i tried kava 30x extract from local store. now i tried root powder...

[kavafan604]

i first tried kava 30x extract and 5g of that was very intense and i enjoyed it a lot.

but at first it was very very weak, until i prepared it with lecithin

now i decided to buy root powder and i tried 2 tbsp with just hot water, and stirred it for 15min and i didn't feel much

so after that i tried 4 tbsp and some lecithin, the results are a bit better, i feel it more

but nothing like the 30x extract.

now i'm wondering if there's something i'm doing wrong, because if not then kava seems really expensive to me hehe

i ordered 16oz of kava from a website and i hope there's a way i can get the desired effects like with the 30x extract, but i don't know if that's possible

am i preparing it wrong?

i mix the kava with hot water for 15min then strain it with a cheesecloth

anyways, i would appreciate any advice, the kava 30x extract is 5 bucks for 5g. it may seem expensive but it doesn't seem that way now that i see root powder will need a lot to match the effects i got from the 30x extract

thanks, and i really hope there's a way to get more out of the root powder

 

[theGrogfather]

A little more info would be nice.
Where did you order the root powder from? Is it medium grind?
Bad prep is common with beginners, look through these methods http://www.kavaforums.com/forum/wiki/kava-preparation/
Simply soaking root in hot water and stirring will not do anything.

 

[kavafan604]

it is very fine grind (the root i have now, not the one i ordered)
i ordered the root kava from kava.com
it is called "Vanuatu Noble Kava Root"
thanks btw, and i'll look at that list

but i must add, i don't have a blender

is there any method that doesn't require a blender that is just as good as a blender required method?

and how many tbsp of kava would i need for an intense high? just wondering
i just want to experience what i get from the 30x extract, but with regular root powder.
thanks again

ps: oh i just realized, i didn't mention this.

i ordered the kava from kava.com but i decided to go to my local store to try some now (root powder) the same place i bought the 30x extract before, and i'm not sure what kind of grind the Vanuatu Noble Kava Root is, but the kava i have atm is very fine and should be good quality, it's a good store

i was actually disappointed that i ordered it once i tried root powder, but now that you say i was doing it wrong, i'm relieved. and hopefully i can learn how to do it right so i can feel good about it. and i want to stick to root powder instead of extract, in a big way

 

[kavadude]

Stirring probably won't work; try straining it (you can use nylon stockings which can be bought at any pharmacy) if you don't have anything on hand to strain it with.

 

[kavafan604]

i have cheesecloth

but is there a good way to prepare a proper kava drink without a blender?

a way that is just as good as a blender method?

 

[ThePiper]

Yes just get a strainer or nylon stocking put the kava in it and submerge it in a bowl of water. Then squeeze and knead the kava strainer while it is under water for about 5 minutes, by then the result should be murky brown water. Im surprised the root from the store doesnt have instructions. If you're confused check YouTube for "kava traditional prep guide" and you will find instructional videos.

 

[kavadude]

Hand-kneading is better than blending.

 

[kavafan604]

ok thanks guys. glad to hear hand kneading is better since i dont have a blender.

and how much kava would you say is enough for an intense kava high? i want to top or equal my experiences with the 30x extract but wih root powder.

thanks!

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

@kavafan604 In general, serious kava drinkers don't recommend Kava.com/KonaKava or supposed 30x extracts. Kava.com/KonaKava is known to sell low quality kava and will sell 'tudei' cultivars and lie about them being noble. Kava.com does link to other vendors who do sell quality kava though.

As for the extract, there's no telling what it's actually made of. *If* it is made only of kava, there's no telling if they used 100% noble kava roots or made it with leaves, stems and roots of a tudei plant or if it's mixed with other psychoactives to give a better effect. I have no doubt you had an enjoyable experience with it, I'm just letting you know that it may not be safe to consume regularly...and it may not be kava. I've also seen Now brand kava that mixes other things into their kava as well.

Unfortunately, since you blasted away on some mysterious extract mega-dose first, you probably have some disappointment ahead of you, while you learn and experiment with making real kava drinks. It takes much more kava, more effort and more patience to achieve good strong effects from traditional kava powder.

Imagine smoking crack, loving it, and then trying to get the same effects by chewing coca leaves. That's basically where you're at now. Your best bet would be to buy a couple good bags of kava from a vendor you see recommended on this site, and prepare a batch using about 8 Tbsp. of powder kneaded in your water. Drink on an empty stomach, chug you 'shells' every 15-30 minutes and see where that gets ya.

As a community, we promote the safe usage of traditionally prepared noble kava roots, for the purposes of harm reduction and the continued legality of kava.

​

 

[The Kap'n]

What it probably meant was 30%

 

[Groggy]

@kavafan604 In general, serious kava drinkers don't recommend Kava.com/KonaKava or supposed 30x extracts. Kava.com/KonaKava is known to sell low quality kava and will sell 'tudei' cultivars and lie about them being noble. Kava.com does link to other vendors who do sell quality kava though.

This is not entirely true, while in the past kava.com had been known to sell sub par products, they have since revamped their facilities and became FDA compliant which is more then I can say for all the vendors on this forum with the exception of a few like BKH. Testing for nobility is only one factor to be considered. Testing for heavy metals, bacteria, mold and yeast just to name a few is the other half of the equation that most people seem to ignore. Kava is considered to be a supplement and while it does not need to be FDA approved it should be FDA compliant. It seems too much emphasis is put on nobility alone and not these other factors.

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

This is not entirely true, while in the past kava.com had been known to sell sub par products, they have since revamped their facilities and became FDA compliant which is more then I can say for all the vendors on this forum with the exception of a few like BKH. Testing for nobility is only one factor to be considered. Testing for heavy metals, bacteria, mold and yeast just to name a few is the other half of the equation that most people seem to ignore. Kava is considered to be a supplement and while it does not need to be FDA approved it should be FDA compliant. It seems too much emphasis is put on nobility alone and not these other factors.

If Kava.com has legitimately begun selling properly tested and true accurately labeled noble kava, kudos to them for getting their act together. As implied from your text, they are apparantly one of the BEST vendors now.

I'm certainly an appreciator of testing for heavy metals, bacteria and mold in kava, I thought it was a mandatory part of the importing process. I have to admit however, if I grew and processed kava myself, I wouldn't get it tested before I consumed it.

 

[Groggy]

If Kava.com has legitimately begun selling properly tested and true accurately labeled noble kava, kudos to them for getting their act together. As implied from your text, they are apparantly one of the BEST vendors now.

I'm certainly an appreciator of testing for heavy metals, bacteria and mold in kava, I thought it was a mandatory part of the importing process. I have to admit however, if I grew and processed kava myself, I wouldn't get it tested before I consumed it.

Interesting way to say what I did NOT just say. ANY kava sold in the US market, despite who grows it should be FDA compliant. That's it, it's simple. If we as kava community are going to keep the DEA off our backs, seems very logical to me.

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

Interesting way to say what I did NOT just say. ANY kava sold in the US market, despite who grows it should be FDA compliant. That's it, it's simple. If we as kava community are going to keep the DEA off our backs, seems very logical to me.

It is logical, that's why I appreciate and support the testing. I don't recall saying otherwise, other than that I said I wouldn't test my own home grown kava, for my consumption.

 

[TheKavaSociety]

Kava.com might be saying they are compliant with this or that but who knows if their claims are actually true? It's not like they have no history of making misleading claims. I see they still sell kona's crap and Chinese extracts. Plus some old koniak? It seems they are just a branch of kona (or the other way around). I would personally prefer not to drink kava at all rather than trust them.

Many vendors test their kava to check things like mould, water activity, bacteria etc. It's actually quite cheap and easy. I pay less than $100 usd to do these tests in NZ and I am sure there are even cheaper options in America. And I know that some of the most popular vendors do check these things

 

[Groggy]

Kava.com might be saying they are compliant with this or that but who knows if their claims are actually true? It's not like they have no history of making misleading claims. I see they still sell kona's crap and Chinese extracts. Plus some old koniak? It seems they are just a branch of kona (or the other way around). I would personally prefer not to drink kava at all rather than trust them.

Many vendors test their kava to check things like mould, water activity, bacteria etc. It's actually quite cheap and easy. I pay less than $100 usd to do these tests in NZ and I am sure there are even cheaper options in America. And I know that some of the most popular vendors do check these things

That's great, maybe as part of the new analytics tab, We can start listing these vendors FDA registration #, if they are complying and testing as you are saying, they will have this information.

 

[TheKavaSociety]

Maybe. I dont know how the US system works and what's required for FDA registration. For me what matters is that kava is processed in a clean facility (in NZ this is in theory managed and enforced by local councils, at least when it comes to such low risk products as kava) and that it's not moulded or full of poo. I trust that all the vendors here guarantee the above.

 

[TheKavaSociety]

So does kava.com guarantee that their chinese extract and their old BKH koniak were made in an FDA registered facility?

 

[Groggy]

I trust that all the vendors here guarantee the above.

I hope so too, it's a simple matter of disclosing their FDA registration #, as I mentioned above. Also fortunately here in the USA, it's a matter of public record. I will search the FDA database as well.

 

[TheKavaSociety]

But what does even mean? These guys resell other companies' stuff. Surely their FDA registration doesnt magically turn Chinese extracts and Judd's koniak into FDA-registered and approved products. Doesnt this FDA registration simply mean that their office is sort of clean?