Kava Kava Root

(Piper methysticum)

Kava is one of the most culturally significant plants in the Pacific Islands — a large, leafy shrub of the pepper family (Piperaceae) native to the islands of the South Pacific, where it has been cultivated and ceremonially consumed for over 3,000 years. Piper methysticum — whose name translates from Greek as “intoxicating pepper” — is grown across a wide arc of the Pacific from Vanuatu and Fiji to Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii, and Micronesia, with each island group developing its own distinct cultivars, preparation traditions, and ceremonial protocols. Our Kava Kava root is imported directly from Fiji, home to some of the most prized kava cultivars in the world.

The kava ceremony — known as the yaqona ceremony in Fiji — is one of the most important social and spiritual rituals in Pacific Island culture. The root is traditionally pounded or ground, mixed with water, strained through fibrous material, and served in a communal bowl called a tanoa, with participants drinking from a shared coconut shell cup called a bilo. Kava ceremonies mark births, deaths, marriages, the welcoming of chiefs and honored guests, and the resolution of disputes — earning kava its traditional epithet as “the drink of peace.” Captain James Cook encountered kava during his Pacific voyages in the 1770s and brought the first detailed Western accounts of its use back to Europe.

The root contains a unique class of compounds called kavalactones (also known as kavapyrones) — including kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin — which are responsible for kava’s distinctive sensory properties. The root also contains flavokavains, chalcones, starch, sugars, proteins, and minerals. Our Kava Kava root is available Cut & Sifted and as a Powder, both sourced from Fiji.

⚠️ Important: Kava has been associated with rare cases of liver toxicity. Do not use kava if you have liver problems or take medications that affect the liver. Do not combine with alcohol. Consult your healthcare provider before use. Not for use by pregnant or nursing women or persons under 18.

Product Highlights

• Cut & sifted and powdered root of Piper methysticum — Kava Kava
• Imported directly from Fiji — home to some of the world’s most prized kava cultivars
• Over 3,000 years of ceremonial use across the South Pacific
• Rich in kavalactones: kavain, methysticin, dihydrokavain, yangonin, and more
• Central to the Fijian yaqona ceremony — traditionally known as “the drink of peace”
• Available in Cut & Sifted and Powder forms
• No additives, fillers, or artificial ingredients

How to Use

Traditional Preparation: Combine 2–4 tablespoons of kava powder or ground cut & sifted root with 2 cups of cold or room-temperature water in a muslin straining bag or cheesecloth. Knead and squeeze the bag in the water for 10–15 minutes until the liquid turns a milky, earthy brown. Strain thoroughly and serve in a bowl or cup. Note: Kava should be prepared with cold or lukewarm water — hot water degrades the kavalactones. Capsules: Fill empty capsules with kava powder for a convenient supplement form. Tincture: Use in alcohol-based tincture preparations.

Available in Cut & Sifted (4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz) and Powder (4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz). Imported from Fiji.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. WARNING: Kava has been associated with rare cases of liver damage. Do not use if you have liver problems or take medications that affect the liver. Do not combine with alcohol or other sedatives. Not for use by pregnant or nursing women or persons under 18. Consult your healthcare provider before use. Keep out of reach of children.