I'm new to Kava, and my initial experience leaves me underwhelmed. I purchased 3 varieties of Koa Kava, tried them all according to directions on packet, and about all I get is the Sichuan pepper numbness in mouth and back of throat. For all 3 trials I used 4 T of kava, and the last one I added 1/2 c. coconut milk to the wash. No significant difference. I also warmed that batch up to 130 deg. prior to wash. I'm wondering if there are other prep methods I might try or maybe I'm just not a Kava candidate
. Any thoughts appreciated!
You have to keep drinking it as regularly as possible. It will hit eventually, trust us all when we say that. I drink kava every single day for the last 10 years and I would not be so dedicated to it if it didn't go beyond the mouthfeel.
The proper way to make kava is the only way you should ever make it, take it from someone that has tried it all.
Cold water (room temp is fine),
medium grind kava (of choice and quantity)
75 micron food safe bag
Make sure you use a 75 micron bag, add 2/3-1/2 cup of powder with at least 1 l of water (again, you'll dial this in with time)
massage kava in the water, wear Nitrile gloves to keep the kava clean and your hands from drying up.
knead and squeeze for as long as you feel like it up to 7 minutes, squeeze all water well. put it in a container in your fridge (up to a day) for a second wash, sometimes a third, depending on the quality of the kava.
That's it, nothing else needed except perhaps a to go water bottle that holds that liter, i use a Nalgene wide mouth liter bottle. It goes everywhere I go, most people think it's coffee.
