Kava effects have not kicked in yet. Any preparation tips?

[TheKavaCanuck]

A couple weeks ago I received my order of borogu and pouni ono kava from kalm with kava.
I had never tried kava before and had read a lot about it.
I have tried both the borogu and the pouni ono with no effects yet and am starting to give up. I also tried the kava extract drink that I received as a free sample with my order, and still nothing.
I've tried straining/rinsing it in both cold and warm water, and with and without milk, and no effects were fekt with any of these methods. All the times I have tried to prepare the kava I have used about 10 oz of water with about 3 heaping tablespoons of kava.

Should I try anything different? What preperation method works best for you? Is warm water necessary?

Please help, I don't want to give up on kava yet.

 

[NAMBATU]

Are you beating the hell out of it? Because you need to beat the hell out of it.

 

[August West]

I find that fasting is an integral part of the process. I don't eat anything for at least four hours, five or more hours is optimal for me. Personally, I refuse to drink kava unless my stomach is completely empty. Effects are greatly diminished or non existent if I don't wait long enough.

Also if you have a strainer or nylons, submerge and squeeze the heck out of it for 8-10 minutes. Then add the root to a smaller amount of water and repeat until the ball of kava doesn't feel greasy anymore, which may be only a minute or two. Add the two mixes of water together. P.S. I do a third wash, with a very small amount of water, because kava ain't cheap, and I can't stand to think I'm wasting any amount of this wonderful root.

Finally, some people use hot water and others don't. I prepare it with hot water and add a bunch of ice once I'm finished. Hot water makes the taste less palatable. Very hot water releases starch and the drink becomes quite thick, like gravy. You'll have to be the judge and decide whether or not the slight increase in potency is worth the difference in taste/texture.

 

[verticity]

What August West said, and also 3 tablespoons is not a super high dose. Using more may help. I'll typically use 6 tablespoons for a session.

 

[Steve Mariotti]

@TheKavaCanuck, if you're doing all of that: using more root, beating the hell out of it and drinking it on an empty stomach, then I'd say you're stuck in Reverse Tolerance Land. Keep walking the path, as it comes out the other side to Kava Paradise if you just keep walking and keep positive. Honest! I've traveled that path myself.