When I introduce people to kava then always say how does it taste. I say not good, it tastes like plant roots, licking a wet rock, or drinking mud. Then I wait for the reaction, either they say oh ok not so bad or they wretch. When they wretch I pour the orange Tang in their shell and all is better for the ones who really can't drink it.
I look at it like the time my buddy took me for my first tattoo. It was a long drive and the whole time he kept telling me it hurts awful, it feels like they are peeling your skin off, yadda yadda, but you can do it, I will be right there. I was terrified but wasn't going to wimp out. After it started I looked at him and he smiled as he knew he had me so pumped up it hurt even less then they actually do.