Waka from Fiji Emporium

[kl.timmyk]

This is my first post everyone, hello!
I've been taking kava capsules from Kona for about 6 months to reduce stress and back pain and have been very impressed with Kava so far.  I did some looking around online and found that many people make it with powder so I found some at Fijiemporium.com.
My wife and I tried it last night and it was nice.  We didn't feel too different, however.  It is really inexpensive (around $20 per pound) compared to other Kava, especially other Waka varieties I have been able to find online.  I mixed about 1/4 cup of powder with 2 cups of water, let that soak for 30 minutes, then strained it with the cheesecloth.  It didn't taste very good at all but it was my first time tasting it this way.  
Has anyone else tried this kava before?  I am curious as to how it compares with other Kava powder.  Most of the varieties that is discussed here are around $50 per pound.

 

[kl.Elizabeth]

Welcome!
Did you squeeze the kava?  You have to squeeze it for 10 minutes to release the kavalactones.

 

[kl.Sub.chemtrails]

before you strain it blend the shit out of it if you have a powerful blender. Give it 3-5 minutes on high. The kavalaktones will leave by force only. Apply as much as possible and blending certainly makes my brew more potent

 

[kl.timmyk]

Thanks guys. Do you resoak the kava once you squeeze all of the water out? I did squeeze it, basically until I couldn't squeeze anymore, but I didn't try putting it back into the juice. I tried again last night and squeezed it once, blended it for about 1 minute on high, then squeezed again. I drank about 3 cups or so and never really felt any different, but both times felt super relaxed and slept great all night. I've been reading about the reverse tolerance and I am hoping that on the 3rd or 4th try that it will be stronger. Anyways, I am impressed that Fiji Emporium sells a pound of this stuff for $20.



Do you guys use lecithin? Does it make a noticeable difference? Thanks for the help!

 

[Kojo Douglas]

I drank about 3 cups or so and never really felt any different, but both times felt super relaxed and slept great all night.

Feeling super relaxed and sleeping great doesn't count as feeling different? Those are two of the best effects of Kava.

 

[kl.Elizabeth]

Basically, you need to squeeze it, until it doesn't feel slippery anymore.  So, yes, resubmerge it and squeeze until the sliminess is gone.  I hope I'm explaining this right and it makes sense.

 

[kl.Lanake]

I have ordered from fijiemporium.com on several occasions. Good kava, (very good for the price). I would still order from them but have found a very good fiji kava at a local oriental food store for $22.50 a lb imported and distributed by National Marketing Food Service based in Hayward, Ca. I have a theory that the fijiemporium kava is the same I'm buying locally with a different label because they are quite similar.



I would recommend trying something from Nakamal@Home and/or Hawaiian Kava Center.

 

[kl.timmyk]

I drank about 3 cups or so and never really felt any different, but both times felt super relaxed and slept great all night.

Feeling super relaxed and sleeping great doesn't count as feeling different? Those are two of the best effects of Kava.

I completely agree with you, but I guess I was expecting more as I can feel relaxed and sleep great from taking a couple of kava capsules.  It seemed like much more effort for essentially the same result!  I think I was expecting a little more head change or something different from the small capsules.  Just wondering.   Thanks for the feedback!

 

[kl.Lanake]

Sometimes it take a couple of sessions but the effect will come. Right now, I'm krunked after having about 4 shells (16ounces) of the fiji kava I posted about earlier.

 

[kl.r3mote]

firstly, thanks for posting about fiji emporium waka, i've had them on the back of my mind for months. but have been on the fence on trying them - even for the great price they offer.





after reading makaira's konakava blog, and prep info over at kavabyrex, and doing it myself, i've found a very effective way to make kava using the squeeze method.



if i'm just making some kava for myself, what i do is mix a gram or two (just somewhere in that ballpark) of soy lecithin or a fatty oil per 8oz water, and have 2 tablespoons of kava root in your strainer bag (i use either a muslin bag or a cut up cotton t-shirt) per 8oz water.

use distilled water. this is kind of important, because other water has minerals and other stuff in it that impedes the binding of lactones to the lecithin.



now i tie the top of the bag closed and keep that end out of the water at all times. you're supposed squeeze the powdered kava root until it doesn't feel oily, but that's not really going to happen on the first 'flush'. i squeeze and knead thoroughly with power for 5-10 minutes, the longer the better. then, i drink that kava =D and pour another 8oz of soy lecithin/distilled water on top of the bagged kava and repeat the process, but this time, not for 5-10 minutes, i squeeze until it doesn't feel oily. at that point, the root's kavalactones are spent, and you can rinse out the bag (and pour another two tablespoons of root in there!).



doing this using a gallon of water at a time is also a very good way, and will take the same amount of time - just squeeze strongly until the root feels 'dry' not oily!

 

[kl.dragn33]

Enjoyed this kava throughout the summer and I totally agree about using lecithin and distilled water.  I have tried this kava with tap water and distilled (both with lecithin) and definitely retrieve more of the kavalactones with distilled water.  However, I am the impatient type and squeezing for more than 5 min....happens infrequently (smiley: embarassed). 

Lucky me, I now live within 90 min. of Portland so I can stop by and pick up a few pounds (smiley: happy). 
Cheers.

 

[kl.dragn33]

I have spent much more time squeezing this kava as of late and am getting krunked.  The effect is quite cerebral and doesn't immediately put me to sleep.  However, I am having more trouble walking straight and focusing on tasks.  Great for laying out in the sun for the afternoon and reading or listening to tunes.  Recipes I am currently using: 16 oz. distilled water with 2/3 cup Fiji Emporium waka.  Be careful, they also sell an "other than completely" root mixture.  I have always gotten discounts from them, just ask.  They will also offer discounts for volume - i.e. 5 lbs.

Update:  After making and drinking about 5 lbs. of this stuff - I'm not sure of the quality.  Especially compared to KBR waka.  Further this website says little about how the kava is imported and what processes it suffers on the way.  When I compare other fiji waka kava with FE's, I note that the other
kavas feel much "cleaner" - without going into anatomical detail.  The quality of kava root that I ingest is a high priority.  I have noted that other vendors make comments about "no methyl bromide used" for their kava imports.  Yikes!  I didn't know some importers use methyl bromide? This stuff sounds pretty nasty.
For what it's worth...

Peace and wonderful experiences to you.

 

[Bula Kava House]

I drank about 3 cups or so and never really felt any different, but both times felt super relaxed and slept great all night.

Feeling super relaxed and sleeping great doesn't count as feeling different? Those are two of the best effects of Kava.

I completely agree with you, but I guess I was expecting more as I can feel relaxed and sleep great from taking a couple of kava capsules.  It seemed like much more effort for essentially the same result!  I think I was expecting a little more head change or something different from the small capsules.  Just wondering.   Thanks for the feedback!

True, those are some of the best effects of kava. I too have had kava from Fiji Emporium, their store is in my hometown, the effects are nice, but it is fairly mild (as Fijian kava often is, and as I personally enjoy more than a super potent kava). Kava can vary greatly in stength based on kavalactone percentage and which kavalactones are most prevalent.  If you want a kava that will hit you hard for a long time try to find one high in the kavalactone DHM, but beware, too much DHM can be nauseating.  If you are looking for that heady euphoric feeling that comes on quickly look for a kava high in kavain.

*Disclaimer: Promotion time. I am the owner at Bula Kava House and we sell four different types of kava at the moment, all of which are nice but different.  I always encourage people to try kava from other sources because there's definitely some good stuff out there, but give ours a try too. It's super fresh, organically grown, almost always 100% lateral root, and our prices are right.  Of course, I think I have the best quality for the best price out there but I'm biased. Anyway, take care kava loungers and shoot me a message if you have any questions about my kava and which one may be best for you, or about kava in general...Or about scuba diving...Or triathlons...Sorry, I digress.(smiley: wink)