You can’t experience any of the really groovy effects of kava for yourself until some of the kavalactones make their way through your body from your mouth to their site of action, where they can instigate their effect. There’s a long way to go (on a molecular scale) to get through the digestive system and into the brain; Much of what is consumed orally will never get to the brain, simply because not every molecule will survive the journey intact, but long before things like first-pass metabolism, enterohepatic recirculation, or renal excretion might take their share of active compounds out of your circulation, they have to get into your blood in the first place. 

Depending on how your kava has been processed, the kavalactones may be extracted into your tanoa from some kava powders more readily than from others. Further, your ability to absorb the kavalactones will depend, at least in part, on what else is (or isn’t) in the mixture. Root and Pestle produce the purest kava powders available – we add no preservatives, emulsifiers, colours, artificial flavours, or anything else that might interfere with the natural enjoyment of the wonders that this plant can impart. We do, however, know exactly which parts of the plant to get rid of, and we use the latest in technical sophistication to help us get it flawlessly right, and in the most advanced production facilities (as operated by Root and Pestle), there’s a lot more to it than just excluding the dirt, stalks, and leaves.

Kavalactones are sticky, and generally resistant to letting go of their fibrous restraints, meaning that even if you come across a kava powder claiming to have an unusually high kavalactone content, there’s a good chance that a better-prepared powder of lower overall kavalactone content might actually “hit” harder, smoother, and better. Further, kava that has been processed and prepared correctly isn’t likely to bother your stomach, meaning that you’ll likely be comfortable and able to enjoy all stages of the experience. At Root and Pestle we use nothing but the very finest specimens available and when you combine the best processing techniques in existence with superlative starting material, the end result is a superior product that is easy to drink and feels great. Our huge investment in research and development has contributed to our ability to produce what we believe to genuinely be the highest quality kava powder available. We do this not only through generations of experience and by employing the best people available for the many unique positions they fill, but also by staying at the cutting edge of scientific research, assisted by our own well-funded and extensively equipped on-site analytical and research laboratory.  

Throughout our processing line we are constantly evaluating every aspect to make sure our consumers will never get a product that is less than optimal. Every batch of kava we sell must pass an extensive analytical testing regime to confirm not just nobility or subjective attributes such as aroma, but also undergoes in-depth microscopic analysis, colourimetry and spectrophotometry of acetonic extracts, a suite of intensive microbial assays, precision chemotype determination using the latest Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) technologies, quantitative kavalactone evaluation assisted by an advanced Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) system – Our biggest afficionados also regularly gather to taste test and subjectively assess our various traditional and instant single cultivar finished products. If there is any doubt at any stage in the process, that batch will not make the cut for Root and Pestle.