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Kava and nicotine?

Ozzyfan121

Pretentious, Wannabe Philosopher
Whenever I'm drinking kava and smoke a cigarette or e-cig, the effect seems to come on much quicker and feels stronger. With both nicotine and kava acting on GABA receptors in one way or another, could there be any legitimate synergy/potentiation, or is the effect I notice placebo? Thanks, everyone!
 

Ed!

Kava Enthusiast
In Kava: The Pacific Elixer they go through various cultural traditions with kava. I know in at least one of the cultures they went through, smoking afterwards was the norm. Makes me wonder if tradition built around effect at all in that case, or if it's purely social.



I'm not really a smoker, but I have been tempted to get some cigars and have a nice smoke after. I may have to try that now.
 

Buddhacide

Kava Enthusiast
I just finished a book called "Kava:Medicine hunting in paradise". They also make mention of smoking as an after kava activity. I dont smoke cigarettes but I do smoke cigars regularly. I have enjoyed cigars on kava, but have yet to have a "wow" moment with them - as with red wine or chocolate for example. I have some nice maduros in the mail, and plan to do some pairing soon :)
 

Ozzyfan121

Pretentious, Wannabe Philosopher
Ed, I would highly reccomend Nat Sherman MCD/Black&Gold; as an occasional or celebratory smoke; they're completely natural and have no additives. I don't smoke often, but when I do, I prefer Nat Sherman's. Sorry about the Dos Equis reference-- I love that guy!
 

Ed!

Kava Enthusiast
Hah, thanks, those sound good. I'll take all recommendations, I've really only had a couple cigars. Would also be nice to know where you guys purchase.



Once I get something I'll try smoking after a good kava session to see if it feels any more profound.
 

Paradise Kava

Honolulu, HI
Kava Vendor
Just love a good cigar with my kava and have noticed that the cigar must be able to handle the mouth numbing.

So if it's lighter tasting/blended tobacco, the flavor gets lost.

A perfect combination has always been fresh or Fijian kava (because they are lighter) and a heavier/larger robusto or corona gorda sized cigar (not the tiny cigarillos, basically) 

Only getting technical because I want the cigar lovers to comment :)
 

Buddhacide

Kava Enthusiast
Comment I shall! I personally love the CAO and JC newman company cigars, especially the latter's Brick House line (the mighty mighty is the most hardcore cigar I have ever had) and they are cheap too. The best cigars, in my opinion are from Nicaragua and Honduras. Mexico makes nice cigars as well (Puerto Vallarta Cigar Factory FTW). Blends from various countries can also be excellent (ie CAO). I was in Nicaragua for a brief spell in February and you can get robustos there at the duty free for around $50 a box. I kicked myself for not buying more once I got home and opened them. I am a firm believer that a good cigar does not need to be an expensive one. I have smoked a lot of cubans in my day, and while they can be excellent and enjoyable, they are generally of inferior quality to more modern producers. You almost always get a few duds in an average box of habanos, largely because the quality control in Cuba is a joke. Contrast with a company like CAO who uses machinery to draw test every cigar individually. I have never had a bad CAO cigar. I promised myself I would never buy another box of Habanos unless I was actually in Cuba. And even then, you need to really know what your doing or you will get ripped off. They just arent worth the money. And frankly I resent the almost mystical quality that neophytes (and most Americans) attribute to them. Not to say I dont absolutley love Montecristos. Theyre great, just not worth the money most of the time. Anyway, back to kava, I agree a strong maduro of a decent size would be ideal. I smoke robustos myself for the most part. Its the perfect size for most ooccasions, although I do keep various sizes when I'm able. I was yearning for a Brickhouse mighty mighty the other day during a marathon porch session at a friends house, but thats not an every day smoke for sure.



http://www.brickhousecigars.com/

http://www.caocigars.com



Also, if any of you ever find yourselves in Toronto and want an EXCELLENT cuban cigar at a 3rd of the price, there is an great shop in the King and Portland area (been there for 100 years) that rolls Cuban Tobacco on site (Maduros even). They imort the tobbaco from Cuba and then roll it on site to get around the ridiculous import duties and taxes on rolled tobbaco. Its one of Toronto's best kept secrets and the cigars are amazing. You get can get a FAT robusto for about $10. Dang, I think I'm gonna hit them up on my lunch break actually and grab a few for the weekend.



http://www.correnticigars.com/
 

Nihilist

Kava Enthusiast
Sometimes I snuff(dip) after drinking kava. Seems to add effect but also seems to wear off faster.
 

Paradise Kava

Honolulu, HI
Kava Vendor
Buddhacide, messaging you now.

I have tried CAO, and it's not bad. I'll look into Brickhouse.

I agree, cigars are not mythical creatures like we make them out to be. Guilty as charged :)

Would you say that Correnti smokes like a Habanos? What's the flavor profile? Totally curios to try these now!

PS - wanted to add - Mighty Mighty is a MONSTER sized cigar. 60 Ringuage! wow. I smoke cigars which are easily half in Ring Guage like 42 (my favorite) A good Petit Corona, Lonsdale or Corona is just heaven. Ok sure, I'll take a Corona Gorda but a Robusto Grande like that is way too thick for me. I rather get it in a Double Corona or Churchill format if I'm ready to invest 3 hours of my life and commit to such a beast :)
 

Buddhacide

Kava Enthusiast
Adil - dont mess with the mighty mighty, lol. I previously thought the Rocky Patel Battalion was the baddest of the bunch, but the MM puts even that down, lol. Also, if you only tried one brand of CAO, explore a little. They are an international company that mixes and matches wrappers and fillers from all over. They are some of the best cigars imo, but some are certainly better then others. The Brizillia is a favorite.

The correntis, first of all are FAT. They are a larger vitola than a standard robusto. Either that or they just give us bigger cigars when we go in. I dont want to question. The flavor profile is lovely, even their so called maduros are very light. I would not say they are overly "complex" but to be honest i'm suspect of people that get too analytical about these things. I know my palette is not that refined, lol. I would compare them  to a Romeo and Juliette churchill maybe experience wise, but they are slightly stronger and more medium-bodied. Perhaps a bit woody but mostly creamy and light in my experience. Not super heavy, but yes, they most certainly smoke like habanos. No montecristo, but an amazing smoke for the price.

I have kava coming out of my ears at the moment, but down the road let me know if you want to do a swap and I can mail you some of them if you like. They dont ship so they're very difficult to get outside of Toronto. I'm not promising you the world with them, but I'm sure you'd enjoy them.
 
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