Sale of Fresh Kava in US?

[Kava Time]

We're not selling. Just wondering why its not being sold by Hawaiian kava vendors.

The problem with exporting fresh kava from Fiji/ Vanuatu etc is that it will go through a lot of customs scrutiny at the port of entry by FDA and CBP and because of the delays for transit time, it might also develop molds if the temperature isn't right. I would assume that its easier to send from Hawaii but I cant find any vendor who sells this online.

I asked our bio-security team in Fiji if any exporter has exported/ is exporting green kava and apparently no one has ever sent it. Is it because there is no significant market for it? @kasa_balavu your thoughts on this?

@Gourmet Hawaiian Kava Why haven't you considered selling this and offering it only through 1 day shipping?

I am surprised by how behind the kava industry is. No one has attempted to manufacture shelf stable green kava juice. Surely there must be a way to pasteurize it without reconstituting instant dried kava like what Taki Mai does. Someone provide us with funding and we will revolutionize this industry! lol

 

[Groggy]

We're not selling. Just wondering why its not being sold by Hawaiian kava vendors.

The problem with exporting fresh kava from Fiji/ Vanuatu etc is that it will go through a lot of customs scrutiny at the port of entry by FDA and CBP and because of the delays for transit time, it might also develop molds if the temperature isn't right. I would assume that its easier to send from Hawaii but I cant find any vendor who sells this online.

I asked our bio-security team in Fiji if any exporter has exported/ is exporting green kava and apparently no one has ever sent it. Is it because there is no significant market for it? @kasa_balavu your thoughts on this?

@Gourmet Hawaiian Kava Why haven't you considered selling this and offering it only through 1 day shipping?

I am surprised by how behind the kava industry is. No one has attempted to manufacture shelf stable green kava juice. Surely there must be a way to pasteurize it without reconstituting instant dried kava like what Taki Mai does. Someone provide us with funding and we will revolutionize this industry! lol

What if it's bottled in Fiji first?

 

[Kava Time]

What if it's bottled in Fiji first?

Green kava will be good for 3 days chilled and lesser at room temperature. I know of a way that might work in getting it bottled in Fiji and sent to US for distribution but the investment amount needed to produce it is way beyond what we can afford at this stage.

 

[Groggy]

Green kava will be good for 3 days chilled and lesser at room temperature. I know of a way that might work in getting it bottled in Fiji and sent to US for distribution but the investment amount needed to produce it is way beyond what we can afford at this stage.

If Chris sold it, it would be sweet, but if it's exponentially more expensive as you mentioned, I imagine it's probably not worth it for him either.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

We're not selling. Just wondering why its not being sold by Hawaiian kava vendors.

The problem with exporting fresh kava from Fiji/ Vanuatu etc is that it will go through a lot of customs scrutiny at the port of entry by FDA and CBP and because of the delays for transit time, it might also develop molds if the temperature isn't right. I would assume that its easier to send from Hawaii but I cant find any vendor who sells this online.

I asked our bio-security team in Fiji if any exporter has exported/ is exporting green kava and apparently no one has ever sent it. Is it because there is no significant market for it? @kasa_balavu your thoughts on this?

@Gourmet Hawaiian Kava Why haven't you considered selling this and offering it only through 1 day shipping?

I am surprised by how behind the kava industry is. No one has attempted to manufacture shelf stable green kava juice. Surely there must be a way to pasteurize it without reconstituting instant dried kava like what Taki Mai does. Someone provide us with funding and we will revolutionize this industry! lol

The reason why I don't sell fresh kava root is because I don't want to. I used to sell it to Herb companies like East Earth Herbs but now it is not as easy to send it out, I used to use dry ice but now there are problems with that because of 9 11. There are a few growers in Hawaii that do sell fresh kava root, one is Zack G. at Kanaka kava in Kona and then there is Puu O Hoku Ranch, here is there website---http://www.puuohoku.com/
Aloha.

Chris

 

[Kava Time]

The reason why I don't sell fresh kava root is because I don't want to. I used to sell it to Herb companies like East Earth Herbs but now it is not as easy to send it out, I used to use dry ice but now there are problems with that because of 9 11. There are a few growers in Hawaii that do sell fresh kava root, one is Zack G. at Kanaka kava in Kona and then there is Puu O Hoku Ranch, here is there website---http://www.puuohoku.com/
Aloha.

Chris

Do these sellers also use dry ice as a coolant when sending to mainland US?I cant seem to find either of their online store selling kava..is dry ice problem only related to sending things by postal service?

 

[Kava Time]

If Chris sold it, it would be sweet, but if it's exponentially more expensive as you mentioned, I imagine it's probably not worth it for him either.

It wont be expensive sending fresh minced kava like how paradise used to do. Bottling the kava juice is a whole other story

 

[Kojo Douglas]

It is not necessary to use dry ice to sell fresh Kava - not at all. Paradise Kava used to sell frozen Kava in overnight traditionally-iced packaging. It was an amazing experience to drink Kava the way islanders traditionally drink it. I find it odd that a Kava farmer in Hawaii who goes out of their way to sell imported Vanuatu and Fiji Kava would neglect to fill such a market niche. It is baffling

 

[Zaphod]

It is not necessary to use dry ice to sell fresh Kava - not at all. Paradise Kava used to sell frozen Kava in overnight traditionally-iced packaging. It was an amazing experience to drink Kava the way islanders traditionally drink it. I find it odd that a Kava farmer in Hawaii who goes out of their way to sell imported Vanuatu and Fiji Kava would neglect to fill such a market niche. It is baffling

I can't speak for them but I think you answered your own question. It is a niche market which means more work, and likely few customers. If you have a good solid business supplying dried kava you may just not want the hassle. Not everyone subscribes to the grow or die business mantra.

 

[Kojo Douglas]

I certainly don't subscribe to that mantra either. I'm a humanitarian worker, after all.

My impression of good vendors is that they promote the tradition of Kava, and would jump at every opportunity to satisfy people who respect Kava - particularly in its purest form. We used to have the good fortune of having a vendor in Hawaii who gave us the opportunity of enjoying Kava the traditional way.

Of course, it's the choice of vendors what they want to sell or don't want to sell. It's also their choice if they want to be driven by maximizing profit and tactically thwarting competition.

To support your original point, it seems more in line with the "grow or die" mantra to import Kava from Vanuatu or Fiji when you have a farm of your own.

 

[Zaphod]

I certainly don't subscribe to that mantra either. I'm a humanitarian worker, after all.

My impression of good vendors is that they promote the tradition of Kava, and would jump at every opportunity to satisfy people who respect Kava - particularly in its purest form. We used to have the good fortune of having a vendor in Hawaii who gave us the opportunity of enjoying Kava the traditional way.

Of course, it's the choice of vendors what they want to sell or don't want to sell. It's also their choice if they want to be driven by maximizing profit and tactically thwarting competition.

To support your original point, it seems more in line with the "grow or die" mantra to import Kava from Vanuatu or Fiji when you have a farm of your own.

I agree, and your last point is fair. I would certainly pay a premium to try fresh green kava. I got the cash and outside the unlikely event that I get back to Hawaii anytime soon I doubt I will get the chance to try it unless a vendor steps up. I am all for it! I can only imagine that the difference in taste is quite significant - like the first time you try a fresh squeezed fruit juice versus a concentrate.

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

I've seen a few vendors attempt it over the last 15 years, but it never sticks. These days I occasionally stumble across farmers in Hawai'i that sell it, and I know of one Micronesian who does. Outside of the issue with it's perishability, and the added size and weight ice/dry ice adds, it also requires several pounds of fresh root to equal one pound of dry. Unfortunately 5-10 lbs of cooled fresh kava becomes too expensive and cumbersome to ship. Especially compared to the light, small, stable bags of dry powder that slip right into a small USPS $6 flat-rate box.

I've looked into it before, trying to find ways to keep it fresh, I've contacted scientists in Hawai'i who've worked on that very thing. It seems somewhat doable but slightly out of reach, only shipping nationally is probably feasible. I always wanted to have, and sell, fresh kava...but I simply don't have the money to experiment with something like that. I personally think the size/weight/shipping cost is probably the bigger issue. Fresh kava is great, but no one will regularly dish out $200 for what would be the equivalent of 1 dry pound.

If my kava plants successfully grow to maturity here in LA county, which is unlikely, I will definitely sell some. Meanwhile, I suspect someone who has the funds and access will eventually try to fill the demand for this little corner of the kava market.

 

[John Bytell]

I would definitely be interested!

 

[Zaphod]

Yup, I would try it - but at that price it certainly wouldn't become a regular thing. Which I guess is the point. It would be a tough thing to do and even get enough interest to get initial orders.

 

[The Kap'n]

If I remember correctly the "Black Beauty" blend that was being sold was around $300 for 6lbs fresh frozen.

 

[Zaphod]

How does one go about prepping fresh green kava?

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

I don't expect fresh vine ripened home grown tomatoes in January. Maybe we can't have everything we want just because we want it, even if we throw money at it? Maybe things are better in context because then they are special? Why rob things of that which makes them special? Why not enjoy what we can when we can and not lament that which we cannot? Or is that my kava passivity speaking?

 

[The Kap'n]

How does one go about prepping fresh green kava?

If it's not already blended down (as Adil from Paradise Kava conveniently did) you chop up the roots and then throw them in a food processor. Take the resulting mash, and either vacuum seal or place in ziplock backs and put them in the freezer. You use more root per session, but the kneading portion is essentially the same.

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

I don't expect fresh vine ripened home grown tomatoes in January. Maybe we can't have everything we want just because we want it, even if we throw money at it? Maybe things are better in context because then they are special? Why rob things of that which makes them special? Why not enjoy what we can when we can and not lament that which we cannot? Or is that my kava passivity speaking?

But what if you could only get sun dried tomatoes, and imagine that sun-dried tomatoes tasted terrible, were extremely bloating, nauseating and required eating a large amount of them to satiate and get any nutrients from. Then imagine knowing the simple, delicious, juicy, fresh tomato also exists...and it tastes better, feels better, satiates easier and easily fulfills your needs. It exists, but you don't get to have, despite it being better in just about every way.

Dry kava is fine, if that's all you can get. But there's no doubt, in an ideal world, we could all get fresh kava. It doesn't have to be special, it should be the norm, and that's special enough. Admittedly, I will say, lightweights probably won't see what the big deal is with fresh kava, especially if you prep it yourself.

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

It would rob me of looking forward to visiting Hawai'i.