As use of kava kava for relaxation* grows more and more common, so does kava paste grow in popularity. And it makes sense to me -- after all, high-quality kava kava paste is concentrated, easy to use, extremely versatile, and, perhaps most importantly, quite effective*. But wait, you say, back up, please, and start at the beginning; what IS kava paste?

Kava paste is just what it sounds like: a concentrated, water-based paste form of kava kava, the legendary relaxing herb of Oceania. Our kava kava paste is thick, yellowish brown in color, and somewhat oily in texture due to its high concentration of resinous kavalactones, which are naturally oily. If kept in an airtight jar and stored away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures (which degrade its kavalactone content), kava kava paste also lasts a long time, from 6 months up to a year.

But, you may wonder, why go to the trouble of making kava into a paste? Is that really necessary? You see, kava kava is traditionally prepared by grinding the root into powder, blending it with water, and then straining out the powder, leaving the resulting liquid full of the active constituents of kava. The results of this are effective, to be sure, but also are rather labor-intensive and time-consuming. This traditional method of preparation can also be quite messy, and most certainly doesn’t lend itself to any manner of expediency or portability. And, given the nature of our society, and the lives we lead, it is only natural that a way to condense the wonderful experience of kava into something quick, clean, and portable would be sought, and attained. After all -- and I say this from personal experience -- kava kava is a most extraordinarily beneficial, helpful plant, and can do wonders in helping one to relax.*

Kava paste, such as that offered by Kona Kava Farm, is sold in small amounts, and is extremely concentrated. For instance, the 84% Kavalactone paste is made only from the powdered root of kava. The indigenous Oceanic cultures all use the root of the Kava plant exclusively. This powdered root is extracted using supercritical CO2 cold-extraction methods, which make for an incredibly pure extraction that doesn’t rely on any harsh solvents or synthetic chemical bonding agents. The “84%” in Kona Kava Farm’s Kava 84% kava paste means that it is consistently tested to ensure a minimum of 84 grams of kavalactones -- the main active constituents -- per 100 grams of material, with a variation of just 3% due to the small batch, hand-processed nature of our products.

Also available is Kona Kava Farm’s Full Spectrum 55% kava kava paste. This paste is slightly different from the above-mentioned paste: while the concentrated kavalactone paste contains primarily two kavalactones, kavain and yangonin, our Full-Spectrum Kava Paste contains the full range of kavalactones and other active constituents found in the kava root.

One of the many great things about these kava pastes is their degree of concentration, with just 1-2 pea-sized amounts (145 mg) comprising a single serving. Simply put, no other kava product on the market is this concentrated or this versatile. If you are accustomed to the rather, shall I say, unique taste of kava, then you may find it quite agreeable to simply eat kava paste right out of the jar, as do I (though I must confess to washing it down with a splash of cool water). For added convenience--or if you don't want to deal with the taste--our kava kava paste can also be placed in capsules.

Yet another wonderful point about our kava paste is its incredible convenience. For many people on the go, the traditional method of preparing a kava drink may be too time or labor intensive -- or it may, in fact, be absolutely impossible (imagine whipping out a blender and cheesecloth at the airport, or at the office!). With kava kava paste, however, you can always have the benefits of kava close at hand. One or two pea-sized servings can easily be swallowed and washed down with a little water in less than a minute. Whether you’re at work, at home, or somewhere in between, a quick, easy, and all-natural support for relaxation can always be carried along. Moreover, our kava paste is extremely fast-acting. I’ve experienced the benefits of one or two pea-sized amounts in about five minutes!*

And finally, Kona Kava Farm’s kava paste is one of the most consistent kava products on the market today. After all, no two batches of kava kava root are the same; one may be substantially more active, one substantially less active. And, other than buying and trying a bag of kava, there’s no way to tell how strong any batch is. But the 84% Kavalactone and Full Spectrum pastes are different -- as mentioned earlier, each batch is individually tested to ensure that at least 84 of every 100 grams are active constituents, so you know that you are getting a product of reliable strength each and every time you order. Since each batch is processed entirely by hand, there can be slight variations, but these are rigorously kept within 3 percent. In fact, our kava paste routinely tests between 88 and 92 percent kavalactones, but to be on the safe side, is labeled 84%.

Directions: 145 mg twice daily. Daily dosage not to exceed 290 mg. Maximum period of daily use: 3 months. Users may resume daily use for 3 months after a 2-week break.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to cure, treat, diagnose, or prevent any disease.