Ask Makaira

Glutathione & Our Kava Products

Posted by on May 9, 2009 in Ask Makaira | 5 comments

Glutathione & Our Kava Products

We sometimes receive questions about the chemical compound that seems to be “all the rage” right now called “glutathione,” especially in relation to protecting the liver from damage. Ever since the pharmaceutical companies succeeded in falsely linking kava root with liver damage, we field many questions regarding liver damage and kava.  So, below is the response I offer to those asking about glutathione, and thought it worthy of posting on the blog as well, in hopes of answering questions while dispelling myths at the same time: We do not add ANY chemical compounds to...

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David: “A Blog-Worthy Scam”

Posted by on Apr 20, 2009 in Ask Makaira | 13 comments

David: “A Blog-Worthy Scam”

We sometimes get customers who don’t find that Kava Kava is for them, they find the taste too unpleasant for their palettes, or they simply don’t feel any effects from it. What’s rare is the customer who believes that Kava is a scam. This type of dissatisfaction is truly rare, but I thought that my response to David may offer some insight for any customers who feel the same as David does.  Kava has always been an integral part of my family and my culture for generations, but I can understand that Kava is not for everyone. David, In the spirit of possibly offering something...

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Organic Goodness: Chocolate & Kava

Posted by on Oct 20, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 2 comments

Organic Goodness: Chocolate & Kava

Aloha! I recently discovered an interesting candy maker, specifically a chocolatier – someone whose professional focus is making handmade, specialty chocolate; Would that make me a “Kavatier” then? Hehe! What caught my eye about this particular chocolatier from Idaho (a state located in the northern Rocky Mountain region of the mainland), is that she developed a chocolate made with kava – in Idaho of all places! This chocolatier was inspired to make kava chocolate by a client who owned a kava hut in Hawaii that commissioned her to brew up an original recipe of...

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What’s This Kavalovetone Capsule?

Posted by on Sep 22, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 6 comments

What’s This Kavalovetone Capsule?

Dana asked: I’ve heard a lot about “kavalovetone” which is supposed to be a replacement for the kavalactone liquigels that you’ve been out of stock on forever now. Can you give me more information about them? Have you received any customer reviews about them yet? Makaira says: 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 15 of the most pure extracts from some of the most relaxing botanical herbs...

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Shredded or Powder – Which is Better?

Posted by on Aug 23, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 6 comments

Shredded or Powder – Which is Better?

Mike asked: Your kava is definitely the best I have tasted of the five or six kinds I have had. It is also the second strongest kind that I have had (I had some Mo’i kava which, although even stronger, was much more difficult to drink). Anyway, the first time I bought kava from you, I was very surprised with how finely ground it was. I put it in my strainer the way that I did with kava in the past but nearly all of it ended up in the water. I drank it anyway and found it good aside from when I got to the end of the bowl and it was powdery. I just added some more water and was able to...

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Kava and Liver Toxicity

Posted by on Jul 24, 2008 in Ask Makaira | 1 comment

Kava and Liver Toxicity

Aloha! I received a very heartfelt message from a customer last week reminding me of how important it is for us to be clear about the type of kava we grow and sell, and exactly how it is processed, here at Kona Kava Farm. This is so important because certain parts of the kava (Piper methysticum) plant should never be used, namely the tops (flowers), and branches. Only the rhizome, or rootstock, should be used. This customer’s note was a very much-needed wake-up call for me, since it made me realize we did not have a lot of information on our website about the dangers associated with...

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