#fijikava

Well the TC Alfred is bashing us around up here, it's too early for a few shells, so thought I would sound off on this topic.

If you've been wondering why there's such a noticeable difference between top-shelf vendors like Australia Kava Shop and those budget buys on Facebook Marketplace or from retailers in West Sydney and Logan area, this one's for you. 🥥

Lets start with a good clip covering this in short

The Truth About Quality

First things first, when we’re talking about kava quality, we can’t skimp on the facts. It’s all about what you get for your money. Those premium vendors? They aren’t just slapping a high price tag on for kicks. Nope, they’ve got the receipts to back it up. In fact in most case they actually have what's called COA's (Certificate of Analysis) to back up both the strength, the type of kava (whether it is a noble and safe to drink chemotype) and even microbial levels.

Independent Testing

Yep, these legit shops ensure their kava is put through rigorous testing. They exclusively use noble variety cultivars — the good stuff. Think of it like the difference between a fine wine and a cheap boxed wine. 🌿🍷 I've posted an example of this below - its an abridged version, by full spec analysis should also be available on any quality kava site.

The Tudei Vanuatu Kava Issue 🌋🍂

Let’s not shy away from the not-so-pretty side of kava. Tudei kava from Vanuatu can be a bit of a wild card. We’re talking unpredictable effects like longer-lasting but harsh impacts on the body. The phrase "tudei kava" comes from meaning the negative impacts of it last for 2 days! Now here is the fantastic thing about legitamitely exported kava from Vanuatu. The Vanuatu quarantine dept. test ALL kava exports to be sure they are noble kava and not tudei.

Sounds great right....However there are multiple PALM Labour agents in Vanuatu who insist their recruits MUST bring back with them 4kg of kava or they don't get a ticket to work in Australia. You can legally bring back 4kg without declaring it. No big deal you think.... well there are over 5000 Ni-Vanuatu workers current in Australia. Let's say that 1000 of them bring 4kg. That is 4 tonnes of kava that the agents then force them to sell to unscrupulous sellers in Australia who then on sell. That is 4 tonnes of kava that is NOT tested for nobility.

Obviously anyone selling Vanuatu kava at a cheap price and without a COA, the kava has likely come through this channel and it's almost a certainty that it is Tudei kava.

Please note that no negative aspersions are being cast on PALM workers here. IF they do this it is because they are being forced to do it by scum bag agents back in Vanuatu.

The Cultural Impact

Alright, let's address the elephant in the room. To our beautiful Pacific Islander community here in Australia: we know you’re accustomed to kava at a different price point. It’s part of your heritage, your daily routines, your relaxation rituals. But here’s the hard truth — cheaper isn't better. 😪

There’s a reason some kava is priced low. It's a reflection of the quality — or lack thereof. Cheaper kava often means corners were cut, be it in cultivation, processing, or testing. Lets break it down on a country of origin basis:

Fiji Kava

There are no tudei varieties in Fiji. They only have noble kava there and that is due to the anthropological nature of how kava spread through the Pacific 100's of years ago. The issue is that Fiji kava is sold at bargain basement prices throughout densely populated Pacific Island areas in Australia. This is because it has a high percentage of kava in it. What is kasa? kava is above the first node plant material. It is low in good kava lactones (the feel good stuff in kava) and high in the bad kavalactones, the stuff that can cause health issues.

After visiting Mount Druitt, St Marys, Penrith and Logan on kava missions and hanging with mates there, these areas are freaking LOADED with junk kava that is blended with kasa. The price point found at the stores - around $100-120 a kg or even less on facebook market place reflect this. There is simply no way premium (non kasa) kava can be sold at these prices based on the wholesale price of Fiji Kava back in Fiji.

A classic example is the below junk found on FB Market for $110 per kg place kava search in Mount Druitt

When you buy Noble Certified Fiji Kava like Fiji Harmony and Waka Premium, you know you are drinking kava that is kasa free and safe to drink. As mentioned this is indicated by both the price and the certification!

Tonga Kava

Like Fiji, there are no recorded tudei kava varieties in Tonga. Which is awesome. As well as this drinking premium quality Tonga kava is one of the greatest kava experiences you have.

However in Tonga kava culture, above ground plant material is not even considered a bad thing. So exporters to Australia have absolutely no issue in loading up their product with above ground junk. Once again, just like Fiji kasa filled crap that is through suburbs high with a Pacific Island demographic, it is the same with the Tonga kava available in these areas.

Tongan kava exporters who export to the USA - whose buyers have very strcit standards sell their premium product wholesale at the same rice as what is being sold on the shelves in places like Logan.

Now if youare of TOngan heritage you probably don't care. However there are multiple studies showing that drinking above ground plant material is potentially hepatoxic.

That is not to say there isn't Premium TOngan Kava available in Oz, there is. It's just very hard to find. When it is availalbe Moana Premium from Australia Kava Shop is one of the best kava types you will ever drink!

To wrap this up, in now way am I sinking the boots into people who drink this stuff. In a cost of living crisis price point matters. On top of this, if junk kava is all you know and you enjoy it, then who am I to stick it to you.

If you are really serious though about only drinking quality kava follow this simple check list:

What is the price - if it appears cheap... well you know...

Does the product have a COA with it... almost an essential requirement if you are serious about your health

Is the product being sold by long standing online vendor with a history of good verified reviews.

So I ran out of my Vanuatu stocks yesterday and have had Fiji Harmony sitting around for a while. TBH when I tried it the first go round it didn't really hit the spot for me. I mean for sure I love the marketing that went with it..... who doesn't like fit lycra clad yoga ladies chugging shells!

So here I am reporting on it 4 shells in at a 10:1 ratio.

Man did I miss the point of this the first go round. Sure it doesn't have the uplifting buzz that the Vanuatu cultivars have, but sheeks it stops you in your tracks with a nice rounded chill. Australia Kava Shop states that its Half Lawena and half Waka. I reckon that a little generous on the Lawena side, it definitely feels more like that sedative chill you get from Waka.

Its a really good balance, because all Waka (100% lateral roots) powders I steer clear of. They make me drop off like Grandpa Simpson and I'm not social at all after drinking it. This blend though, whilst sedative still leaves me feeling like I can converse with the missus and the rug rats.

Maybe its the kava speaking, but I am really rating this kava. Fiji kava varieties normally don't resonate with me all that much, but this is singing a delightful tune in my ear. Check it out here if you want to grab some. Should I give a shell rating.... stuff it why not:

🥥🥥🥥🥥

That's a 4 out of 5 Kava Shells for me!

On a side note, I hope all South East Queensland and Northern NSW kava drinkers are well stocked. TC Alfred looks like its going to be a ridgey didge real cyclone and we could be stuck in doors for a few days at least. This gives me ample time to smash some shells of Fiji Harmony kava and take stock of life in general...

Blog Update 06/03/2025- Well we are starting to get some serious winds come through as per BOM. It's been giving me plenty of time to not only enjoy some day time shells of kava, but also do some reading on molecular structure of kava under HPLC analysis... exciting stuff I know. Looking forward to doing some blogs on this in the near future!

G'day everyone, Kava Hounds first post on Tumblr and damn I'm excited to get my teeth into all thing Kava in Australia!

If you’re like me and enjoy a good kava session but sometimes can’t be bothered with the whole preparation process, Instant kava is an easy go to option. There are a couple of versions available in Australia and I want to have a chat about the pros and cons of both.

Lets Kick off with the dehydrated Green juice Instant Kava variety. There are only a couple of stockists of this in Oz. The strongest appears to be at Australia Kava Shop . They -pump it pretty hard on their socials i.e.:

If you have ever drunk fresh green Vanuatu kava, then this stuff is about as close as you can get. You only need a level teaspoon, toss it in a half full glass and down the hatch!

The great thing about this is that for kava newbies, you can blend it in with cordial, shakes and stuff to tone down the taste. But lets get real here, toughen up and TAKE YOUR MEDICINE I say!

I have a mate of mine (ex Vanuatu resident) that swears by this stuff. My experience with it is that it delivers as claimed and one serve hits that nice clam tone and a few more and you are right in the thick of thing! With the legit 4.5 star reviews on it, it makes for a compelling case.

The draw back I guess is the price. However when you bust out your trusty kava calculator its only about 30 cents extra per serve on tradition.

OK Lets cover the other Instant Kava type on the market - The Nano micronized version. You can see this on the shelves at Coles and its made by the Fiji Kava brand.

This stuff is not made from dehydrated Green Juice. instead it appears that they nuclear micronize the stuff down to super fine powder. The idea being that the if the granules are small enough they are soluble. The problem here is that its not.

For sure some of the good stuff (kava lactones) get into the water when you stir it, but probably not enough. Mates of mine that have tried it reckon you get a mild buzz from it. I guess in that regards it sits OK with crew used to drinking from a Fiji kava culture base (i.e. weak kava over a long period of time). However if you are after the full on kava hit, this ain't what you should be chasing.

I guess the redeeming benefit of the micronized stuff is that it is cheap. However the bang for buck is pretty low. Also there are some reports on their review that it makes people stomach a little upset. This would make sense as a you are pretty much digesting super fine root which for those with soft guts is going to have them squirming a little.

OK so to wrap it up - if you are chasing Instant Kava that has a Vanuatu strong effect, go for the green juice dehydrated stuff from Australia Kava Shop. If you are more about the much milder Fiji effect and are price conscious the Fiji Kava stuff might be a fit. Just don't come her and complain if you're tummy rumbles afterwards.

OK more from the Kava Hound soon - looking forward to covering any and all thing Kava in Oz!