FAQ PAGE

I'M OVERWHELMED! - WHERE DO I BEGIN???

Fret not! - I am Makaira; part of the family who has owned this organic Kava Farm for generations, and I am here to personally help.  Below is our FAQ which answers most kava-related questions, but I have my "Beginner's Guide to Kava" as well as my Kona Kava Blog where I share all kinds of stories about me, Kava, Kona Kava Farm and my family.  I encourage you to join in the discussion!
 

DO YOU GIVE TOURS OF THE FARM?

Unfortunately, our farm is not open to the public, and we do not give tours under any circumstances, sorry.  Our farm is on a private family estate, and we love what we do and all of the customers who purchase our Kava, but it is still our home, and we don't give tours to anyone, including locals and/or visiting customers.
 

WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE PRICING IN YOUR PRINTED CATALOGS?

Our catalogs were printed just before costs skyrocketed on the manufacturing of a few of our Kava products such as the Kavalactone Paste.  By requesting a printed catalog from us, you agree to honor the pricing on the website as final. 
If an order is placed using the hand-written form found in the catalog, orders will not be processed if the enclosed payment for the Kavalactone Paste is not as follows:
$27.99 for the 1/2 ounce or $49.99 for the 1 ounce. Sorry for the inconvenience.
 

WHAT ABOUT YOUR RETURN, SHIPPING, & PRIVACY POLICIES?

Our Return Policy is HERE
Our Privacy Policy is HERE
Our Shipping Information is HERE*
Our Accepted Payment Methods are HERE

We do not ship to Mexico, Estonia, Nigeria, Australia, Lebanon, or Israel at this time.  Sorry for the inconvenience.
 

The following answers almost every question we've ever been asked about each of our products, so please look for the answer to your question below by clicking on your product. Also, further information is also available on our website in various places:

http://www.konakavafarm.com/contact.htm

A TON of articles are here:

http://www.konakavafarm.com/links_to_articles.html

The nutritional content of our products is here:

http://www.konakavafarm.com/nutinfo.htm

We offer Kava Kava in several different forms. In terms of strength and potency, lowest to highest strength or potency would be:

Powdered Root
Kava Chai
Instant Kava Mix
Kava Concentrate
30% Kavalactone Capsules
Kava Tincture/5:1 Elixir
70%-92% Kavalactone Paste
70%-84% Full Spectrum Paste
84% KavaLOVEtone Capsules
84% Kavalactone LiquiGels

We use ROOTS ONLY from our Kava plants. We have 90% lateral roots and 10% underground, making our Kava some of the most potent and safe available. None of our products has ever been linked to any liver damage because we never use the stems or leaves of the plant, which may be harmful to your liver.

Our extracted products all use distilled water and pure, organic ethanol as the extractor. We never use any harsh solvents or animal fats at any time.

Effects from Kava last about an hour, and more servings can be taken to expend the effects as long as one wishes, or to the maximum daily recommendation by the FDA. PLEASE REMEMBER that every body is different, and different people will require different amounts to feel the effects of this wonderful and ancient plant. Larger bodies may require more product...it's all open to personal experimentation.

Powdered Root/Kava Chai: A usual serving is 2-4 tablespoons, placed in a blender with your favorite liquid (such as coconut water, papaya juice, chocolate milk, chocolate soy milk, pineapple juice, etc.) for 5-10 minutes. You then strain out the kava root and drink the liquid. It's the same with the Kava Chai. Each tablespoon will contain about 20mg of kavalactones. Full details in our recipe section on our site.

There are about 32 tablespoons per pound of Kava Root, which equals 8-16 servings per pound.  A tablespoon of Powdered Kava Root contains about 30mg of Kavalactones, and the FDA recommends no more than 2 tablespoons per serving.

Instant Kava Mix/Kava Concentrate: 2 teaspoons is recommended, also mixed in your favorite liquid. Each teaspoon of both the Instant Kava Mix and the Kava Concentrate contain about 20mg of kavalactones. For these products, there is no straining necessary, and we know many people who eat both right out of the package!

30% Kavalactone: Each capsule contains 20mg of Kavalactone per 300mg vegan capsule. The FDA recommends taking no more than TWO capsules per serving, no more than 4 times a day. Be wary of products on the market that advertise as being "30% kavalactone". What often happens is that there is a small percentage of 30% kavalactone in the capsule, and the rest is plain root, making them far less potent than our true 30% kavalactone capsules.

Kava Tincture: The tincture contains 5 ounces of kava kava root for every fluid ounce. This tincture mixes great with almost any liquid, and can add a nice "kick" for your kava drinks. We don't have an exact kavalactone count for this product but we like to mix a couple of dropperfuls in our drinks for an added kick, although this is NOT what the FDA reccomends.

70%-92% Kavalactone Paste: Use your imagination. 2 pea-sized amounts is a single serving. Some eat it as a paste, some mix it with their favorite liquid, and some add it to their powdered root or Kava Chai. It's really up to you. There are about 50 pea-sized servings per ounce.

70% Full Spectrum Paste: Ouur Full Spectrum Kava Paste is VERY similar, although the "paper" potency is typically about 10% less than our pure Kavalactone Paste becuase it's a "Full Spectrum" extract, which retains all of the active as well as inactive alkaloids in Kava Kava for maximum safety and protection.

84% KavaLOVEtone Capsules: After many hours of research, utilizing a combination of science and alchemy to create an alternative for the 84% Kavalactone Liquigels that are not presently available, we came up with this exceptional product that uses pure kavalactone combined with 15 of the purest extracts from some of the most relaxing botanical herbs available. With more potency in our extensive testing than pure Kavalactones, this herbal combination produces an extremely pleasant repose that lasts much longer than expected.  These capsules contain a proprietary spray dried blend of liquid extracts including pure kavalactone 84%, Mahakea kava root, chamomile, hops, lemon balm, gotu kola, gingko biloba, ginseng, maca root, passion flower, skullcap, saint johns wort, and vitex.  Take no more than 2 capsules at a time, 2-3 times per day.

84% Kavalactone LiquiGels: Each LiquiGel contains 58mg of Kavalactone per 300mg LiquiGel and they are alcohol free. The FDA recommends taking no more than ONE capsule per serving, no more than 4 times a day. The FDA is usually extremely conservative on their recommendations. Be wary of products on the market that advertise as being "84% kavalactone". What often happens is that there is a small percentage of 84% kavalactone in the capsule, and the rest is plain root, making them far less potent than our true 84% kavalactone capsules.

Further Kava Kava Information

Extracting: We always use a blender and then use either cheesecloth or a muslin bag to strain our Kava Kava. The longer you blend, and the more you squeeze the liquid out of the root after it has been in the blender for 5-10 minutes, the stronger your drink will be. There is no way to estimate the kavalactone content other than by personal experimentation. The more your mouth gets numb, the more kavalactone. Our recipes on our site all refer to the Powdered Root as well. Only the Powdered Root and the Kava Chai needs to be strained; all other products dissolve completely in most liquids.

Safety: Please remember that the only time Kava Kava has been shown to be poisonous or cause liver damage is when the leaves and stems are consumed. This is why we use ROOTS ONLY in ALL of our Kava Kava products. There is no medical evidence whatsoever linking Kava Kava root consumption with disease of any kind, and the roots have been enjoyed for thousands of years by countless people around the world without incident.

Powder or Shredded:  We have had such a variety of requests about the form of our Kava...some want it powdered, some want it rough cut, some want it tea cut, and some want it somewhere in the middle. So, we have finally decided to simply offer our Kava as a medium grind...no large root pieces, and not powder. We tried different cuts, and realized that there is no way to please everyone, so we decided to go with the form that receives the least amount of complaints.

Our Kava is the exact same Kava that we have been growing for years; it is the grind of the Kava that makes each batch look different. As Kava gets finer, it gets darker, so less finely ground Kava will be lighter. If you notice a difference in potency between orders, we don't know what to offer you; we enjoy the Kava we grow for ourselves, as do all of our friends, and have never noticed a difference in strength from our very first harvest until now...and we are fussy about our Kava. We also consistently have it sent off to test for potency, and it has never varied by more than 10%. Kavalactone, as long as it is kept dry and away from temperatures about 140 degrees, will not lose its potency.

Mixing With Prescription Medication: We're sorry, but we're required by law to inform our customers that we are not doctors and cannot offer any medical advice whatsoever.  Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, and we are not qualified to give any answers related to the effects kava kava might have with any prescription medication whatsoever, even if asked for "hypothetical" situations or any variation of that.  We do not endorse or recommend anything here, especially when mixed with any other ingestible product such as prescription medication, other herbs, or any food products whatsoever.  Please ask your doctor any such questions; only they are qualified to answer any prescription medication or health-related issues you might have in relation to any of our products.

WHAT ABOUT SHIPPING TIMES?

Order by 3:00PM, and we will ship your order SAME DAY.  If it is past 3:00PM and you need your order Overnight, please contact us and we can often make arrangements from you, though additional charges may apply, especially if you need Saturday Delivery.

We ship Kava Kava everywhere in the world INCLUDING Canada.  Find out the latest Legal Status of Kava on the Kava Blog.

Also, even though we are swamped with orders, we process ALL orders within 24 hours.  Overnight Express will get your package to you next day if your order is placed before 3:00PM CST on Monday - Thursday, and within 2 business days if it's placed after 3:00PM CST, or on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.  On rare occasions, depending on your town, Overnight Express is sometimes a 2-Day Delivery, and please remember that we cannot ship FedEx Express to PO Boxes.  **If we ship on the day we state we will ship, you are not entitled to a refund if your town was included in one of these 2-Day shipping exceptions.** 

Priority Mail gets you your order 2-4 days after you place your order
First Class gets your order to you in 7-14 days, on average.

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:  Please remember that we have no control over your government, your Customs people, or your Postal System.  We send everything out as Commercial Samples to prevent you from having to pay duties, but that does not guarantee that you will NOT have to pay duties.  If you choose Insured Mail, we guarantee your package will get there, but we do not, under any circumstance, pay for any duties of any kind.  It is your responsibility to find out what you might be responsible for BEFORE you order; we cannot refund your order if your reason for not accepting it is because you had duties levied on your order, and ordering from our site constitutes your understanding and agreement to these terms.
 

WHAT ABOUT SHIPPING CHARGES?

We have several Flat Rates* for shipping:

• Priority Mail/FedEx Ground w/Delivery Confirmation - $4.95 *

• Overnight Express (USA Only) Guaranteed - $19.95 *

• International Air - No Guarantees - $5.95 *

• International Registered - w/Guarantees - $14.95 *

• International Express (2-3 Days) Guaranteed - $39.95 *

* ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR ORDERS OVER 3 POUNDS OR FOR INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES; OUR SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ESTIMATES, THOUGH YOU WILL NEVER PAY MORE THAN OUR ACTUAL COST OF SHIPPING. TO EXPEDITE YOUR ORDER, PRE-APPRVE SHIPPING CHARGES IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES OF YOUR ORDER, OR E-MAIL US TO PRE-APPROVE THE CHARGES.

* ALSO: UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES FOR PRIORITY OR OVERNIGHT EXPRESS MAIL IN ADVANCE, HEAVY ORDERS WILL SHIP FED EX GROUND INSTEAD OF PRIORITY MAIL, AND HEAVY OVERNIGHT EXPRESS ORDERS MAY BE DELAYED UNTIL WE GET APPROVAL FOR SHIPPING CHARGES. 

* U.K. ORDERS ALMOST ALWAYS INCUR ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES.

What About Returns?

We accept returns for any merchandise if you are not satisfied, EXCEPT items that have had the safety seals broken.  By Federal law, we cannot accept returns on any item that may be ingested due to health reasons.  RETURNS ARE AT YOUR EXPENSE, but we do not charge any restocking fees; you will receive a credit for the full value of whatever products you return to us in their original condition.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. In addition, we accept Cash, Money Orders, and even PayPal. PayPal is built into the shopping cart system, and when you place your order, when it comes time to choose your payment method, PayPal is available as a payment option.

If you're sending Cash or Money Order, our snail mail address is:

Kona Kava Farm
PO Box 12618
Chicago, IL 60612

ALSO: Please put your order number on your payment.  A printout of your invoice makes it even easier for us, but whatever you choose, please make sure that there is at least some identifying information in the envelope with your payment.  We can't count the number of times we've received payment, with no name, address, or order number included.

Do you share our information with anyone?

The security of any information you provide us with is very respected. Under NO circumstances will your personal information be rented out shared with anyone.  We do not keep credit card information on file, but we retain your other information in our database so you can log in after you place your first order, saving you from having to enter your information each time you place an order with us.

What About International Shipping?

Although we ship packages daily worldwide, we cannot be responsible for packages that are shipped Internationally without choosing the Registered Mail option. If you choose a Non-Registered option, please know that we cannot offer refunds or replacements if your package does not arrive. If you ship via Registered Mail and your items do not arrive within 4 weeks, a refund cannot be offered, but we will gladly re-ship your order.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT EVEN MORE?

Our KAVA FAQ page answers all questions we've ever been asked, and has a handy "Potency Guide to Kava" as well.

Our RECIPES page offers our own favorites as well as customer-submitted recipes for all of our Kava products including our Powdered Kava Root products.

 My KONA KAVA BLOG tells the story of Kona Kava Farm as well as me, my family, and all things related to Kava including it's safety and legality the world-over and much more.  Feel free to join in and comment; I answer every one personally!

Our Hoodia gordonii has moved to it's own page found in the Hoodia FAQ section.
 

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SAFE?

We care deeply about what we  offer here at Kona Kava Farm, and have full FDA  approval for all of our products.  There is an
extensive library of articles HERE to answer any questions of concerns you may have, as well as additional links to helpful
information HERE.