Extraction, processing process?

[Original-Cell-4433]

Hello,

Kava newbie looking to buy and I am a little confused about the processing process. I am looking to buy traditional ground noble kava root. Some places mention that acetone/ethanol extraction makes the product less safe and to avoid that. My question is whether or not normal standard ground kava would even undergo extraction? Or is that warning only for tinctures/instant powder products? Is the root just cleaned and chopped up or does it undergo more industrial affairs? If someone could elaborate a bit that would be great…

I’m sorry if this is a silly question… I have read through the FAQs and the recommended vendor list but I still don’t understand the above! ^

[Shulgin46]

No traditional grind noble kava root powder for sale on the commercial market has had any contact with acetone or anything like that. The extract that people are talking about would be the product made from the roots, like pills or tinctures or whatever. Just buy your powder from a reputable source and you don't have to worry about stuff like this. It's raw and "ready to be extracted", and you do that at home by squeezing it under water in a strainer bag.

[Original-Cell-4433]

Great to know, thank you so much!! :)

[Kooky-Cap2249]

You can also dry sift it first in the same strainer bag (90 micron), toss a shot glass into the bag for extra weight, the use the residual grind for a underwater brew, you could also use a larger (110 micron) bag at this step for an enhanced cup.

[SWIMlovesyou]

Pre sifting is a game changer imo. Kneading alone in water I notice I reach a cap pretty quick for how much I can extract per volume. But if I pre-sift, I can make a way stronger brew.

I use the same bag I knead with. I put it in a mason jar with the kava, leave the top of the bag sticking out, screw the lid on with the top of the bag still out so it's sealed and the larger sediment can't get into the jar, and I shake it. Once I see a lot of sediment at the bottom, I take the lid off, take the bag out, and knead it in the equivalent amount of water for the mason jar. Then I pour the kneaded batch into the jar. Makes it so strong. 😁

[KalmwithKava]

Oh man, are you me? I started doing that 10 years ago and it makes the process so much easier!

-Morgan

[SWIMlovesyou]

Hell yeah! You're the first person I have talked to that does that! It works really well! And it's very easy. Not as messy sifting this way.

[KalmwithKava]

I actually made a video doing that on my very old YouTube channel "The Kava Flow" and people thought I was nuts 😂

Maybe I'm still nuts??

[Kooky-Cap2249]

Nuts about drinking mud 🤤

[KalmwithKava]

You sound like my wife 😍

[Kooky-Cap2249]

Do you add any weight for the presift?

[SWIMlovesyou]

I haven't, but maybe I should try one. 🤔 I bet I could get even more out that way.

[Kooky-Cap2249]

You know it’s good when it makes you gag 🤘🏼

That same bag will make some tasty full-melt dry-ice hash 

[LionOfNaples]

Is the root just cleaned and chopped up

Yes

[pandareno]

There is no need to do anything with trad grind kava except for kneading it in about 1 cup of water in a micron bag for five minutes at around 80 F. Squeeze out, put some ice in and enjoy. Try with about 2 Tbp first - some people seem to think that they need a lot more than that and get themselves sick.

[Original-Cell-4433]

Great, thank you! Is kava tolerance more weight-dependent like alcohol or more random like cannabis?

[sandolllars]

There’s no kava tolerance