This is a good one, folks!
Preparation and Taste
I prepared this in the usual way. I tend to do roughly 1/2 cup of medium grind root to 2 cups of warm water, with approx 1/2 cup of additional warm water in a second and third wash before tossing the makkas and cleaning out the bag. Used the usual 25 micron strainer bag. I was really looking forward to trying this kava and Mike sent me a 4oz sample in advance of posting it for sale. Sadly the package arrived at my old house (moved recently) so it took me a week to go pick it up.
The flavor of this kava is kind of amazing. It's extremely extremely smooth. Compared to Nambawan, it's positively delicious! The taste is earthy and subdued and very pleasant. I think this one will be my new "introduce someone to kava" kava since it's the mildest of flavor of anything I've tried to date. There was very little "throat hit" that I get from the stronger kavas, where I feel a slight stinging sensation in the back of my throat as I down my first shell. The finish is long, and there is a very slight bitterness at the very end of the shell as I kind of linger over the shell and ponder what's going on in my mouth. The anesthetic effect is just on the tongue with this one, and it seems even and along the length of my tongue where I normally only get the numbness in the front of my mouth with most.
Onset and Effects
At 20 minutes, I could feel a slight relaxation coming on. At 40 minutes I was feeling some warmth in my face and the telltale tingling around my scalp that I get from heady kavas when they finally kick into gear. At 60 minutes I could feel a giddiness starting to rise in my chest, and at 80 minutes I noticed I was subconsciously sporting a bemused grin, which is one of the things I love about Mo'i and Borongoru. After four shells (4 oz. shots, spaced 20 minutes apart) I was getting the soft-focus lens effect and an ever-so-slight case of eye lag and unsteadiness when going from sitting to standing. Also a hallmark of a good heady kava and something that I really enjoy. As with heady kava, there's a giddiness or sense of eager anticipation I can feel in my chest. As I described before, it's not like there's a puppy in there going apeshit on a chew toy, it's more like a puppy hopping up on the couch and trying to bite my fingers. With something like Nambawan or my Nambawan/Borongoru mix from the other night, I was toe tapping and rocking out in my chair. I'm not getting that here.
Here's the interesting part: I'm getting some of the effects that I associate more with Mahakea, Nene, and to some extent, Hanakapi'ai. There's a liquidity in my joints that makes movement seem very fluid and soft. Turning my head to the right, where I normally get a little bit of neck pain, is completely pain free. My head swivels side to side as if on a ball joint instead of whatever the fuck a neck actually is and it's pleasant. I'm also getting some heaviness in my eyes, another effect I associate more with something like Nene. There's a little sensitivity to light and noise, and I'm in a head space now where I want to listen to flowing low-speed music as opposed to the faster staccato death metal I usually prefer. Going to fire up a Slowdive playlist in a bit as I think that'd be perfect right about now.
Conclusion and Overall Experience
This stuff is great! I imagine this is what most people feel from Mahakea instead of what I get which is just a gentle kava complacency and calm. It's definitely a bifurcated effect, taking me in two directions at once. Headiness with the giddy and the eye-lag, but body effects like lidded eyes and loose joints for relaxation. I can definitely see this as a daily drinking kava, or even one for relaxed but energetic conversation with friends in a room full of candles. I feel very secure and comfortable in my body, and I can't seem to get the bemused grin off my face. I'm really enjoying writing this review and indulge in a little imagery.
In short (way too late for that, huh?) this is a wonderful kava that's gone to near the top of my list of weekday varieties. At four shells I felt great, and five shells I feel perfect. It's as if Mo'i and Nene had a love child and named it Pouni Ono. And that's a serious pedigree. I want to thank Mike for holding out for the best of the best because this is a special plant. And it tastes freaking amazing.
Morning After Report
I'll edit the post and come back tomorrow morning/afternoon with the sleep experience and next day baseline mood. Right now I'm expecting great things on both fronts!
EDIT:
In the morning I was able to get out of bed pretty easily, but at the same time felt some residual sleepiness beyond the normal morning sleepiness. I woke in great spirits and am looking forward to my day, but at the same time heading back to bed for an hour before work since I just got the kids off to school. True to my session experience, it gives me a little of both worlds. I think with DHK so high in the chemotype, it makes it a balanced experience.
In terms of sleep quality, I did notice some gurgling, though no so much burning. I had a little trouble getting off to sleep as I sometimes do with heady kavas, but didn't wake up in the middle of the night and gurgle and have trouble getting back to sleep. It seems that more and more these days my 25 micron bags fail me at preventing all gut effects from taking hold, so I'm going to start looking at supplementing the prepared kava with GI-friendly additives like fresh ginger root or maybe some of that "Mother" style apple cider vinegar, even.
Still very happy with my Pouni Ono experience and will go back for more once the kava budget permits.
Preparation and Taste
I prepared this in the usual way. I tend to do roughly 1/2 cup of medium grind root to 2 cups of warm water, with approx 1/2 cup of additional warm water in a second and third wash before tossing the makkas and cleaning out the bag. Used the usual 25 micron strainer bag. I was really looking forward to trying this kava and Mike sent me a 4oz sample in advance of posting it for sale. Sadly the package arrived at my old house (moved recently) so it took me a week to go pick it up.
The flavor of this kava is kind of amazing. It's extremely extremely smooth. Compared to Nambawan, it's positively delicious! The taste is earthy and subdued and very pleasant. I think this one will be my new "introduce someone to kava" kava since it's the mildest of flavor of anything I've tried to date. There was very little "throat hit" that I get from the stronger kavas, where I feel a slight stinging sensation in the back of my throat as I down my first shell. The finish is long, and there is a very slight bitterness at the very end of the shell as I kind of linger over the shell and ponder what's going on in my mouth. The anesthetic effect is just on the tongue with this one, and it seems even and along the length of my tongue where I normally only get the numbness in the front of my mouth with most.
Onset and Effects
At 20 minutes, I could feel a slight relaxation coming on. At 40 minutes I was feeling some warmth in my face and the telltale tingling around my scalp that I get from heady kavas when they finally kick into gear. At 60 minutes I could feel a giddiness starting to rise in my chest, and at 80 minutes I noticed I was subconsciously sporting a bemused grin, which is one of the things I love about Mo'i and Borongoru. After four shells (4 oz. shots, spaced 20 minutes apart) I was getting the soft-focus lens effect and an ever-so-slight case of eye lag and unsteadiness when going from sitting to standing. Also a hallmark of a good heady kava and something that I really enjoy. As with heady kava, there's a giddiness or sense of eager anticipation I can feel in my chest. As I described before, it's not like there's a puppy in there going apeshit on a chew toy, it's more like a puppy hopping up on the couch and trying to bite my fingers. With something like Nambawan or my Nambawan/Borongoru mix from the other night, I was toe tapping and rocking out in my chair. I'm not getting that here.
Here's the interesting part: I'm getting some of the effects that I associate more with Mahakea, Nene, and to some extent, Hanakapi'ai. There's a liquidity in my joints that makes movement seem very fluid and soft. Turning my head to the right, where I normally get a little bit of neck pain, is completely pain free. My head swivels side to side as if on a ball joint instead of whatever the fuck a neck actually is and it's pleasant. I'm also getting some heaviness in my eyes, another effect I associate more with something like Nene. There's a little sensitivity to light and noise, and I'm in a head space now where I want to listen to flowing low-speed music as opposed to the faster staccato death metal I usually prefer. Going to fire up a Slowdive playlist in a bit as I think that'd be perfect right about now.
Conclusion and Overall Experience
This stuff is great! I imagine this is what most people feel from Mahakea instead of what I get which is just a gentle kava complacency and calm. It's definitely a bifurcated effect, taking me in two directions at once. Headiness with the giddy and the eye-lag, but body effects like lidded eyes and loose joints for relaxation. I can definitely see this as a daily drinking kava, or even one for relaxed but energetic conversation with friends in a room full of candles. I feel very secure and comfortable in my body, and I can't seem to get the bemused grin off my face. I'm really enjoying writing this review and indulge in a little imagery.
In short (way too late for that, huh?) this is a wonderful kava that's gone to near the top of my list of weekday varieties. At four shells I felt great, and five shells I feel perfect. It's as if Mo'i and Nene had a love child and named it Pouni Ono. And that's a serious pedigree. I want to thank Mike for holding out for the best of the best because this is a special plant. And it tastes freaking amazing.
Morning After Report
I'll edit the post and come back tomorrow morning/afternoon with the sleep experience and next day baseline mood. Right now I'm expecting great things on both fronts!
EDIT:
In the morning I was able to get out of bed pretty easily, but at the same time felt some residual sleepiness beyond the normal morning sleepiness. I woke in great spirits and am looking forward to my day, but at the same time heading back to bed for an hour before work since I just got the kids off to school. True to my session experience, it gives me a little of both worlds. I think with DHK so high in the chemotype, it makes it a balanced experience.
In terms of sleep quality, I did notice some gurgling, though no so much burning. I had a little trouble getting off to sleep as I sometimes do with heady kavas, but didn't wake up in the middle of the night and gurgle and have trouble getting back to sleep. It seems that more and more these days my 25 micron bags fail me at preventing all gut effects from taking hold, so I'm going to start looking at supplementing the prepared kava with GI-friendly additives like fresh ginger root or maybe some of that "Mother" style apple cider vinegar, even.
Still very happy with my Pouni Ono experience and will go back for more once the kava budget permits.
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