Kava tea is a traditional South Pacific herbal drink that islanders drank for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. An all-natural, safe herb to ingest, kava can also be enhanced to increase the potency of its effects.
We’ll list our best tips for enhancing how to drink kava tea. By utilizing these tips, you’ll enjoy the effects and benefits of kava by maximizing absorption and building your reverse tolerance.
Our 5 Best Tips on How to Drink Kava Tea
Want the full kava tea experience? Here are our best tips on how to drink kava tea:
1. Buy High-Quality Fresh Kava Tea
Don’t skimp on the quality of the kava. You’ll want to look for fresh kava tea that is sourced from South Pacific farms. You’ll also want kava that comes from the lateral root of the plant because it contains more kavalactones, boosting efficacy and potency.
2. Go Traditional
Experience kava tea the way the South Pacific islanders enjoy it by traditionally brewing your kava tea. To brew the traditional grind way:
- Put 35-40 grams (a touch less than half a cup) of grind kava powder into a strainer bag or cheesecloth.
- Place the strainer bag in an empty mixing bowl.
- Pour two cups of warm water into the strainer bag with the kava powder.
- Twist the kava strainer closed and knead the powder inside the bag.
- Continue to knead and twist the strainer bag, forcing all the water out of the strainer bag. The water should be brown and feels a touch oily.
- Knead the powder for a few more minutes and squeeze the bag of all remaining water.
- Remove the bag. The tea is ready to drink. Pour into a mug and enjoy the traditional way.
Want a no-fuss kava shot that gives you a strong dosage in one supplement? Shop our popular Daily Shots of Joy.
Related Link: Our Story
3. Mix in Your Favorite Milk to Boost Your Kava Tea
Kava’s active ingredient, kavalactone, dissolves best in kava tea mixed with fats and not just water. Any milk base, like cow milk, almond, soy, or coconut, contains sufficient fats to boost the kavalactone.
You’ll need to experiment with milk-to-water ratios to find your preferred kava tea infusion. Common ratios people prefer their kava mixed with:
90:10 ratio of water to whole milk
50:50 ratio of water to soy or almond milk
The ratio is entirely up to you and your preference, but adding a milk base can strengthen the kava.
Don’t like Milk? Add Soy Lecithin
Another fatty additive you can mix to enhance the kavalactone extraction from the kava is soy lecithin. It has a neutral flavor that mixes well in water for those that don’t like milk mixed with their kava.
Our Daily Shot of Joy kava supplement uses additives like soy lecithin to enhance the effectiveness of the kava.
4. Drink Kava on an Empty Stomach
A full stomach is going to lessen the effect of kava. You’ll want to drink kava tea on an empty stomach to enable the active ingredients to absorb more effectively into your system.
To do this, you may want to abstain from eating for at least three to four hours before you drink kava tea.
For people who feel a bit nauseous from the kava or don’t love the flavor of kava, you can always chase the drink with a small snack, like:
- Fruit slices
- Nuts
- Crackers
5. Build Up Your Reverse Tolerance with Kava
When you drink kava regularly, your body will adapt to the effects, building up a reverse tolerance. For some, that may mean you might need to drink kava for a few days before your body will be receptive to the calming properties of kava tea.
A reverse tolerance means you will be able to drink less kava over time to receive the same benefits because your body understands how to respond to the active ingredients in the kava. Everyone’s reverse tolerance is different.
So it may take a few days or weeks of drinking kava regularly before you can lower your dosage to feel the same effects.
Does Kava Tea Give You a Buzz?
Some people feel a slight buzz from drinking kava tea, where you may feel euphoric or sociable. But it doesn’t make you feel high or impair your abilities like alcohol.
However, one study found drinking kava can significantly increase your chances of being in a serious car accident by four times because kava can delay your response time.
How Long Does it Take Kava Tea to Take Effect?
It takes about fifteen to twenty minutes before you will begin to feel the effects of kava tea. Common natural effects of drinking kava tea:
- Feeling relaxed, calm, and sometimes euphoric
- Increasing dopamine levels
- Reducing stress levels
- Feeling in a better mood and having the ability to cope
- Relaxing muscle tightness and calming heart palpitations
- Feeling ready to sleep
Because kava tea is so calming, many people enjoy drinking it before bedtime to help them get to sleep or combat insomnia. A recent study shows that drinking kava tea can also help reduce anxiety.
Are you looking for a high-quality kava supplement? Shop our most popular kava products.
Related Link: What is Kava?
What’s the Most Effective Way to Take Kava?
The most effective way to take kava is to drink it. You can drink kava tea, kava shot, or tincture. However, if you don’t like the flavor of kava, you may prefer a kava shot with other dominant flavors or a capsule with little to no flavor.
Our Shot of Joy kava supplement has a delicious mango flavor to mask the taste of kava.
Kava Tea is an All Natural Calming Remedy
With a little preparation, you can create an enhanced experience when you drink kava tea. You’ll boost your body’s ability to absorb and activate the kavalactone, elevating the potency and efficacy of the kava.
Its natural calming effect can help you sleep, reduce anxiety, and improve your mood.
Shot of Joy offers your daily dose of kava in a strong, easy-to-drink kava shot. It is an all-natural, low-calorie supplement to relax your body, calm your mind, and help you feel like yourself again.
Related Link: Frequently Asked Questions
