Kava Preparation
Blender and Strainer Method.
This recipe is perfect for those wanting to store their kava in a 16oz lock top bottle.
It yields about 16 oz and you can do a second wash with half the liquid to get another 8 oz.
Items Needed:
- Bowl
- 75 Micron Nylon Mesh Straining Bag
- Blender
- 16 oz Coconut water or just use plain water
- 6 oz of water for a total of 22oz liquid
- .75 to 1 cup of Kava depending on potency
Preparation
Heat up the Liquid to 120F.
Pour Kava and liquid into the blender.
Blend on high to medium for about 30 seconds each and leave for a few minutes.
Blend on high to medium a second time for about 30 seconds.
Pour into the strainer that is waiting in a pot.
Knead the Kava for 5-10 minutes.
Strain into a pitcher and/or bottle.
Preparing Kava with Two Washes (Video Included)
Ingredients and Implements
2 knee high stocking (double them up for a good strong strainer)
5-6 heaping tablespoons
2 cups of water
1 cup of water for second wash.
Preparation for First Wash
Put Kava in the stocking.
Place stocking in the bowl and add water.
Massage kava in stocking for about 10 minutes or until the Kava no longer feels oily.
Second Wash
Take stocking of Kava to a Second Bowl.
Dump 1 cup of water and knead again.
Drink the Kavas separately or mix them together.
The Psychoactive Chemicals in Kava are called a Kavalactones. Kavalactones are not water soluble so you have to use a certain technique to coax the Kavalactones from the Kava Powder. Creating Kava Tea uses a Kneading and Squeezing technique that is intended to rupture the cell walls of the Kava Powder and release the Kavalactones. There was a study done by the University of Hawaii and they concluded that the most effective technique involves blending the kava with hot water (113 to 120 degrees) and then kneading it in a 75 micron Nylon Mesh Bag. If you search for 75 micron Nylon Mesh Bag on Amazon you will find that Pinfox offers an excellent 12.1 by 8.66 75 micron nylon mesh bag for only
7.99 each. A perfect size for those that prepare their kava by the cup and they also have bigger sizes. Though there is a kava preparation device on the market that looks like a plastic cocktail shaker, it does not apply enough pressure for a good second wash. A nylon mesh food grade strainer has many uses in the kitchen and can be used to strain soup, nut milk, homebrew grains, etc. In addition, they are inexpensive, not heat sensitive, and have almost no footprint when storing.
We have several Kava Preparation techniques listed below. For those that like to enjoy their Kava in the Patio or by the Pool, we also have some excellent Kava Recipes that are both tasty and potent.
Once the Kava is prepared, you drink it the Traditional way. Prepare a shell of Kava (4 oz) and gulp it down in one or two gulps. Wait 10-20 minutes before drinking another shell.
How to Prepare the Pacific Elixir
The Kava
Library
Potent Boiling Method (Video Included)
Add 2 ounces of dry Kava powder in a sauce pan.
Stir in 2 ½ cups of water and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring continually.
After the Kava is brought to a boil turn the heat off.
Pour 1 ½ cups of cold water and let the mixture cool.
Once it is cooled pour the liquid into a clean nylon stocking or paint strainer in a bowl.
Work the liquid out by kneading it (squeezing and pressing) leaving the course powder in the strainer.
Drink a ½ cup at a time, this method makes a very strong an intoxicating drink.
Using Fresh Root Pulp
First you need to get the fresh 'Awa root into a pulp, a sausage mill will work or even pounding like in the old days. Once it is in a pulp, put about 16 ounces of 'Awa in a bowl and add 4-6 cups of water. Mix the pulp and the water very well and then pour it into a silkscreen or a strainer, knead the pulp in the water so that you get all the kavalactones out of the pulp and into the water, I do this a few times and you can even change the water and start again with about 1-2 cups of water, this second batch will not be as strong as the first batch. When you are done kneading the Awa that is in the strainer bag then squeeze all the water out of the bag and your Awa is ready to drink.
