All Kavasseurs have a few friends who claim that Kava doesn't effect them and that it lacks the power they look for in a good night of enhanced socializing. They sink back a few shells, comment on the cool numbing effect, and then wander over to the cooler for a cold beer.
Friend who doesn't believe Kava is powerful, meet Chief's Jungle Kava.
This is my first time drinking a Papua New Guinean Kava, and it won't be my last. From the time you cut open the package and unlock the resealable bag, you are in for a real treat. This stuff is just different. The smell of pine cones and sage describe the nose of this root. If you just feel this stuff with your hands, you will be in love with it. It has this great twiggy, non-powdery density to it and just feels nice to play with. The scent of pine cones just emanates from this stuff and makes the whole house smell wonderful. I was enchanted with this Kava before it even touched water. And when it did... wow. Watching the roots absorb water, expand, and exude their spiciness was just ridiculous. I followed the provided recipe pretty closely, sans the blender, and kneaded for about 15 minutes before I had a good thick Kava to drink.
Now, the flavor. Well, what can I say? It is evil. Now I understand Kava anxiety. I took my first gulp and was totally overwhelmed. I feel like I should brew some Fiji or Tongan Kava as a chaser for this stuff. I wanted to spit it out like I would if I took a bite out of a fresh, green pine cone. It is really like no other Kava I have ever tasted, and I feel like I'm being redundant in saying that. I started out drinking Vanuatu Kavas and falling in love with them, and was extremely surprised at the wonderful flavor of Tongan and Fijian Kavas. I even enjoyed crashing through my kilo of Vanuatu Kava Store's Pentecost Pride for its mild and satisfying flavor. Kona Kava is extremely nice, but isn't very rewarding. I'll tell you, Kavasseur to Kavasseur, that this stuff is not pleasant to drink. It brings on the gag effect, but in the end it kind of makes sense. The only thing I might recommend is watering this down and drinking twice as much, because if you just drink it raw you are going to get pummeled. The ends justify the means. I don't even know how to rate the flavor on this, so I won't.
Chief's Jungle Kava is extremely powerful. You feel it as you are drinking it, almost right out of the gates. It is pretty close to a Vanuatu Kava in that it has that kind "heightening" kick to it. You feel it in your head before you feel it in your muscles. Your eyes kind of glaze over as if you had just smoked some cannabis. You move slower, see deeper, and hear everything loud and clear. Lights are brilliant and somewhat offensive. Chief's Jungle must have its roots in Vanuatu, because it has a nearly identical effect. From what I understand from looking at the literature, you can't export super high-grade Kava from Vanuatu by law, so some of the most potent stuff you can drink stateside is from Papua New Guinea. (Can anyone confirm this?) After drinking three shells of this stuff, that seems like a more than likely scenario. In terms of effect, this is the one you want to brew for those friends of yours who have downplayed the power of Kava.
I need to lay down...
Flavor - 6.5/10 (high grassy notes dominate, too overpowering for my tastes.. try Niugini if you want a tasty Papau New Guinean Kava)
Effect - 9.75/10
Nakamal at Home Chief's Jungle Kava - 8.125 shells out of 10
As Kaiden wrote on the Nakamal Facebook page, this stuff tastes more primitive then Vanuatu Kavas. I can see that now... I can also see that this is going to be with me tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I should warn you about. There is a tradition in Vanuatu of squeezing the kava a second time to make a second, weaker batch of kava juice. In Bislama, this second batch is called "makas." Let me tell you that Chief's Jungle kava has a very GRASSY taste, like you've somehow replaced your normal kava with grass clippings.
ReplyDeleteNow, maybe you'll be OK with this, after all, it's not like grass jelly drinks don't exist.
Because I started with instant kavas, and then proceeded to misread the instructions and use more water than standard, I'm used to a less dense, more watery kava. I had no problems drinking Chief's Jungle when I mixed three cups of water to one cup of Chief's. The next time I purchase some, though, I'll ask for fine ground.
Yes! I think grassy DOES describe it. It does have a distinct wheatgrass type flavor, though I still picture myself biting into an unripened pine cone. By the way, I drank this stuff 12 hours ago and I'm still feeling it.
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, how many shells would you quantify the flavor as? I know I liked it more than I thought I would, given the scary description. I'm making some right now because, out of all the kava I've ever drunk, this one is the most perfect. It leaves me mellow and relaxed, but not overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to say. I brewed some Niugini a few nights later and it tasted so much better (review to come). The Chiefs Jungle tastes like grass cutting tea. I might try to brew a weaker blend so that I can rate the taste again. You're right, it isn't helpful not to rate it. Haha. Interesting how the effect seems to have had a wholly different impact on you. I wholeheartedly recommend the Niugini if you liked this.
ReplyDeleteAfter two days of hauling it around in a big green Stanley thermos... it's a damned 3. Nastiest freaking kava ever.
ReplyDeleteI just tried Nakamals Chiefs Jungle Kava. I followed thier instructions all but one without putting it in the blender for 30 sec. I stired it up real fast with a fork, I whouldent say its really potent i just drank 3 shells and have a mild buzz? thier black sand kava was so much better. I used 2 cups of water for 1 cup kava root for both, Chiefs jungle kava was not what i expected it was not spicy nor earthy it's color was not dark at all but white mabye i got a wrong batch? thats all i could think of.
ReplyDeleteJust ordered this kava in hopes that I can find one that's really intoxicating, for those weekends.
ReplyDeleteI have a question though.
What is the body effect of this kava on you guys. Like how would you describe the effect of this kavas body high?
I think you have it the wrong way round regarding Vanuatu export laws my friend. As far as I'm aware they only export the finest kava from Vanuatu. The law says only noble varieties at least 5 years old can be exported whereas locals are allowed to use many more varieties, noble medicinal and tu dei, and they only have to be 3 years old. The distinction between what you think of as 'the best' and what they think of as 'the best' is where the mix up occurs i think. Good Kava to them (the people who make the kava laws) is one which is less sedative and more social, clearer and short lived (this is why two day and medicinal Kava is not allowed to be exported) whereas it seems we in the west equate the 'heaviest' 'strongest' kava as being the best. Personally i'd love to try some of their medicinal kava of which there are many more varieties than any others. Here's the law just in case you'd like to read it http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/pacific%20law%20materials/Vanuatu_legislation/English/2002/Kava.html
ReplyDeleteThe last reply makes so much sense because when I was in Fiji I had some with locals and I do not remember the plane ride home. However the Fijian kava I get here just makes me a little sleepy. Thanks for clearing that up.
ReplyDeleteChief's Jungle is very high in DHM, so it has pronounced muscle relaxant, but can cause nausea when you drink too much kava. Kavain produces more cerebral effects, and isn't as sedating. Some can even be energizing, like Rex's Tongan Pride.
ReplyDeleteHI DOUGLAS IM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO REVIEW BULA KAVA HOUSE.I HAVE TRYED 3 OF THERE KAVAS AND THERE KONIAK IS ONE I RECOMMEND TRYING.ITS A PAPA NEW GUINEA AND STRONGER THAN CHIEFS JUNGLE,BUT TASTES WONDERFULL EARTHY AND PINEY.ITS EFFECTS ARE INSTANT CEREBAL AND THE STRONGEST KAVA IVE EVER TRYED.I DRANK 5 SHELLS ONE NIGHT WHEN I HAD NO COMMITMENTS NEXT DAY AND SLEPT 20 HOURS SOLID,AND AWOKE WITH A AMAZING SENSE OF WELLBEING,AS IF I HAD BEEN TOUCHED BY ANGELS IT WAS SO PEASEFULL.AS YOU CAN GUESS THIS KAVA HAS WONDERFULL NEXT DAY EFFECTS.YOU WONT SPIT THIS STUFF OUT I GUARANTEE IT,THIS IS A TRUE TUDEI TYPE OF KAVA,IVE TRYED HAWIAN AND VANUATU TUDEIS AND THEY DONT HOLD A CANDLE TO THE KONIAK.LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REVIEW OF THIS KAVA.
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