your krunk ratio/recipe ~

[kl.kavalactone3]

Hi! I'm one who thoroughly enjoys strong kava, I currently have one serving (maybe alittle less then half a cup) of stone left. What do you guys prefer as a ratio (kava;water) for a nice krunk? Whats the best way to get the most out of your kava? I plan on having a good session before the weekend fades into the week. Thanks much

 

[Ed!]

I never really pay much attention to the quantity of water I use. I don't think it matters too much as long as it's not so watered down that I can't consume it in a decent amount of time.


Lately I've been using my kava twice with equally strong results, and then I tend to make a third batch that's pretty weak.


First batch:

1) Soak

2) Blend a couple minutes in warm water

3) Hand knead for 20 minutes


Second batch:

1) Pull my used kava out of the fridge and blend it again

2) Pour boiling water into my kava-filled fijian strainer

3) Press it out for 10 minutes with a big flat spoon with holes. You can *see* the results from this as the water gets muddy very quickly and has yellow bubbly goodness

4) Once the water is cooled to the point where I can use my hands I hand-knead for another 10 minutes

5) Lick my now sticky hands clean


The third batch I haven't come to a great method with, as it seems pretty well sapped. I do store up the kava from 2-3 second batches, but it still tends to be pretty weak. I feel good about that though, as I feel I've maxed-out my kava.

 

[kl.kavalactone3]

The first batch method sounds nice, but for the second batch, doesn't the boiling water destroy kavalactones? and how is the second batch effects wise, i sometimes feel like i am wasting kava by only using it for one sesh. I usually soak a half cup of kava stirred in to 2 cups of water for about 30 - 50 minutes, Pour into a double nylon strainer, knead for about 10 minutes then enjoy. Does the extra 10 minutes of kneading make a difference? I tend to be very impatient and my anxious brain wants kavalactones as soon as possible lol, but watching a nice movie or music might help the patience issue.

 

[KavaKrunked]

Ed, you say equally strong results for both batches? I could see this being true for a mid to course grind (like nambawan), but not so much from a fine grind like boroguru or even stone. I "lose" too much root into the brew with these to get much out of a second squeeze.


The boiling water part is interesting. It always seemed reasonable to me that very hot, or near boiling water would be more effective in pulling resinous kavalactones from the ground root than just lukewarm water. I've just been too afraid to try it as everyone claims hot water has a negative effect.


Enjoying a late afternoon first squeeze of 1/2 cup nambawan to 2 cups water now... After one shell I can tell this will be a good krunk.

 

[Ed!]

The second batch is just as strong as the first for me virtually every time that I've done this, which is probably 6-7 times now with different kavas. I also use a good amount of root, between 1/2 and 1 cup, so that may factor in.


I was motivated to try this after a comment made by TylerKTB regarding hot water extraction. What he said was that the "it kills kavalactones" is true, but overrated when considering preparation methods. His comment then was that if it kills 5% of kavalactones, but improves extraction by 20%, then that's a 15% win.


Try it with a second squeeze, I think you'll be impressed. It's been the single most effective change in routine for me. I think the key is kneading it in some manner while it's hot, you can't just brew it like a tea. It also seems to taste more bitter when you go the hot water route.


(as far as the extra 10 minutes, I don't really know if that makes a big difference, I mostly do it because I'm stubborn and I don't want to waste root)

 

[kl.ImSoCold2323]

I make mine fairly watery.  1/2 cup root to 3-4 cups water, knead 10 minutes, pour in container, another 1-2 cups water, knead 5 minutes, add to container, enjoy (or chill first).  I figure I might as well do the first and second squeezings together, since any root I keep around, even for a day, starts to smell sour.
I don't know if it's true, but I have this feeling that the water saturates quickly, even with 1/2 cup to 4 cups root/water ratio.  As in, kneading for an hour in the same bowl of water won't be any different than kneading for 5 minutes (other than losing more of the yellowy goodness to the side of the bowl, or your hand for that matter).  That's why people seem to get something useful out of a second squeezing, no matter how long they kneaded the first time.  And that's why I immediately switch to a second, clean bowl, to quickly get out what's left.
Of course my preparation methods, just like everyone elses, were formed randomly and coincidentally with 0 scientific backing.  It's a shame with all the studies done on all the health benefits of kava, their is no decent quantifiable data on which prep methods extract the most efficiently...

 

[mos3z]

n@h was the first kava i bought and i still use their method.


1 cup of root to 2 cups water

soak for 30 min

strain from bag

empty root into blender and add the liquid

blend for a minute

pour back into strainer bag and squeeze


its a very strong batch

 

[kavalover]

mos3z - We have pretty much the exact same prep method and ratio (I blend first then strain/knead without soaking)


Very strong is an understatement. I use this method on boroguru and find myself waking up with a numb face.

 

[krunkedout]

mos3z - We have pretty much the exact same prep method and ratio (I blend first then strain/knead without soaking)



Very strong is an understatement. I use this method on boroguru and find myself waking up with a numb face.

that's it. Tomorrow I'm trying this. However I may end up drinking it all since I leave tomorrow and will be gone till Saturday... Or perhaps I'll drink the rest of it upon my arrival to the airport...

 

[mos3z]

kavalover: no soaking at all? i forgot to mention i add 1 tablespoon of powdered lecithin, i get a nice yellow foam by the end of soaking. do u knead? i dont knead it like others do, i just squeeze out the bag and wring it as hard as i can


Krunked, if you drink enough on your first drink theres no way u could finish the batch lol (thats not a challenge)

 

[kavalover]

Well I always looked at it as if the blender was doing everything soaking does in a shorter amount of time. Softening up the root as well as pounding the hell out of it, killing two birds with one stone, so nah, lately I haven't been soaking at all. But yes I do knead. It goes 5 minutes in the blender, into a strainer, knead and squeeze normally, then drink. and yeah, I get that nice yellow foam as well. I love drinking the kava immediately after so that the foam is still "popping" as I bring the shell to my lips. Like what carbonated soda does, only better.

 

[kl.hackysackhomie]

Interesting. I've tried blending and using lecithin, but i haven't noticed any difference in effectiveness.  I've lately just been filling up a strainer bag with dry root, fastening it off at the top with a twist-tie or a paperclip, and letting it soak in a bowl of water for a few minutes before kneading.  I knead as many batches as I can (usually two) before the strainer stops feeling oily.  What do you guys use for strainers? I've noticed Nylon tends to stretch over time and give me a super muddy last gulp, and an old t-shirt works really well other than a distinctive cotton-y aftertaste.  Paint strainers also seem to let too much root through.

 

[kavadude]

I prefer using much more water than the normal amount, small amounts of water makes a thick brew that causes me to gag. I usually do about 2 full glasses of water which is probably 3-4 cups to about 4 tbsp of kava so probably almost 1 cup of water to tbsp of kava for me.
I use a fijian strainer.