Kona Kava comes from the islands of Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji primarily. It is commonly referred to as Kava or Kava Kava. This popular drink is used both in special ceremonies and as a soothing end-of-day drink. While it contains no alcohol, it has some similar effects to drinking a cocktail. Kava is sold from the Kona Kava Farm in both its original root form, which comes from the pepper plant family, and in instant ground form.
Instructions
1. Prepare traditional Kona Kava using Kava powder. Place 1 to 2 ounces of Kava per person into a thin material strainer like cheesecloth, muslin bags or a new nylon stocking. Pinch the top closed and roll over the edge so you don't lose any of the powder in the straining process.
2. Pour cool water into a bowl. Use 1 quart of water per 2 ounces of Kava powder. Adjust the water amount for taste if this is too strong or too weak. If your finished Kava is too strong, use more water. If it is too weak, use less water. Hold the top of the strainer bag closed, and submerge the bag into the cool water.
3. Knead the powder in the bag while it remains under water. It will feel oily at first while the kavalactone is released from the powder. For somewhat less strong Kava, dip the bag fully underwater then lift it out. Squeeze the bag over the water. Then, dip the bag back into the water. Repeat either process until the water starts to look "muddy" or until the Kava in the strainer bag stops feeling oily.
4. Pour a serving of Kona Kava from the bowl into a half coconut shell. Drink it in a few quick gulps, while giving thanks for the gifts of your life. (This is the traditional custom in Kava ceremonies.) Wait 10 to 15 minutes before drinking a second serving of Kava, to allow the Kavain, the strongest kavalactone to reach your system in order to fully enjoy your Kava.
5. Simplify Kava preparations with a blender. For a single serving drink, place 2 to 4 ounces of Kava powder and 8 ounces of water in an electric blender. Blend for four minutes. Strain this mixture through a cheesecloth or nylon sieve into a bowl. Press down on the mixture in the strainer to juice out excess water into the bowl. Discard the pulp and pour the liquid into the coconut shell or glass.
6. To use the Kava root to prepare Kava drinks, you must first pound the dried root into powder. Then prepare the powder as in the above traditional preparation steps.
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