Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Nakamal at Home - Tongan and Solomon Kavas

Nakamal at Home has consistently carried a very diverse set of Kavas from around the South Pacific. They may be the only vendor who has sold Kavas from Vanuatu, Papa New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, and even Hawaii (at one point). 

Tongan Kava is a very creamy, relaxing brew that takes the edge off and is perfect as an everyday Kava. It is one of my all-time favorites and I could drink this stuff all day, every day and be a perfectly happy Kavasseur.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Global Kava Exports - Malekula Magic

Global Kava Export's "Malekula Magic" is a strong, light Kava that is very heady and a good daily Kava. This Kava resonates as a nice Noble Kava that can be consumed in large bowls daily. A great Kava to drink at dusk, as you melt into the night and want to put yourself in the right state of mind for good sleep.


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Real Kava/Kava Kauai - Five Star Kava (Vanuatu)

This stuff is extremely potent. It only got stronger as the night rolled forward. It has an appetite-suppressing effect and is very heady. Those who are looking for strength should look no further...



Monday, December 22, 2014

Kalm with Kava - Boronguru

I'm posting this 45 minutes after the fact and, whoa, this stuff is great. Kalm with Kava has knocked one out of the park with this one. Definitely clean Kava and has a great peak. More uplifting than calming, but with a nice smooth impact.



- Le Kavasseur





Statement From Kavasseur on Kava Testing and the Noble Vrs. Tudei Controversy


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Kalm with Kava Concentrate

*Note: the price for the 10 oz. bottle is $20, not $10 as I say in the review. Too much krunking! 

Paradise Kava - Premium Vanuatu Borogu

Paradise Kava’s new Borogu blend presents a new take on Kava milling and dried root consistency. The root is imported whole from Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, transported to a state-side facility, cleaned, and milled down to a very fine product. I mention this because when you squeeze this stuff, it almost feels like you are squeezing instant Kava. In other words, make sure you are scooping the Kava into the sieve while it is already in the water. Otherwise, you will loose precious root to the countertops and floors. It is the finest-milled Kava I have ever squeezed. According to Adil, this chain of processing ensures that the Kava is pure and free of impurities. There have been some issues with Kava processing centers in the south Pacific and impurities.






This Kava comes in beautiful new packaging – a white bag with Paradise Kava’s striking new label. I like how Adil has messed with the design of the product over the years. It keeps things really fresh and interesting.

I brewed my Borogu with about four heaping tablespoons of dried root to about one litre of water. The color was a milk chocolate hue, though it was deceivingly thick (this is my doing, not Paradise Kava’s). Thus, the flavor had a distinctive earthy taste and went down like a truck. That being said, I tried a two tablespoon/litre ratio after my first batch and had a much more enjoyable Kava with nutty undertones and a smooth consistency. It is still definitely a Vanuatu Kava. I could drink Tongans and Fijians all day – like they were cranberry juice – but I would never go to Borogu for refreshment.

This stuff tastes really pure. It is clean and heady and provides a good kick to the head and body without any hints of nausea. To be honest, I overdid it a bit. Five tablespoons of squeezed Kava actually kept me up until pretty late at night. I got a bit creative and started working on some stuff that I had planned for the following day. If you are writing, working on projects, or doing other kinds of productive activities, this might be a good Kava to consider. Also, I think it would fit a Kava party quite nicely.

This Kava squeezes through your muscles quite nicely. I did some jogging for the first time in a couple years yesterday (I couldn’t jog in Ethiopia, because the children would throw stones at me – I know, weird) and the soreness dissipated after my third shell of Borogu. The level of relaxation is reflected in the level of mouth numbness that it brings on.  

To summarize, Borogu is a heady and productivity/socializing-oriented Kava with a pretty heavy body effect. The new milling approach makes for an interesting squeezing session which you should be aware of when you make this stuff. No need to lose precious Kava to dirty countertop surfaces!


- Kavasseur

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Paradise Kava - Instant Borogu Cream of Vanuatu

This is an excellent instant Kava that ranks up there with the best of them. It's main difference from other instants is a highly cerebral effect, less of a body buzz, and more bang for your buck. Watch my video review here:


Coming up next, a review of Paradise Kava's Borogu dried root Kava!