on the one hand, and body looseness, relaxation, slightly heavy lids (but not heavy) sense of calm on the other. Nice mix! I'm also getting eye lag and balance effects, which I'm starting to think can be contributed to ol' #2 on the chemotype list, DHK. Anyone know a correlation?
Preparation and Taste
I'm doing one-bowl prep now (rather than soaking bowl/squeezing bowl) by lining the squeezing bowl with the cloth, putting dry powder directly into the straining bag, and then mixing water into it, stirring inside the bag, and then letting soak.
2 heaping (Mt. Everest style) tablespoons of GHK Boroguru to 2 cups of water. After water loss to bag and pulp, about 1 3/4 cups of grog. Kneaded for only 10 minutes as it started to feel dry quickly. No second wash.
Vanuatu is evident in the taste. This doesn't taste like Hawaiian 'Awa. It's more pungent than GHK's stuff. Reminds me a little bit of Nambawan in smell and taste, but is a totally different kava. Must be the mud in Vanuatu. The flavor is also more complicated. The taste lasts a long time after a shell, and does all kinds of different things before petering out into bitter. There's definitely some spicy peppery quality to it.
Onset and Effects
I didn't feel much for the first 40 minutes or so. I even drank my shells fairly close together. Then, about 45 minutes after my first shell, I felt the onset of calm, first and foremost. Then a goosebumpy feeling that I think some people experience as being cold, and then warmth in my face, eye lag, and a fluid feeling as I moved around. Ears started to ring a bit. Very relaxed and happy. Easy smile. This built until about 1:30 hours from first shell into a nice even plateau from which I'm now quite contentedly starting ride downwards to bed. I suspect the effects will last longer as well, so probably four hours?
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
I expected something more sedating, though I'm not sure why. This is a balanced kava but the potency I found to be quite good. It's balanced between some headiness and loose relaxation, but is really both at once and not half-of-each, if you know what I mean. At $20 for a half pound and $38 for a full pound, it's an incredible value. I didn't need to use much of it, or knead long and got 20 or so ounces of a good strong grog that was absolutely lovely on a Monday evening after a long day.
I'll return with second day effects tomorrow.
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I imagine it's a great night time couch potato kava.