Kava’s popularity has gone up the charts in recent years all over the world. In the US, kava bars are opening everywhere, especially in places like Florida and California. Additionally, kava powder can be easily found online, so users can prepare their own beverages at home. But, preparing a kava drink requires a bit of skill and time, and not everyone feels like going through the process of kneading and squeezing.
The good news is that there are some kava formats available in the market that will help you prepare your drink easily and with no effort. One of them is instant kava. But what is instant kava and what is the difference with traditional kava? Keep reading below to learn all about this format.
What Is Kava?
Kava or Piper Methysticum is a plant in the pepper family that grows in the South Pacific islands. The native people of these areas typically prepare a beverage with the root of the plant to drink it in social and traditional ceremonies, and its use is widely extended. In fact, kava is considered Fiji’s national drink, where is typically served in a coconut shell and it’s offered to welcome visitors. The root of the plant contains kavalactones, which are the constituents that give kava its relaxing and calming properties.
What should you expect when drinking kava for the first time? Some people experience some numbness on their mouth, but this is normal, considering that the plant is a relative of pepper. On the other hand, kava users describe its flavor as earthy or muddy, for this reason, some add sweeteners, such as honey or maple syrup to mask it.
Although kava is considered a safe plant, it may have some negative effects on the liver, so it is not recommended for people who suffer from liver conditions. Moreover, it shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
What Is Instant Kava?
To understand what instant kava is, first we need to understand how traditional kava is made. Typically, the part of the kava plant that is consumed is the root. In order to be able to consume it, the root is pounded and ground into a powder. This powder will be later placed in a straining bag and mixed with water through a process of kneading and squeezing. The resulting liquid is the traditional kava beverage.
Contrary to traditional kava, to prepare instant kava, the powder is used to prepare a concentrated kava liquid. Then, the liquid will be dehydrated into a fine powder. The resulting product can then be added to any liquid to drink it on the go.
How to Prepare Instant Kava?
Although preparing a traditional kava drink is not hard, it takes both time and some skills. This makes it difficult to prepare it quickly to take it on the go. But, contrary to traditional kava, instant kava can be easily prepared to be taken on the go.
But how do you prepare traditional kava? Typically, to prepare a kava drink, you must take the following steps:
- Pour water in the container where you’ll prepare your kava drink.
- Pour your kava powder dose in a strainer bag or cloth.
- Put the bag inside the water and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Knead and squeeze the bag for a couple of minutes until all the water inside is extracted.
- Pour the water in a glass or cup and enjoy your drink.
Obviously, this is not the best preparation method when you are in a hurry. For this reason, instant kava is a great alternative if you don’t know how to prepare kava properly, or just don’t feel like doing it.
To prepare your instant kava drink, you’ll simply need to add your instant kava powder to your favorite drink, stir and drink. You can add your instant kava to water or juice and drink it when you want. Although it is better to prepare your drink just before you drink it for it to keep its freshness.
Regarding the dosage, it will largely depend on how concentrated you’d like your kava beverage to be. Whilst some users will find it enough with 1-2 teaspoons per cup of water, others must go up to 4 teaspoons to feel its effects. So, it is recommended to start on the lower possible dosage and increase until you find your desired effects.
Kava Effects and Properties
Like coffee, kava is believed to have nootropic effects. This means that it can help enhance the cognitive function and, at the same time, it holds neuroprotective properties. But kava has more effects that we’ll see below:
- Improves mood
- Helps achieve better sleep
- It can help relieve pain
- Helps achieve relaxation
- It may help relieve neuromuscular tension
Have you tried instant kava? Did you like it? Let us know in the comment section below!
