Everyone’s talking about kava! For those looking to ease anxiety, relax, socialize, or unwind without the effects of alcohol, kava has become a go-to natural solution. If you’re kava-curious, there are a few things you should know about the types of kava before you add this powerful shrub to your wellness journey… so, let’s get started!
What is Kava?
Here's a fun fact to kick us off: Kava is actually a member of the pepper family, making it a relative of the black pepper you keep on your dining room table!
But to back up a little bit, Kava comes from the root of the bushy piper methysticum plant, which is native to the islands of the South Pacific, where it’s been used for thousands of years for ceremonial and wellness purposes. So, when you sip a cup of kava, you join a long legacy of plant-powered wellness.
What makes it really special is this: the root of the kava plant contains 18 different phytochemicals (plant-based compounds) known as kavalactones, which are responsible for kava’s impressive wellness effects—we’ll cover more about kavalactones later.
Noble Versus Tudei Kava
Kava kava is the plant so nice, they named it twice! While there are over 100 types of kava, the main distinction you need to know is noble kava versus tudei. Here’s the difference:
Noble Kava
Noble kava types have a balanced combination of kavalactones that promote relaxing, calming vibes that last about 1-3 hours with little to no unwanted side effects. Generally speaking, this is the type of kava you’ll want to consume.
Tudei Kava
Compared to noble kava, tudei kava has much higher levels of psychoactive kavalactones. Tudei kava can have unpleasant side effects like nausea, sluggishness, and headache. Effects can last up to 48 hours, leaving you feeling trapped in an altered, drunken-like state.
More About Noble Kavas: Heady, Heavy & Balanced
To break things down even further, there are three types of Noble Kava effects you should know: heady, heavy, and balanced. Being aware of these effects is crucial to picking the right type of kava experience.
Heady
Heady kavas affect the mind more than the body, resulting in a calm, uplifted mood and enhanced sociability. They may be ideal for daytime use, social gatherings, or creative endeavors. Tongan kava is a good example of a heady variety.
Heavy
These types of kavas are known for sedative effects on the body, including deep physical relaxation and sleepiness. You may want to take heavy kava in the evening before bed, letting it melt away stress to leave your body totally relaxed. Vanuatu Borongoru and Vanuatu Melomelo are both pleasantly heavy kava varieties from the Vanuatu region.
Balanced
This type of kava blends heady and heavy effects and can be used day or night. Examples of balanced kava varieties include Loa Waka and Borogu.
Exploring Kavalactones
As promised, let’s talk more about kavalactones. Kavalactones are responsible for kava’s sedative, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), and analgesic effects, and their concentration in a given type of kava will determine whether that kava is heady, heavy, or balanced. Here are the six major kavalactones and what they do in the body:
|
Code |
Kavalactone |
Properties |
|
1 |
Desmethoxyyangonin |
This powerful kavalactone is believed to selectively inhibit MAO-B, an enzyme that breaks down dopamine, contributing to increased dopamine and enhanced focus. |
|
2 |
Dihydrokavain |
Plays a central role in kava’s anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits. |
|
3 |
Yangonin |
May promote mild sedative effects and contribute to kava’s overall psychoactivity. |
|
4 |
Kavain |
A key kavalactone, it’s known for its heady and happy psychoactive and anti-anxiety properties, and is a significant contributor to the plant’s overall impact. |
|
5 |
Dihydromethysticin (DHM) |
Has a very powerful sedating effect that can last up to two days. This compound is also known for its diverse biological activities, including anxiolytic, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effects. |
|
6 |
Methysticin |
A kavalactone with neuroprotective, neuromodulatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory benefits. |
Understanding Chemotypes
The order in which the kavalactones are listed above is not random—the number beside it is its associated code number. You can look at a kava strain’s chemotype, a six-digit series of numbers, and understand the specific concentration of each kavalactone in a given kava strain.
For instance, heady kavas may start with 423XXX, led by Kavain, Dihydrokavain, and Yangonin. The kavalactone Kavain is prominent in the chemotype, meaning your experience will primarily have heady, calming, anti-anxiety effects.
A good rule of thumb is that chemotypes beginning with “4” will have headier (uplifting and cerebral) effects, while chemotypes beginning with “2” will have heavier (sedentary and relaxing) effects. Knowing what kava chemotypes mean can help you choose the right kava for your individual needs.
Ways to Consume Kava
Now that you know about the types of kava, you can select a way to consume this wonder plant that fits your needs and lifestyle.
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Kava Tea: This is the traditional method of enjoying kava. It involves grinding or pounding the kava root into a powder, then mixing it with water or coconut milk and straining the liquid mixture through a cloth.
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Powder: Add kava powder to water or juice. Commercial kava powder is typically available in micronized form, a finely ground powder that can be added to a beverage and stirred without needing to be strained. Read our blog on how to make a kava drink here for inspiration!
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Extract or Tincture: Add a few drops of concentrated kava to your favorite non-alcoholic beverages.
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Tablets: Tablets or capsules can make it easy and convenient to consume kava, without any measuring or mixing.
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Ready-to-drink Beverages: There are several ready-to-drink, canned kava beverages available that serve up kava’s many benefits in a great-tasting, convenient form.
Explore Top Kava Brands & Products
At Gold Dragon Kratom, we carry the top kava brands and products. Whether you’re looking for uplifting, heady effects, relaxing heavy effects, or something in-between, you can find a kava product in our collection that works perfectly for you.
Check out our collection of kava products and order online. And if you have questions about what might be right for you, don’t worry! Receive a free consultation from our team at any time. We're here to listen to your needs, answer your questions, and point you in the right direction on your path to relaxed wellness.
