New to Kava, aaaand I think the kind I bought is very weak

[kl.Stargaze]

I've sort of been reading some of this forum (I just found the forum too) and it seems like Kona Kava is not very good I bought their sampler pack, and finally almost a week later of trying different combos I felt it last night. I had to use a bunch though! It made me feel sort silly for like 15 minutes then I just wanted to sleep. I'm looking to deal with social anxiety and to relax at the end of the day without alcohol. I was hoping to feel something rather then just tired though. Any recommendations?

Edit:
I forgot to say the first night I tried it by blending it with some coconut milk for about 5 minutes (I just have that powdered kava stuff so it's pretty fine) then drank it that way. All I felt was nausea. Last night I let it sit in some coconut milk/water for a couple of hours until the end of the day then I blended it with some chocolate syrup for a few minutes. No nausea but not very good effects. I tried straining it but either I need a better strainer, or it was ground up enough because there was nothing to strain.

 

[Ed!]

I use kava the same, as an alcohol alternative to relax at the end of the day/week. I'm no kava veteran, but of the handful I've tried I like Fu'u (from Bula Kava House) as a daily drink best (and it's easy to mix and chug). Then on weekends I go for Stone mixed with whatever else I happen to have around. I think that's closer to an alcohol feeling, though I'm not really shooting for that as I've learned to appreciate the effects of kava more.

 

[kl..]

There's a pretty good variety of kavas available.  I like the ones Ed mentioned, but I like most of the stuff I've tried from kava by rex, Bula Kava House and Nakamal at home as well.  I tried Kona first and felt mild effects, enough to be interested, but I don't believe it's the strongest available.  It sounds like your prep is OK to me, so it wouldn't be that.  Some people blend or squeeze a little longer, but some people also don't.    If you want a kava that will keep you out going, I'd recommend a high kavain kava like Fu'u or Tongan pride.  If you want more of a sedating or slowing down effect Boroguru, Stone or Tudei will probably do it.  To be honest, I'm drinking mainly Fu'u and Stone right now, which is not
particularly creative since Ed just posted it, but there you go.

 

[kl.Stargaze]

Thanks! I am looking for more of a kava that wont put me straight to sleep, I actually want to see if it can maybe help my creativity and writing at all. Even if it doesn't, it still would be nice to unwind with

 

[endwatcher]

whats up with kona, seriously.

They must have a awsome search optimizer, because I remember when I first was getting into Kava that was always the first to come up. "I never pick the begining of the list "



I could see why people would be turned off on kava if that is there first!



I will testify to you that Fu'u from BKH is awsome for what you are looking for, 2nd would be V3 from KBR

I know your knew, so

BKH is "Bula Kava House" and KBR is "Kava by rex"

Im also drinking some super fresh root lately from paradise the maheake "I dont think I spelled that right" that is in totaly in its own variety a "Kings" kava for sure.

Paradises extracts are also SUPER POTENT love em!

 

[Paradise Kava]

Welcome Stargaze!

Some great advice up here.

Please remember that there is a reverse tolerance effect which means that you need to try a lot more at first and lesser as time passes and your body recognizes kava. It's amazing to notice that later on. You'll see.

Try everything (within reason) out there is my general advice to newbies. Then you get to compare and see what your body likes.



endwatcher - Being on the Big Island and totally in touch with mostly all the kava growers and vendors on this side of the planet, I have to agree "what's up with kona" I hardly hear about them, let alone see the owners etc. Strange.

Also a friend organizes a Kava Festival in Honolulu once a year. Hopefully I'll see them there as it attracts all the kava vendors from the Hawaiian Islands. I have not seen them there previously. I do not usually vend kava there, but show up with my finest kava to share with old friends and mentors. They want Paradise Kava there this year, so there is a small chance we may vend this year.

You would love this festival. We drink kava for days and are lucky to try a lot of different kava products and varieties.

Aloha~

Adil Ghiasi

 

[kl.Stargaze]

Thank you everyone! Today I ordered Fu'u from BKH and some KavaKaveCandy so I'm hoping I'll see a bit of a difference from before. I totally get the reverse tolerance, that's why I'm find with trying out more.....I just didint like the straight to nausea and bed feeling lol.

 

[kl.Modernaught]

I've not had any nausea whatsoever from Fu'u but I've had very intense nausea from other makes. Whether or not it hinders the potency, I haven't seemed to notice, but I take some pepto right before I start throwing them back and that seems to work wonders.

 

[kl.Stargaze]

Wow I didin't realize how awful my spelling was on my phone haha. Yeah I'm totally willing to try different Kavas and different preps of it until I find whats right.

 

[endwatcher]

Adil,
ahhhhh, stop teasing me, haha...sounds wonderful!
I bet Kona isnt from there, I have a.....idea, that they are not in it for anything else then money.
Paradise needs to get on Amazon, I think you'd do good there.
Stargaze
You will love both products, they are wonderful...I forgot about the candy, those are pretty potent also.
Fu'u is a fine micro. so no ordinary bag will do.
I buy panty hose, cut the leg parts out, then double it up..seems to work great.
Dont worry about UR spelling...wer all part hillbilly somewhere down tha line. (smiley: laugh)
Just messing with ya, I suck at spelling to.(smiley: roll)

 

[kl.Stargaze]

Good I've got some pantyhose I've never used sitting in my drawer I have a tiny muslin bag from Kona but it didint seem to let much water out at all...it was strange. Hah I'm sure there is hillbilly somewhere down the line

 

[Paradise Kava]

endwatcher, when you visit Hawaii, try to come in october during the kava festival. It's perfect weather here and there's lots of kava to be had.

 

[kl.Audriste]

ROFL, he didnt mispell anything, I made an acct just to say that, kRUNKeD!

 

[kl.new2kava]

I feel bad for the legit kava vendors out there. There are alot of people who hear about kava and google it and kona dominates the search. They get some and decide kavas bunk and never nother with it again. The really dishonest marketing thing they do is when you try and search for other vendors their name comes up first. I was looking for nakamal at home and the first page was konas which said; "nakamal at home, get kona kava today". They are basically using good vendors names to rob people on their bunk sawdust.



Also their website insists their in Hawaii but ships from Indiana and they have some lame excuse and they also state that under no circumstances can anyone see their farm. My theory is get bulk shipments of grade b or c kava from where ever it can be got the cheapest. Then as if that wasn't evil enough by dragging good Hawaiin's names through the mud, they use the kava first to make instants and extracts and sell the remaining spent kava. Their kava is no less than 10 times weaker than any variety I have ever seen form any legit vendor and there must be some type of evil conspiracy behind it.



That said don't give up on kava, try paradisekava or bula kava house or N@H they keep it real.