Today’s health-conscious consumers are always looking for that next substance to level up their health. The kava plant, also known as kava kava, has filled that need for many people after gaining popularity in the Western Hemisphere.
If you live in a big city, you might have noticed the opening of kava bars, a new type of watering hole that provides an alternative to alcohol culture. These hip new joints often serve a variety of kava drinks.
But what exactly is kava, and how can it benefit your physical and mental health? Furthermore, how can you make your own kava beverages at home? We’ll tackle those questions and a whole lot more below.
Before We Begin: What is Kava, or “Kava Kava?”
The kava plant (Piper methysticum) is a member of the pepper family that grows in many South Pacific islands. Kava’s roots hold more than two dozen kavalactones, which are bioactive compounds that interact with the human body to produce kava’s effects.
Kava tea was one of the first recorded uses of the kava plant. Local populations practically revered kava and reserved consumption for spiritual and religious ceremonies. While some kava users simply chew the plant’s roots, it’s more often consumed via drinks, extracts, and capsules.
How does kava affect the mind and body?
Kava’s six major kavalactones interact with bodily systems, including the endocannabinoid and central nervous systems, in lots of different ways.
Perhaps the best-known effect of kava is its anxiolytic, or anti-anxiety, property. Many users prefer kava to pharmaceutical interventions like benzodiazepines or SSRIs. Some kava users report feeling more focused or creative, while others may become more sociable or even experience euphoria. Its psychoactive effects, especially compared to kratom, are fairly muted.
Each user experiences kava in a slightly different way. The safest way to consume kava is to try a small amount, wait a few minutes, and see how your body reacts. The effects of kava drinks vary from person to person.
One of the most interesting things about kava is that many people report a reverse tolerance effect, meaning they don’t need to take as much kava as they did in the beginning to achieve the same benefits. Scientific studies have yet to confirm kava’s reverse tolerance in humans, however. Picking the brain of your local kava bar’s staff is a great way to start using kava products.
What is a Kava Drink, Exactly?
We’re not out here to trick anyone—a kava drink is, simply, a beverage that’s been infused with crushed kava roots. The most popular kava plant drink is kava tea. Kava tea makers typically put their desired amount of kava powder in a mesh bag or strainer and run water through it to collect the kavalactones. You might want to knead the damp kava powder for maximum effect.
Contrary to most teas, though, it’s best not to use boiling or very hot water with kava teas. High temperatures can degrade the kavalactones, which makes the beverage less potent. Kava powder is not water-soluble, but it can be absorbed by fats and oils.
How to Make Your Own DIY Kava Drink
Steeping kava powder for an earthy-flavored tea is just one way to prepare a kava drink. Kava extract shots, which are just concentrated forms of kava, are gaining in popularity and can be added to almost any food or beverage you desire.
Experimenting with different sweeteners and flavorings can help mask kava’s relatively earthy and bitter taste. Using kava with juices or coconut milk is another popular way to prepare kava drinks.
Kava Product to Use: Happy Hippo Kava+ Extract Shot
This kava extract shot from Happy Hippo is a great introduction to the substance. Each two-ounce bottle contains 500 milligrams of kava extract in a delicious pineapple-orange flavored liquid. We’ll be using this product in all three of our recipes below!
Another Option: Pure Ohms Breeze 7OH + Kava Extract Shot
This product from Pure Ohms is a lot like the Happy Hippo one we just covered, with one big difference—it also has kratom extracts. You’re likely to feel uber-chill after consuming half of the bottle (one serving).
3 DIY Kava Drink Recipes Fit for Any Occasion
Looking for a flavorful introduction to kava? We’ve got you covered with these three easy-to-make recipes.
1. Hot or Iced Kava Tea
If you don’t want to make tea from scratch, it’s perfectly fine and dandy to just add some kava extract into already-brewed iced tea. But here's how to make your own:
Ingredients
- A gallon of water
- Tea bags
- Kava extract (to taste)
- Sugar (mandatory in the South, optional everywhere else)
- Sliced lemon garnish (optional)
Directions
- Boil four cups of water, reduce heat, and steep tea bags for 5–10 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and add sugar.
- Pour tea in a gallon-sized pitcher and add the remaining three quarts of water.
- Add the desired amount of kava extract and stir thoroughly.
2. Berry Sweet Kava Smoothie
What’s healthier and better for the soul than a kava smoothie? Nothing, probably.
Ingredients
- Fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and/or blackberries)
- Banana (optional)
- Honey or maple syrup (optional)
- Non-dairy milk
- Greek yogurt (optional)
- Kava extract (to taste)
Directions
- Put ingredients in a blender. Put the berries and other dense ingredients on the bottom.
- Blend until the desired consistency is reached.
- Add non-dairy milk if the smoothie is too thick.
3. Infused Aguas Frescas
Agua fresca, for those unfamiliar, is basically a fresh fruit (or vegetable) drink. It’s often a lot better than the prepackaged fruit juices you’ll find at the grocery store.
Ingredients
- Four cups of chopped fruit (almost any fruit works)
- Three cups of chilled water
- 1–2 tablespoons of a sweetener (sugar, honey, or maple syrup works well)
- Freshly juiced lime (to counteract the sweetness)
- Kava extract (to taste)
Directions
- Put your ingredients in a blender.
- Slowly start blending until the desired consistency is reached.
- If berries or fruits with sediment were used, you can strain the blended mixture through a mesh sieve before consuming.
Whip Up Something Delicious with Kava Products from Gold Dragon
With the right product and drink recipe, you can have your cake and eat it, too. In case that metaphor didn’t land, we mean to say that you can experience the therapeutic effects of kava without compromising on deliciousness.
We’ve got a smorgasbord of kava products on our website for you to try, and we’re always around to answer your questions. Let us know how we can help make chill times happen for you!
