Kava Root, Instant Kava & Extracts

Our kava range is 51 listings of noble-certified Piper methysticum sourced directly from small-holder farms in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and the Solomon Islands. It runs from traditional medium-grind root through micronized instant powders to CO2-extracted 85% kavalactone paste, plus tinctures, capsules, gummies, leaf, ready-to-drink kava sodas and shots, and even live cuttings. Each batch undergoes laboratory testing for purity and kavalactone content, and root lots are characterized by chemotype so you can choose between heady and heavy varieties rather than guessing. We only carry noble cultivars, the traditional daily-drinking kavas. Kava also appears in our herbal vape pens, where the kava vape disposable is the most reordered. For root preparation, see how to make kava the traditional way.

At a glance

• 51 listings of noble-certified Piper methysticum from Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and the Solomon Islands
• Formats: medium-grind root, micronized instant powders, CO2-extracted 85% kavalactone paste, tinctures, capsules, gummies, leaf, kava sodas and shots, and live cuttings
• Each batch laboratory tested for purity and kavalactone content
• Root lots characterized by chemotype so you can pick heady or heavy
• Only noble cultivars, the traditional daily-drinking kavas

The plant. Piper methysticum is a shrub in the pepper family grown across the Pacific Islands, where the root has been pounded, strained and shared as a ceremonial and social drink for over three thousand years, usually at day's end. The root carries six major kavalactones: kavain, which is heady, uplifting and quick; dihydrokavain; methysticin; dihydromethysticin, which is heavier and more physical; yangonin and desmethoxyyangonin. A kava's chemotype, the order in which those six dominate, decides whether it reads heady, heavy or balanced.

How to choose.

• Traditional preparation means medium-grind root kneaded in water and strained: compare the Vanuatu high potency medium grind, the Fiji medium grind and the Tongan medium grind.
• If you do not want to strain, micronized kava powder stirs straight into water, and the instant line is sorted by chemotype: Instant Kava Heady Variety for daytime and 11.4% kavalactone Body instant for the evening.
• Concentrates are for experienced drinkers: the CO2 85% kavalactone paste, high kavain is the strongest thing in the collection.
• For convenience, the 2 fl oz high potency kava tincture and kava extract capsules travel well.

Dosing overview. Each product page gives its own serving, which is the number to use; a stated kavalactone percentage such as 6.62% or 11.4% tells you how much smaller a serving of instant should be than a shell of traditional grog. Take kava on an empty stomach or well away from meals, start with one serving, and wait twenty to thirty minutes before more. Paste and tincture are measured in tiny amounts, so read the page twice before you begin.

What to expect. A numb, tingling mouth is the first sign kava is working and is completely normal. Heady kavas are described as uplifted, social and clear-headed; heavy kavas as melty, relaxed and body-focused, the kind of thing for the end of the day. Reverse tolerance is real, so the first few sessions may feel mild before kava fully shows itself. Effects build over half an hour and last a few hours.

Side effects and cautions. Nausea is the usual sign of a full stomach or too much at once; drowsiness is expected with heavy chemotypes; and dry, flaky skin can appear with heavy long-term use and resolves on stopping.

• Do not combine kava with alcohol or sedative and benzodiazepine medications
• Consult a professional if you have any liver condition or take liver-metabolized medication
• Do not drive until you know your response
• Not if pregnant or nursing
• Adults 21 and over

Common questions

• What is the difference between heady and heavy kava? Heady kavas are kavain-forward and read bright and social, while heavy kavas are dihydromethysticin-forward and read physical and relaxing, so choose by time of day.
• Why does my mouth go numb after drinking kava? Kavalactones numb the tongue and lips on contact, and that tingle is a normal sign of a potent noble root.
• Is instant kava as strong as medium grind root? Instant is the strained drink dried to a powder, so a serving is smaller and more concentrated, and each instant lists its kavalactone percentage.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kava is a traditional botanical, and traditional use does not establish that it will produce any particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Use at your own risk and keep out of reach of children. Formulated by Healing Herbals, run by a practicing herbalist of 13+ years.

More reading: What’s Better for You: Instant or Micronized Kava?, Kava Kava: A step into understanding how this plant works biochemically..