Kava Poll Strainer Bag Preference??

[Kava Vinaka]

Bula Kava Fam!

Kava Vinaka is looking to begin selling strainer bags for kava. We want to hear from YOU! We have options in different size Nylon mesh as well as an Organic cotton strainer bag. We would love to know what other avid kava users prefer when making their kava!

 

[TheKavaSociety]

it depends on your grind. i reckon with most kavas 75-100 microns is ideal. we have been using 75 microns and have had zero complaints.

 

[Groggy]

I'd opt for 75 micron which I don't see on the list, but I'll add it now, we might as well have accurate results.

 

[Kava Vinaka]

Thanks for adding 75 micron to the list @Krunʞy. I am surprised to hear that actually. I would’ve thought people would want the Organic Cotton. I’m guessing because it is not as fine and durable?

 

[Chillbert]

Huge fan of Cactus Kava's strainer bags (Nylon 100 micron). Do a great job and last a very long time!

 

[The Kap'n]

Thanks for adding 75 micron to the list @Krunʞy. I am surprised to hear that actually. I would’ve thought people would want the Organic Cotton. I’m guessing because it is not as fine and durable?

I really prefer the traditional Fijian cloth strainers, but to be honest I have no idea what micron size they would be considered.

 

[Groggy]

Thanks for adding 75 micron to the list @Krunʞy. I am surprised to hear that actually. I would’ve thought people would want the Organic Cotton. I’m guessing because it is not as fine and durable?

Some people prefer it , yeah I like it for the durability. Mine lasts me 1 - 1 1/2 years.

 

[Kava Vinaka]

I really prefer the traditional Fijian cloth strainers, but to be honest I have no idea what micron size they would be considered.

Traditional Fijian Cloths are usually inconsistent in quality and hard to source. I would think they are closest to the cotton bags.

 

[kavamehameha]

Usually 100 micron is perfect for me. But 75 is fine too. (Ha, do you get the unintended pun? "Fine"? )

 

[TheKavaSociety]

Food grade nylon is perfectly safe and far more durable, easier to clean consistent than cotton (organic or not). Plus you really can't control the mesh count with any of the natural fibres. I suppose hemp/cotton etc work fine with coarser grind kava, after some soaking. But with finer grind powders 75-100 micron is ideal.

 

[Kava Vinaka]

Food grade nylon is perfectly safe and far more durable, easier to clean consistent than cotton (organic or not). Plus you really can't control the mesh count with any of the natural fibres. I suppose hemp/cotton etc work fine with coarser grind kava, after some soaking. But with finer grind powders 75-100 micron is ideal.

Very well put. I can see the long term durability and cleaning be a great plus for the nylon.

 

[fait]

Most of my experience with strainer bags is from Kavafied. I have their small 100 micron bag which I use sometimes and their much larger rounded-bottom bag with the plastic hoop that measures 75 microns. I've found I enjoy how smooth of a grog I get with the 75 microns.

An honorable mention goes to the strainer bags Bula Kava House once sold with the neat designs. Those are sturdy and I'm not afraid I'll break mine whenever I decide it's a traditional prep day. No idea if there was ever a micron count on those bags but the end results never disappointed.

 

[Kava Vinaka]

Most of my experience with strainer bags is from Kavafied. I have their small 100 micron bag which I use sometimes and their much larger rounded-bottom bag with the plastic hoop that measures 75 microns. I've found I enjoy how smooth of a grog I get with the 75 microns.

An honorable mention goes to the strainer bags Bula Kava House once sold with the neat designs. Those are sturdy and I'm not afraid I'll break mine whenever I decide it's a traditional prep day. No idea if there was ever a micron count on those bags but the end results never disappointed.

Appreciate your thoughts! If the bags were both at 75 micron, would you prefer the long and skinny bags or the short ones?

 

[Señor Chuggs]

I've been using the big 75 micron nylon monofilament one from Kavafied for years. I just recently got filter bags on Amazon to keep as a backup. I think they were marketed for fish tanks. I like the nylon because it doesn't seem to get stiff/sticky as quickly as cotton. It's interesting bc cotton is supposed to be stronger when it's wet, which is one reason why US dollar bills have some cotton in them for durability... But I found when using the same cotton one repeatedly it got gradually coated in root resin over time, making me have to squeeze harder. I think that ultimately makes it more prone to bursting mid mix.

This might totally be a personal quirk, but I think cotton is better for gauging donness. You can easily feel when the strainer is oily and still has a few squeezes left in it, and then also once it is spent and feels like a hacky-sack.

I think it's worth having a few cotton or other cloth ones that you can launder and rotate as well as a nylon one that you can just dunk in soapy water between uses.

 

[fait]

Appreciate your thoughts! If the bags were both at 75 micron, would you prefer the long and skinny bags or the short ones?

I'd lean towards tall ones. I tend to keep the open end of the bag outside of the container I'm kneading my grog in so that there's no chance of grind shifting out of the bag. I don't exactly trust the drawstring on the bag I have.

 

[Kava Vinaka]

I'd lean towards tall ones. I tend to keep the open end of the bag outside of the container I'm kneading my grog in so that there's no chance of grind shifting out of the bag. I don't exactly trust the drawstring on the bag I have.

That is what I was thinking as well. I want to go with a longer nylon bag. Something like a 6"x12".

 

[Kava Vinaka]

I've been using the big 75 micron nylon monofilament one from Kavafied for years. I just recently got filter bags on Amazon to keep as a backup. I think they were marketed for fish tanks. I like the nylon because it doesn't seem to get stiff/sticky as quickly as cotton. It's interesting bc cotton is supposed to be stronger when it's wet, which is one reason why US dollar bills have some cotton in them for durability... But I found when using the same cotton one repeatedly it got gradually coated in root resin over time, making me have to squeeze harder. I think that ultimately makes it more prone to bursting mid mix.

This might totally be a personal quirk, but I think cotton is better for gauging donness. You can easily feel when the strainer is oily and still has a few squeezes left in it, and then also once it is spent and feels like a hacky-sack.

I think it's worth having a few cotton or other cloth ones that you can launder and rotate as well as a nylon one that you can just dunk in soapy water between uses.

75 micron is what i am leaning towards. Interesting fact about the US dollar bills, didn't know that. The nylon samples I have are 6x10, 8x10 and 10x10. I am leaning towards 6x10. thoughts?

 

[kraving the kava]

I really prefer the traditional Fijian cloth strainers, but to be honest I have no idea what micron size they would be considered.

So what kind of bag are you using for the "canoe" part of mixer cup? I just bought one of those of those mixers.

 

[The Kap'n]

So what kind of bag are you using for the "canoe" part of mixer cup? I just bought one of those of those mixers.

It’s a Fijian Style cloth strainer.

 

[avahZ]

Dollar General Pantyhose . Here in the South end of the US State of Georgia, you get some odd looks. LoL