Kava and kava tea has been used for medicinal and religious ceremonies for hundreds of years by the natives of Polynesian islands. Kava supplements are new but the preparation methods share a common shared history.
Kava’s rich history as a herb that helps people calm themselves is underscored by different preparation methods. Kava can be added to hot water and consumed as tea. It can be added to coconut milk or fruit and vegetable juices. There are also flavored varieties available. Despite the different methods of preparation, one method doesn’t trump over others.
It’s fun to try out all these methods.
You can learn more about how to improve the punch that kava packs by trying out all these different methods. Try all of them and find out which one is better than the rest in terms of preparation.
The goal is to help you learn about these methods and share with you bulk brewing methods.
How to Make Kava Tea (Method 1)
- Measure out the correct amount of kava root powder
- Measure a little hot water for each serving
- Twist the top of the kava strainer so there’s no air inside. Knead the kava root in the water.
- Get one last squeeze out of the bag.
- Enjoy your kava tea
Using strainer bags is one of the least messy methods to enjoy a cup of kava. Use the strainer bag or even large tea bags. The straining material is whatever you use to keep away the residual from falling into the final tea.
To make kava tea here’s what you can do:
- Measure out the correct amount of kava root. A standard serving is 2 to 4 tablespoons. If you want to prepare kava in a way that’s good for more servings later on get ready to add more tablespoons. Put the kava root to the strainer bag. You can use strainer bags made of muslin cloth or cheesecloth. Place the bag inside the bowl.
- Measure a little hot water for each serving. Vary the amount of water needed depending on how strong you want the tea to be tasting. Next, pour the hot water directly into the bag with the kava powder. Let the kava steep in the bag for 5 or more minutes. This is done to let the water absorb kava fully. Once you sink the kava into the bowl, it starts turning into a milky brown color and looks the part of chocolate milk.
- The final step is important. Twist the top of the kava strainer so there’s no air inside. Knead the kava root in the water. Using your hands, knead the strainer bag for a few minutes using some pressure. 10 minutes of kneading later, wring the bag to remove all the liquid. You can leave in the root in the bag to come back to it later for a second brew.
- Finally, before you remove the strainer bag get a last squeeze out of the bag to completely get the liquid out of it. The root shouldn’t escape the bag into the tea.
- Next, drink kava quickly. It requires some effort but the effort put in massaging the dry root breaks it down. Your drink gets loaded with antioxidants and you don’t want kava to sit for long. Kava has a strong almost bitter taste. The efforts are well worth it as you get a much better experience when finally drinking the kava tea.
It’s always best to consume kava as soon as you make it. But kava being bitter is easy to consume if you chill it for a short while. To chill, instead of refrigerating, you can also use a few ice cubes inside. For the highest relaxation benefits consume kava on an empty stomach
Another Way to Make Kava Tea (Method 2)
Here you need not massage the strainer bag. Rather than massaging let the strainer bag with the kava root inside, let it sit in warm water as you would with a standard tea. With kava root use a fine mesh strainer so that the debris doesn’t find its way to the drink.
Put the root or powdered kava into the brewing strainer. Add the strainer to warm water. If you use boiling water, it can destroy the antioxidants. Warm water is best. Let the kava steep in the water for ten minutes or more. After that the longer you wait the more effectively the kava roots will infuse themselves in water.
Some people use water. Some others use almond milk. So keep in mind that despite water sounding the best choice, water isn’t your only choice.
A fat-containing liquid like coconut milk lets you extract more out of kava roots. You can even experiment with fruit or vegetable juices as the agent where you mix the kava powder.
Instant kava is another variety. With it, you get pre-extracted kava and enjoy all its benefits. All you need to do is mix the powder thoroughly with a spoon and you’re set.
You can gather the kava root and use a manual grinder to create a pulp out of it. After that squeeze the pulp through a strainer to remove grit and debris and enjoy the tea later on.
It’s your turn to create history by creating kava tea on your own. Remember to experiment and find out ways in which you enjoy kava best. Have fun by trying new things and don’t worry if you get certain things wrong.
Hot water that measures around 120 degrees is best for preparing kava tea. This is the most apt temperature for getting the most extracts from the root while not destroying its effectiveness while you’re at it.
Boiling the water and using kava in boiling water may kill the kavalactones or reduce its effectiveness to a great degree. And water over 140 degrees of heat can congeal the kava making it all the more difficult to strain.
Concluding thoughts
The benefits of kava are many, stemming from the active ingredients in kava: kavalactones. How exactly they work isn’t known but it’s believed they interact with the limbic system. The limbic system is our control center for fear and anxiety. By binding to those receptors, kavalactones naturally help with anxiety.
Regardless, enjoying a cup of kava tea is a simple pleasure. It’s like meditation in a cup. Grab some friends, and give it a try.
