How to Prepare kava
Kava is a plant that grows in the South Pacific Islands. People have been preparing kava for centuries. Kava was traditionally prepared in a large shell with coconut or water. This article will teach you how to prepare kava from the traditional method as well as a more contemporary process.
How to Prepare Kava - The traditional method
Kava is traditionally prepared with water in a large bowl called a “Tanoa,” and shared among friends or family members. The kava is mixed with water and strained through a cloth strainer into individual serving cups, which are then passed around for each person to drink from.
To prepare kava for yourself, you will need:
- A bowl or glass for each person who wants to drink
- A cloth strainer or cheesecloth (to strain the mixture). We recommend the kava straining cloths from Australia Kava Shop found HERE
- A Tanoa or mixing bowl to prepare and serve your kava in.
- Fill your kava bowl with cold water. The amount of water you use depends on how much powder you are using—generally speaking, one tablespoon of powder requires two cups of water.
- Put your kava powder into the cloth straining bag.
- Put the cloth staining bag with the kava powder in it into the Tanoa. The squeeze the straining bag letting the water and kava powder blend together.
- Continue the squeezing process for 10 minutes.
- remove the cloth straining bag from the Tanoa and throw away the processed kava
- Serve your kava!
How to Prepare Kava using the blender/food processor method
Mixing kava powder with cold water and a blender is one of the easiest ways to enjoy this beverage. It is also thought the extra agitation during the blending process makes for a stronger kava brew!
You will need the following:
- An individual serving bowl for each person that wishes to drink
- A cloth straining bag
- A large mixing bowl (known as a Tanoa) to prepare your kava in.
- A Food processor or Blender, i.e., like a Nutri-bullet or food ninja.
- Some Coconut oil
- Instructions:
- Put 1/2 cup of kava powder into your blender or food processor.
- Add 3 cups of cold water to the blender or food processor,
- Add an eighth of a teaspoon of coconut oil into the blender or food processor.
- Process the kava and water in your blender for 30 seconds.
- Put the processed kava juice into the straining bag. Do this over the Tanoa so you don't spill any on your bench.
- Add one more cup of water
- Squeeze the kava in the Tanoa for 10 minutes
- Remove the straining bag - making sure to squeeze the last of the kava juice out.
- Dispose of the processed kava
- Serve your kava from the Tanoa
Different strength kava and Getting in your kava groove
The amount of Kava to water used in the above examples are for preparing kava to a Vanuatu strength. Adjust the kava to water ratios dependent on the strength you prefer. If you want to discover more about preparation methods, go to this site where they’ll even discuss preparing kava for Kava Cocktails and Smoothies!
Preparing kava is culturally considered part of the relaxing kava process. Put on some relaxing music and let it play in the background for the 10 minutes squeezing time.
We like to put this tune from Kava Cypher on and let it run twice over during the squeezing process!