Hot Kava Tea?
Aloha everyone! Ever since I was a child, I have been drinking kava cold. Traditionally, as you may know, kava is prepared by soaking the fresh or dried root matter in cold water and straining out the plant matter when the water turns cloudy. As I got older, I began to experiment with many different ways of preparing kava – combining it with coconut milk, adding in honey and lime juice, even making kava smoothies with banana and cacao nibs, but I always thought I had to prepare these beverages cold to make them effective. It is widely...
read moreA Resurgence of Fear: Is Kava Dangerous?
Aloha everyone, About ten years ago, it seemed that everyone was terrified of kava. Several reports had come out of individuals who were taking kava experiencing liver failure. The medicine was banned in a number of countries, including the E.U. and Canada, and it was considered by many to be fact that kava was dangerous and damaging to the liver. Of course, it was later discovered that the individuals who had been experiencing the liver troubles were taking kava that had been made from stems and leaves of the plant, rather than just from the...
read moreKava and Culture: A Brief History
Aloha everyone! I have been thinking a lot recently about the ways in which kava has influenced culture in the societies where it is used regularly. Having grown up here in Hawai’i, I am definitely very familiar with the ways in which kava has influenced our society. Kava is our way to relax and to come together, and it teaches us how to appreciate the beautiful natural environment we are blessed with here on the islands. I really feel that the fact that we use kava here in Hawai’i is a big part of the reason that we have such a...
read moreNatural Relief With Kava
Aloha everyone! I’ve talked about this topic before on my blog, but with the growing interest that has been developing regarding the medicinal uses of herbal remedies, I wanted to spend a little time talking about ways in which kava can provide natural relief from a number of mild discomforts and troubles. I feel that kava kava is a big reason that I am always able to easily maintain good physical and mental health, and I want to encourage others to consider this amazing plant not just for its wonderful effects on the mind, but for its...
read moreA Refreshing Perspective (& Refreshing Kava Ice Cream!)
The March issue of the AHPA Report, published by the American Herbal Products Association, brought a welcome new perspective on the health benefits and dangers of kava, one which seems to be coming more and more prevalent in the modern consciousness.
read moreWhy Isn’t Your Kava WS 1490 Certified?
CUSTOMER QUESTION: “The standard of highest quality is WS 1490. Is the quality of your product mentioned anywhere on the packaging? If not, why not?” MAKAIRA’S ANSWER: The power of pharmaceutical companies and the power of the press continues to amaze us here at Kona Kava Farm. WS 1490 is a pharmaceutical extract of Kava Kava, and in no way is a pure, powerful plant form of this natural root. It’s a patented form of a specific Kava extract that is owned by a pharmaceutical company. We do not offer...
read moreKava Chocolate and Kava in the News!
Aloha everyone! I feel like it’s been awhile since I posted a blog article. Things have been so completely busy here at the farm, and I’ve barely had the chance to read the news, much less write a new post. I hope everyone had an amazing Valentine’s Day and was able to share some delicacies with their loved ones! A friend of mine came to visit me from Japan, and so, following the Japanese tradition for Valentine’s Day, she and I made handmade chocolates and gave them to my whole family and quite a few of my friends. I...
read moreNew Year Greetings and New Kava Studies!
Aloha everyone! Happy New Year! What an amazing and productive year 2010 was for us here at Kona Kava Farm! Another year of sharing the joys of kava with the world, and enjoying it here at home with family and friends. I got to spend another year working with my beloved kava plants, and I even got to try some unique kava-based cuisine! Since then, I’ve been trying to incorporate fresh kava into my cooking with varying levels of success – maybe after I get a little more practice I’ll be able to share some of my original...
read moreThe Anti-Energy Drink
Aloha everyone! Recently I’ve noticed an interesting new trend involving Kava that I found very interesting! This is the concept of the anti-energy drink. For years, companies have been marketing energy drinks, beverages that are meant to give you a boost of vitality throughout the day. Some are completely packed with sugar, caffeine and various mysterious chemicals, while others rely on the power of natural energizing plants and teas such as yerba mate and ginseng. Up until recently, however, there has not been an appropriate...
read moreCeremonial Plant Medicines
I just wanted to write about a little something that has been on my mind for the past few weeks. It seems to me like indigenous cultures have very different ideas and methods of using plants and medicines than people in many Western countries. For us here in Hawaii, as well as for people in Fiji, the Philippines, and other countries that have used kava for thousands of years, kava is undeniably linked to ceremony. Even when I drink kava outside of a ceremonial setting, I always think about the many amazing ceremonies that I have taken part in...
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