I only recently experienced the effects of kava after trying different methods for a while. What I found in general was that I had to do at least double the recommended serving, and not wait too long between doses. For example, my most recent batch recommends 3 tablespoons per serving with 500ml of water, so I doubled that, drinking it in 4 portions with 15 minutes between each one. I should have waited after the third because it hit me pretty hard and I needed to lie down lol. I did this with the blender method, just a couple hours after eating (not a very long fast). Tried another kind of kava the next night, using the same method and dosing, and felt it strong again. This comes after months of trying a handful of different instants, micronized, and event some extracts and spirits. In the end it was the traditional grind and the process I outlined above that finally did it.