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Strain the dried kava
powder in water. In Hawaii the strainer is often a
nylon stocking, cheesecloth, one gallon paint
strainer, or muslin bags. Use 1 to 2 ounces of powder per person
(2 - 4 tablespoons).
Place the powder into the strainer bag, hold its edges
together at the top with your hand so that none of the
powder escapes. Then, immerse the bag into a bowl of
cool water. The amount of water will vary according to
taste but a good rule of thumb is 2 ounces of powder to a quart of
water. Use your hand to knead the kava under the water or
bring the strainer out and squeeze then immerse it again
in the water.
The kneading is the
most critical step in the entire process!
The kava should feel oily at first which
is due to kavalactone levels. Keep repeating this
process until the kava in your strainer no longer feels
oily. The water should take on the appearance of mud.
That's it; you are finished!
Traditionally, each
serving of this prepared 'awa is swallowed in one or two
quick gulps from a coconut shell and always with
thoughts of giving thanks. It is a good idea to space
serving at least 10 minutes apart as the Kavain, the
kavalactone highest in most Hawaiian 'awa varieties is
usually felt quite soon after drinking, but other
kavalactones effects may not register for 20 minutes or
so.
These days, the kneading has been replaced by the
electric blender. Approximately 2-4 Tablespoons of
Kava and 8 oz (1 cup) water make for 1 serving of a
drink. Simply add the kava and water in a blender for about 4
minutes. Pour mixture into a nylon sieve or cheese
cloth, squeeze excess liquid into a bowl. Discard pulp
and enjoy.
If you want a different variation with a little extra
"kick", our family has a tradition of preparing our kava
drinks with fresh yellow hibiscus mashed into a sort of
"slime", which acts like lecithin and makes it into an
emulsion making the drink extra strong.
Never
boil Kava when making beverages as it will
decrease the potency! |
