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noble vs false kava

The Kap'n

The Groggy Kaptain (40g)
KavaForums Founder
How to tell the difference between the two easily? Check the leaf.
The three main veins must come from the leaf stem and split immediately (1st photo), not part of the way down (2nd photo).


Noble kava leaf - piper methysticum

View attachment 12460

'false kava' leaf - piper auritum
View attachment 12461
Excellent information. It's surprising, but also not surprising how often the two are confused with each other. From my perspective it gets mistaken most often by vendors new to the industry that searched for "Kava" on shutterstock.

Below is an example when you do exactly that, search "kava" on shutterstock.com. I see at least 3 non-kava representations of "kava" on the first result page alone.

shutterstock.png
 

JohnMichael

Kava Synchronized
Excellent information. It's surprising, but also not surprising how often the two are confused with each other. From my perspective it gets mistaken most often by vendors new to the industry that searched for "Kava" on shutterstock.

Below is an example when you do exactly that, search "kava" on shutterstock.com. I see at least 3 non-kava representations of "kava" on the first result page alone.

#4, 11, 14.
 

The Kap'n

The Groggy Kaptain (40g)
KavaForums Founder

Seems they went on sort of a "spree" of finding non-kava "kava" images, lol
 

Akva

Kava Curious
I posted because I recently went onto FB marketplace and there are quite a few advertising kava plants for sale but they are false kava. (And no actual kava btw). That’s in Australia where most people wouldn’t know the difference I guess.
 

The Kap'n

The Groggy Kaptain (40g)
KavaForums Founder
If I have 'Kava lie' leaf - Piper Oritum , can I make a drink out of it? or not recommended
You can, and it would be something similar to the taste of root beer or sassafras tea, however it should be known that this piper contains quite a bit of safrole, a carcinogenic, and hepatotoxic substance. This is why the plant is banned for culinary uses in the United States along with Sassafras.

Be that as it may, a small amount can be used as spice without adverse effects.
 

gilsulimany

Newbie
A kava plant from Hawaii arrived in Israel, how can I tell which variety it is? Are there any experts here who know how to differentiate between the types of kava?
Are there any friends here who make false kava juice and recommend it? Or it is not recommended for drinking but only for seasoning
 

The Kap'n

The Groggy Kaptain (40g)
KavaForums Founder
A kava plant from Hawaii arrived in Israel, how can I tell which variety it is? Are there any experts here who know how to differentiate between the types of kava?
Are there any friends here who make false kava juice and recommend it? Or it is not recommended for drinking but only for seasoning
If you post a picture here, there will be someone who will be able to identify it, certainly.
 

kasa_balavu

Yaqona Dina
Piper Oritum
This strain is less effective for medical use
Better to use it in the kitchen
Correct me if I'm wrong
This is not a different "strain" of kava. It's not kava at all. It's a different plant. It has no use similar to kava. It cannot be used as a substitute for kava, just as it can't be used as a substitute for cabbages or coffee.
 

Pzk

Kava Enthusiast
I read, that Kava can't produce seeds, so they have to make clones?

If so, are there any chances for any flowers Kava plants can produce? If yes: Are there any pictures available of a flowering kava plant?
 

The Kap'n

The Groggy Kaptain (40g)
KavaForums Founder
I read, that Kava can't produce seeds, so they have to make clones?

If so, are there any chances for any flowers Kava plants can produce? If yes: Are there any pictures available of a flowering kava plant?
It's rare. Extremely rare, but yes, Piper methysticum can produce female flowers. Rare enough that if you found one, you better go buy a lottery ticket, because fate is smiling on you. Even knowing that kava might produce female flowers, researchers have yet to ever see any seeds be produced. Through time, kava has lost its ability to naturally reproduce.

@Alia May have pictures of a flowering example. I remember him saying he found one of his plants with a female flower.
 
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Pzk

Kava Enthusiast
I dreamed about a flowering plant and the meaning was a drug I was taking in this timeframe, and it can just be kava. So I wonder if I saw the same how it looks in reality... sounds crazy- but sometimes stuff like this might happen.. :)
 

Alia

'Awa Grower/Collector
It's rare. Extremely rare, but yes, Piper methysticum can produce female flowers. Rare enough that if you found one, you better go buy a lottery ticket, because fate is smiling on you. Even knowing that kava might produce female flowers, researchers have yet to ever see any seeds be produced. Through time, kava has lost its ability to naturally reproduce.

@Alia May have pictures of a flowering example. I remember him saying he found one of his plants with a female flower.
OK, I have attached what a highly trained PhD Botanist suggests* is "likely" to be a female flower.
It is taken from Hawaiian 'Awa Papa Kea. His caveat is that to be certain, you'd need a disecting scope.
That said, over 20 years ago I had occasion to host UH, Mano'a PhD's and a gentleman from France who
knows lots about kava/'awa. The were examining flowers from 'Awa Papa Kea in my yard and noted female flowers.
 

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