Please critique my prep

[kava4]

First off, I've been lingering here and enjoying this forum for a while and figured I would post my first thread. For starters, I'm new to kava and I would like some critical advice on what I'm doing/not doing right. I use the rolling pin method. I soak 4 heaping tablespoons of kava in 1.5 cups of "warm to the touch" water for 10-15 min...roll it for 5 min....strain/ squeeze it through a Fijian strainer, re-dip the strainer/root in the kava
water and squeeze it about 3 or 4
more times and then I drink half then the other half around ten min later and that's it. I've had good results so far and I'm just needing some advice on anything else I need to do or what I need to change in order to get my
moneys worth. Like I said, I've really enjoyed being introduced to kava on this forum and find the general community here to be very helpful. Thanks!
Side note: i've used Solomon's and melo melo and Solomon's has been much more potent in my experience thus far.

 

[kavadude]

First off, if 4 tablespoons of kava makes you feel good, you're definitely getting good results. I have a longer prep (two washes and 20 minutes of rolling) and have to use about twice that. You might try using warmer water (I use as hot as my tap will run, too hot to keep my hand under it for a long time), rolling for more time, and doing a second wash with fresh water. But if it doesn't improve the results, screw it just go back to what you were doing.

 

[kava4]

Thanks for the reply kavadude. How exactly does the second wash work? Since the root is pretty much dried out from all the squeezing, does it need to be re-soaked again for 10 min and re-rolled as if I was starting from scratch?

 

[kava4]

And I'm assuming that the second wash is a lot less potent therefore needing less water?

 

[kavadude]

Well, if its totally dry to the touch, its a good sign that you are getting pretty much everything out of it. Some kavas are more oily than others and will still be noticably oily even after the first wash is entirely squeezed out. But yeah, I use a little less water and cold. Its also a good opportunity to put some ice in the first wash which helps mask the taste.

 

[kavadude]

Also, it is less potent, but not by a whole lot in my experience. I like to mix the first and second together before drinking though.