Closing Thread. Have spoken with Mike and Aeropronoble about the issue. In fact, I have a bag of the kava sitting in my kitchen. I'm still meaning to make a shell with it, but the smell is absolutely there.
Symptom: A batch of loa waka had an unusual smell to it. The smell was a latex like smell. I've personally encountered it in varying degrees in many types of kava.
Issue (Information from KWK): "this can sometimes happen when they're pounding the kava and transfer it to the bags too quick without letting it cool down."
Resolution From KWK: "went through our last shipment and found 2 bulk bags that this happened too and we're not going to be selling those to save any future issues."
Conclusion: A batch of kava from Kalm with Kava was pounded and bagged without letting the kava cool first, and caused a natural smell within the kava itself to be more pronounced and offputting. Mike, the owner of Kalm with Kava, has identified this issue and removed the offending batches.
Bula!
Symptom: A batch of loa waka had an unusual smell to it. The smell was a latex like smell. I've personally encountered it in varying degrees in many types of kava.
Issue (Information from KWK): "this can sometimes happen when they're pounding the kava and transfer it to the bags too quick without letting it cool down."
Resolution From KWK: "went through our last shipment and found 2 bulk bags that this happened too and we're not going to be selling those to save any future issues."
Conclusion: A batch of kava from Kalm with Kava was pounded and bagged without letting the kava cool first, and caused a natural smell within the kava itself to be more pronounced and offputting. Mike, the owner of Kalm with Kava, has identified this issue and removed the offending batches.
Bula!