Kava is a traditional South Pacific island herb that islanders have been drinking for generations to relax nerves, help them sleep, and improve their mood. An all-natural, safe herb to ingest, kava can also be enhanced to increase the potency of its effects.
We’ll offer some of our best tips for improving kava absorption’s potency, efficacy, and quality to ensure the best experience. By learning how to make kava stronger, you’ll give your supplement a boost in the desired effect.
The Recommended Daily Dosage of Kava
Studies and the FDA recommend that people don’t exceed the maximum dosage of 250 milligrams of kava daily. The research shows that staying under this dosage limit protects you from developing liver damage.
The research also recommends that you don’t take kava for more than three months. If you want to take kava for longer, you should consult your doctor first.
Because the limit is 250 milligrams, many people want to ensure they are getting the strongest kava within the milligram limit. This means you need to research which kava products have the best potency and efficacy.
Methods for How to Make Kava Stronger
To make your kava stronger, you can do a couple of things:
Maximize Your Dosage of Kava
If you are taking a lower kava dosage, you can up that amount to the full 250 milligrams in a single dosage for the day. If you want more bang for your buck, add more kava. We recommend that people only drink half of our Shot of Joy at first. But once they understand the effects, they can up that amount to the full shot in a single serving.
Add Something With Fats to Your Kava Tea
The kavalactone in kava will dissolve best in tea with fats and not just water. To boost the kavalactone, you could mix the kava with a 90:10 ratio of water to whole milk. Or you could try a 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.
Mix in Soy Lecithin
Soy lecithin is a fatty additive that will also enhance the lactone extraction from the kava. It has a neutral flavor that mixes well in water. Our Daily Shot of Joy kava supplement uses additives like soy lecithin to enhance the effectiveness of the kava.
Use High-Quality Kava
This might seem like a captain-obvious moment, but you’d be surprised by the range in quality between kava brands. You’ll want to choose a brand with good reviews on quality, ingredients, and kava efficacy.
What is the Strongest Strain of Kava?
The strongest kava is harvested from a fresh green kava plant. Known as green kava, this strain uses a fresh kava root. The root is juiced instead of dried, making the extract more potent. You can also boil and strain a fresh kava root, but the strong flavor makes it almost unpalatable.

Higher Dosage Means a Potential Risk of Liver Damage
When you take the recommended dosage of kava, then you should be safe from any potential risks. But when you use kava for more than three months and with a higher dosage, you risk damaging your liver. People who take too high a dose may experience the following within 2 to 24 weeks of taking kava:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Rash
- Nausea
- Abnormal enzyme levels
- Jaundice
These may be signs of a bigger problem, like liver damage. You should stop taking kava and talk to your doctor.
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 a 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.
Choosing the Best Kava Method for Efficacy
There are several methods for taking kava:
- Kava Tea: The most popular and traditional method, drinking kava tea is an easy dosage method. To make the kava tea more effective, drink it on an empty stomach so that it absorbs more quickly. Buying high-quality fresh kava tea for better potency too.
- Kava Shot: A kava shot is a strong daily dose of kava that can be taken safely and effectively. You can drink the whole shot for maximum strength.
- Powder or Capsule: kava root powder can be mixed in a drink or inserted into capsules for a manageable dosage. You may want to take kava capsules on an empty stomach because you have to metabolize them first. You’ll want to choose a brand with reputable potency and efficacy per capsule.
- Tincture: For those who want more immediate absorption, kava tinctures are fast-acting, taking about 15-20 minutes. You can control the dosage amount, ensuring maximum strength.
Want a no-fuss kava shot that gives you a strong dosage in one supplement? Shop our popular Daily Shots of Joy.
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Adjust the Kava Potency to Fit Your Needs
Some people like to make their kava strong, while others like to spread their dosage throughout the day. You’ll want to adjust your kava potency to fit your needs and desired effect.
You’ll want to research kava products before you buy to ensure you’re getting high-quality, effective kava. Remember to keep your dosage to under 250 milligrams of kava each day to protect your liver from undesirable side effects.
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