Have you ever enjoyed a mesmerizing sip of kava tea? If yes, you must have experienced the immense relief that comes with every sip of the strong botanical brew. Its demand is growing, and so is the number of kava bars near you!
But what makes the drink of kava so popular? Does it just offer relief, or is there much more you get from consuming kava drinks? In this comprehensive guide by Real Botanicals, we’ll share what kava drink is and the various factors that make it such a great way to unwind.
Now, let’s brew up an introduction to the hot world of kava tea!
What is Kava Tea?
Traditional kava is all about the experience of making kava tea and enjoying it. These days, you can purchase noble kava products to use right at home. Kava tea is a beverage made from the root of a plant called Piper methysticum. You might know it by its more familiar names, kava or kava kava.
Kava tea is made by steeping ground kava root powder into a carrier liquid, usually water. Sometimes, the milky tea is flavored with sugar, honey, citrus juice, or coconut juice to make the bitterness more palatable.
Kava tea has some amazing properties that make it a popular choice. Across the US, kava tea is becoming a popular way to unwind and spend time with friends. Many people are beginning to enjoy this type of relaxation over a night out at a bar. Because of kava’s effects, it makes a nice natural alternative to drinking alcohol.
Benefits of Kava Tea
Kava tea is the most common way people have enjoyed kava for generations. Today’s kava tea is easier to make and more readily available for kava fans. No more harvesting, chewing, and brewing. Simply get some kava root powder and make the drinks yourself, or visit a kava bar and order a modern twist on the kava tea beverage.
Kava also comes in liquid extract form or blended with kratom for a double-shot of pleasure and relaxation.
Relaxation and Stress Reduction
Kava tea is rich in kavalactones, chemical compounds in kava roots. These compounds are known for their exceptional ability to regulate brain stress. It allows kava drinkers to reduce their general stress levels, enjoy pleasant social time, and get a restful night's sleep.
And guess what? Because kava isn’t considered addictive, people may enjoy kava as a better alternative to alcohol (which is addictive). Alcohol is also known for providing other forms of relief, but in a much more negative manner. There’s more peace of mind and fewer adverse effects from enjoying kava. Plus, there are no nasty hangovers with kava!
Sleep Enhancement
Do you know how potent a kava drink can be? In addition to its stress-supporting and calming effects, the beverage may also help support healthy sleep patterns. An experiment was performed on 61 patients with non-psychotic sleep disorders related to restlessness. A daily dose of 200mg WS 1490 kava extract or placebo was administered for over four weeks to determine if the kava helped participants overcome these disturbances. The research study concluded that kava was effective in providing relief from many common sleep disturbances.
Mood Improvement
Kavalactones facilitate the functioning of GABA receptors in the brain, which help promote relaxation. These receptors also help regulate unwanted stress and support a better mood. With that, kava consumers can enjoy a wide range of benefits, which is partly what makes kava so desirable as an herbal care supplement!
Is Kava Tea Safe?
Kava tea is considered safe if and when consumed responsibly. Experts recommend that kavalactones should not be consumed in excess of 250 mg per day. This means that your intake should be significantly reduced if you want to drink kava tea for recreational purposes and relaxation.
250 grams is a rather large daily dose—about 28 or 29 Tablespoons. This leaves plenty of wiggle room for enjoyable and safe kava use. Also, remember that if you’re usually drinking kava tea that you make at home, ensure you consume it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Now, after going through the benefits, side effects, and other safety considerations, we’re all set to learn how to make a soothing kava tea right in your own home. Enjoy kava as you wind down for the evening, or plan a fun night of kava sharing with your friends. (Cocktail umbrellas or coconut bowls are a great addition.)
Preparing Kava Tea at Home
There are various methods of kava preparation. The finer the grind of your kava powder, the easier it is to stir into a drinkable solution, and the less straining will be required.
Traditional Preparation Method
The traditional method of making kava tea is simple but does require straining. Follow these instructions:
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Gather all the essential ingredients and tools, including kava root powder, cold or lukewarm water, a kava strainer, cheesecloth or muslin bag, and a large bowl. The strainer cloth or bag is used to filter out the root particles, and the bowl is used to mix kava with water.
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Measure the kava root powder before use. More powder makes the tea stronger for use. Typically, 2-4 tablespoons are ideal for a single serving of kava.
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Place the kava powder into the cloth or bag, and the water in the kava bowl. Twist the bag loosely to gather the powders into a corner and form a loose “ball”. Immerse that corner of the bag in the water.
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Knead the kava with your hands by squeezing and releasing it gently. This loosens the powders and kava powders, and “rinses” the water through them. This helps release the kavalactones and kava flavor into the water, while the plant powders remain in the bag for removal. (Kind of like using a muslin cloth as a hand-made kava tea bag). It takes about 5-10 minutes.
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Pour the kava liquid into a container and strain through cheesecloth or a kava strainer, if necessary.
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Add any sweeteners or fruit juice, like coconut milk, if desired.
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Drink and enjoy!
This is a traditional and popular way of preparing kava. If you're trying kava for the first time, you may be surprised at the tingling on your lips and tongue as you sip and experience your first cup of homemade kava tea. (This is normal and part of the kava drinking experience.)
However, if you want to reduce effort and save time, some hassle-free methods exist to prepare the perfect kava tea.
Alternative Kava Tea Preparation Methods
If the prep work annoys you, there are other methods.
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Blender Preparation: Kava tea can also be prepared by using a blender. For that, mix 2-4 tablespoons of kava root powder with 1-2 cups of cold water in a blender. Close the blender lid and blend the mixture at low to medium speed for about 2 minutes to release kavalactones into the water. Then, pour the kava tea liquid into a container with cheesecloth or a straining bag.
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Instant Kava: There is an instant kava preparation method in which you boil or heat about 8 or 12 oz of water and pour it into a cup. Add 1-2 teaspoons of kava powder to the water. You can also add more teaspoons to make strong kava for maximum kava effects. Stir the mixture and your kava tea is ready to drink.
After preparing your kava tea through these easy-to-use methods, you can make kava taste better by adding some sweeteners. This allows you to enjoy its relaxing effects while masking kava’s natural flavor. Let’s find out how we can make kava tea taste better.
What Does Kava Tea Taste Like?
Since kava tea is extracted from the kava roots, it has a distinct earthy taste that gives it a flavor of damp leaves or non-spicy root vegetables like potatoes or turnips.
You can enhance the flavor by adding sweeteners or juices to make it taste sweet. Learn more about what does kava taste like here.
Adding Natural Sweeteners: Incorporating Coconut Milk or Other Milk Options
Extracted from the pulp of coconuts, coconut milk has a sweet and creamy taste. This milk offers several health benefits, including improved nutritional value, enhanced heart health, and a strengthened immune system. Adding coconut milk to kava tea makes it taste sweet with a mouth-watering creamy texture.
You can also use other natural sweeteners, such as honey or maple syrup, to enhance the flavor of kava tea if you don’t enjoy its natural, musky taste.
Using Micronized Kava Powder
Micronized kava can also be used to make kava taste better. It’s a ground kava powder made by reducing kava particles. These particles are tiny, making them easy to blend with liquids like juice, milk, or water.
It’s easy to use micronized kava powder to prepare kava tea.
So, suppose you want to mix up kava with orange juice; follow these steps:
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Pour the juice into the glass.
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Add 1-2 tablespoons of the powder to the beverage and stir it easily without the need to strain.
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After that, your kava drink is prepared for use.
You can try out various custom kava recipes for a fantastic combination of flavor and energy. We recommend some outstanding kava drink recipes to make every day a little brighter!
Comparing Kava and Kratom Teas
Kava tea and kratom tea are prepared in similar ways, using botanical powders derived from plants. Both have some great uses to enhance your overall well-being.
Differences in Origin and Composition
Kava and kratom teas are both used for mood-altering, stress-relieving, antinociceptive, and sedative purposes. However, despite their similar properties, both tea variants differ in their origin and composition.
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As discussed earlier, kava tea is extracted from the roots of kava plants, Piper methysticum, found in the South Pacific. On the other hand, kratom tea is prepared by harvesting, drying, powdering, or processing the leaves from kratom trees found in Southeast Asia. The powdered leaves are steeped in water or coconut milk, similar to the preparation of kava teas.
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Kava tea primarily consists of kavalactones, which help improve mood, enhance sleep, and reduce stress. Their counterpart in kratom, the kratom alkaloids, like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, contribute to its sedative and antinociceptive properties.
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Kavalactones interact with and influence GABA receptors to regulate mood, but kava doesn’t act as a stimulant. However, some major kratom alkaloids interact with opioid receptors.
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Kava poses a lower risk of addiction, while proper kratom dosage is essential to enjoying its properties properly.
Since we’ve explored the difference between kava and kratom, let’s find out how these two herbal products are used and affect human health.
Best Kava and Kratom Products to Use
Kratom and kava teas mainly produce the effects of relaxation and are known to bring about feelings of comfort and pleasure. Kratom and kava also have the same results if used in other forms, like kratom capsules or powders, affecting the physical and mental well-being and functioning in the same way. However, dosage can differ.
Depending on your preferences, you may also consume kratom and kava together for a mood boost. Real Botanicals has a solution where you can feel the effects of kratom and kava at the same time!
Our Kratom and Kava Shots for Mood Boost are an amazing blend of kratom, kava, and other ingredients like ashwagandha, L-theanine, and GABA. They all work together to enhance your mood and boost your energy levels throughout the day. With one sip, you can avail all the benefits of both botanicals.
These convenient, drinkable shots are available in two variants:
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Kratom & Kava Mood Boost Shot 150 mg Kratom + 250 mg Kava
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Maximum Kratom & Kava Mood Boost Shot 375 mg Kratom + 250 mg Kava
As a reminder, botanical substances can improve your well-being, but it’s essential to use them responsibly. This includes consulting your doctor and being informed on proper dosing or potential side effects. After that, make safe choices for your health. Because your safety is our priority.