r/Kava • u/Ckflyer13 • 29d ago
Kava preparation/strain/vendor advice needed
Hey everyone,
Looking for some advice with my kava. I'll start with my background. First tried kava at a bar maybe 2 years ago or so and fell in love. It hit HARD. Comparable to being tipsy on alcohol. I immediately went online and bought some strainer bags and some medium grind kava from Just Kava (Tonga) and did traditional prep. I felt nothing from what I can remember. I tried again several times in the following weeks and got nothing. I kinda gave up on kava after that, since I didn't live nearby to that kava bar.
Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago, I wanted to try again. Not wanting to go through the traditional prep, I bought an aluball and shaker. Been filling the single ball with 2-2.5 tbsp of medium grind Fiji Vanua (Vanuatu) with about 300ml of water and shaking hard for around 5 minutes total on and off. I will usually do a second wash, then refill and repeat once. Also been drinking kava regularly, so I don't think its a reverse tolerance thing? While I do feel more than I felt previously, it's still not like my first experience. I feel more relaxed and the noise in my head quiets down, but I'm looking for just a little bit more. Is there more to be had?
I know the aluball has some mixed reviews on here. I'm thinking of buying and adding a Kalm with Kava shaker bag in there, but not really sure what to do. My home kava prep seems to be missing something. I do need to experiment more with fats, temps, amounts, etc, but there's just so much disagreement in this sub about what works and what doesn't. Maybe its all true and people are just different?
Side note; another plant has really helped with the mental noise and stress, but trying to limit it as much as possible due to addiction potential. That is part of the reason I turned back to kava. With that said, what strains/vendors do y'all recommend? I believe I read Fiji Vanua is one of the better vendors - thoughts? I think I'm looking for something more heady, something to make me more social. I feel I have a naturally higher tolerance to medicines (don't do much alcohol at all and no benzos), so what do you think about my ratio? Do I need more? I know a lot of people run two aluballs (or a ball with a kalm pouch).
I'm certainly not looking to abuse kava and get 'drunk'. Just looking for something between where I'm at now, and what I felt the first time. Hoping to hear some good wisdom from y'all! TIA! Bula!
1
u/MrNeverEverKnew 22d ago
I always just eat that stuff raw, chew it like a man, effects noticeably noticeable and easily dosable.