New Boroguru Micronized Kava
- Thread starter Gourmet Hawaiian Kava
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looking forward to hearing some reviews on this one before I order. I am more partial to a brew higher in Kavain, but this looks like a good sore muscle type brew.
rolypolyman
Kava Curious
I'm confused about micronized. My impression (probably incorrect) was that micronized was just root powder ground to an extremely fine level to increase the surface contact area with the water and allow for much quicker mixing. I assumed that in in doing so, that it's essentially putting makas directly into the beverage, similar to a toss & wash. I can't see any way that finely-ground makas can be filtered out.
If this is true, I'm wondering how it's even possible to remove the makas, since they basically -are- the root material. Something is not making sense or I have this all mixed up.
Instant, I understand... from what I've read, it's a traditionally-prepared kava beverage, with makas strained out already, that is then dehydrated and can be reconstituted later.
If this is true, I'm wondering how it's even possible to remove the makas, since they basically -are- the root material. Something is not making sense or I have this all mixed up.
Instant, I understand... from what I've read, it's a traditionally-prepared kava beverage, with makas strained out already, that is then dehydrated and can be reconstituted later.
D
Deleted User01
@Gourmet Hawaiian Kava can answer those questions. As far as I know, he is the only one that removes the Macas. Also, it has to be done during the initial processing stage BEFORE it gets ground. Once it is ground, then it is too late. That is why he had to give his Boroguru vendor the necessary equipment and technique on how to do this. Actually, I think there is a thread on that where he shows some kind of core root material that has to be extracted before processing. Do a search and see what you get. This makes the kava more potent because what is left is pure and potent. But as I said, I have tagged GHK so he can give you a more detailed answer. Or at least one that doesn't compromise his proprietary techniques.
I agree with your basic definition of instant. That is my understanding as well.
I agree with your basic definition of instant. That is my understanding as well.
GHK removes the makas from the whole root before he micronizes it, thereby creating maka-free micro.
Other micronized products often contain the makas, just finely powdered.
D
Deleted User01
Here is a thread with some information. I don't know if it contains a picture of the actual Macas.
http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/the-secret-to-my-micronized-kava.3130/
By the way, Shakas gets all the left over Macas and he sells them at the farmers market. You will see him under the banner, "Shakas Makas" of course.
http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/the-secret-to-my-micronized-kava.3130/
By the way, Shakas gets all the left over Macas and he sells them at the farmers market. You will see him under the banner, "Shakas Makas" of course.
rolypolyman
Kava Curious
I wonder whether the makas contribute anything to the brew in a traditional kava recipe, in particular, glutathiones. Because if we're physically separating the makas from the root then we're kind of getting away from the time-tested safety of a traditional kava beverage and perhaps more toward an extract type of product.
D
Deleted User01
Chris is a kava farmer who has been studying Kava all his life. His Grandma drank Kava. He is a big proponent of drinking Kava safely. So the answer is No, it does not detract from the safety. Just the opposite in my opinion. The less extraneous material you ingest the better. Why do you think we strain it out in the first place? Why do we highly recommend that people not use "toss and wash" to ingest. Toss and Wash means you don't strain. Just just mix the medium grind in water and drink the whole think down. Then get ready for a crazy bad case of dermopathy.
I second what @Deleted User01 said. Learning from the traditional, time-tested practices doesn't mean blind mimicking of all actions, rituals and materials. It means following a few key principles. If you were to simply copy the "time-tested" prep methods, you wouldn't be touching dried root, you would be chewing fresh kava, you would be straining it through a palm leaf and not some nylon stockings, you would be semi-naked while drinking it, you would be only drinking it in some tropical location and you would be thinking about your ancestral spirits. The key time-tested principles are: strain the hard fibres, don't consume the aerial parts of the plant, drink noble and, if possible, make sure your root is either fresh or at least properly dried and stored. @Gourmet Hawaiian Kava 's products allow you to meet all these criteria: they can either be easily strained or are free of the hard fibres, they don't contain any aerial parts of the plant, they are noble and they are properly processed, stored and packed.
In the Ni Vanuatu language Makas means rubbish, it is the coarse fibers that are thrown away. By taking out the makas we are ensuring safe kava and in fact making the beverage like they have for thousands of years, we are just making a kava pulp and separating the makas in a different way.
Traditional they would chew the root and spit it out in big balls then they would take the live bark from the "Hau tree" and they would use the bark as a strainer to make the kava drink. I have had it this way and I must say that the Hau bark imparts a slime that is in the bark so the kava drink is kind of slimy, it works real well, the kava is strong and does the job.
Here is a link to some pictures that might help you understand more about the makas and how easy it is to take them out if you are the farmer of the kava. Here is the link---
Pictures of Makas in Kava
Also this link that Deleted User01 put up for you is a full of great information on the makas and how I take them out, here is that link again.----
My Micronized kava
Here is a link to a article I wrote for the kava newsletter on makas---
Makas
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any questions about makas or kava. Aloha.
Chris
http://www.kavaforums.com/forum/threads/pictures-of-makas-in-kava.3329/
I should also make it clear that not all micronized kava has the makas removed. If you are just grinding up the dry kava root then you are in fact grinding some or all of the makas. I take this extra step of removing the makas so that the consumer gets a very high quality kava that is safe, potent and traditional in most all respects. Also all instant kava no matter what vendor you get it from, as long as it was made with fresh root then it is also makas free. With the instant they make the kava drink with the fresh root and then they dehydrate that drink into a powder. The way I make mine is very close to that but I remove the water before I dry the kava, so there is really no liquid when I am drying the instant powder, just a wet goop of kavalactones and starch that needs to be dried. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have on kava processing. Aloha.
Chris
Chris
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D
Deleted User01
Thanks Chris. I know you have several "proprietary techniques" when making both your Instant and Micronized kava. The last batch of Micronized is outstanding. As you suggested, it is almost as fine as powder and more potent than ever. I have never had any side effects with your micronized and that is why I only get my Micronized Kava from GHK.
Krunkmaster
You only live Once
taste like muddy milk choclate the best tasting kava i have ever had
Ecto
Train by day, Kava by night....All day
My order should arrive tomorrow. Can't wait to try it out! I do have a question for you though Chris. From other Vendors I normally use around 7-8 Tablespoons of medium grind using the traditional prep method to feel decent effects. Is micronized like instant in that you use much less than medium grind to get the same effects?
Hi Ecto, yes you will not need to use as much of the Micronized kava as you do with the medium grind. As you said the micro and the instant you will use less. I would use half that or even less. Let me know if you have any other questions, aloha.
Chris
humblehippie
Newbie
Hello, How did u like it? I'm shopn around heard tuns about kava & want to try it for myself. Would you recommend this type?
didOkay, I just made my first purchase. Time to start stalking the mail man now
lilmisschris
Kava Curious
Mine is expected to arrive tomorrow!! This is my 2nd order from Chris... 1st shipment of instant Moi and Mahakea were both pretty good. I have a bit of RT going on, as I haven't had any kava to speak of in probably close to 2 years. I used it pretty exclusively to help me detox from other substances (it worked), and at the time was ordering the Vanuatu root powder from Kava Kauai... so this instant business was QUITE the treat, and very easy! Looking forward to receiving the Boroguru micro! Working with Chris has so far been a pleasure. Also ordered a case of the kava candy this morning... because well, it's candy, and it's kava
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