Filtering Kava

[Amomynous]

Don't know why the thread got binned. But:

if you leave the sawdusty powder in there, odds are your urine will be neon yellow, and it will be a more potent drink, however chances for nausea
and dizziness are increased

removing the powder with a filter makes for a smoother drink that can be enjoyed more for non kava heads

instead of water (gross) i use fat free milk, soy, or almond. makes for a richer flavor with honey and copious vanilla extract.

How do you filter your kava? I've tried just about everything, including those little cloth bags that the vendors sell or give away, and I've never been able to really filter worth anything--so much is left in the marc, and its hard to filter anyway. The only times I've been able to make an active, filtered brew I've had to use so much kava (perhaps four times what an unfiltered brew needs) that it really hasn't been worth the time and expense (not to mention effort). I'd love to be able to filter more efficiently, as the filtered drink tastes a lot better and is easier on the stomach.

Also, fat free milk? Aren't the lipids into which the kavalactones dissolve contained in the fats? I would think that whole milk would work better.

[heretic]

i like using powdered kava and drinking it all, sediment and all.  I believe you are correct on some of the actives being fat soluble as opposed to water soluble, I also think some are heat sensitive.  I think this one is supposed to be consumed whole... although a knowledgeable friend talks about making kava drinks out of quarter pounds of the stuff and filtering, for a very very potent drink.  It just doesn't seem cost effective or to grab the entirety of the actives in my opinion though.  I vote for yellow piss and + dizziness, almond milk and powder all the way!  I love how enough kava causes me to hallucinate and causes my depth perception to fuck with the words on a computer screen.  Some of them even dance!

[mateo]

Yes, it is best to use some fat when making the drink to help extract alkaloids. Lately I haven't even been filtering the powder out because it seems to make weaker. However I have had no problem using a muslin bag to separate powder from liquid.

This method seems to work good for me, 2/3rd water, 1/3 coconut milk, couple tablespoons kava powder, blended for a few minutes, and either chugged down or drank slowly over a period of time. I do not mind the gritty and somewhat bitter taste.

[Shamanism0013]

You need one of those kava bags.

something like this- http://www.realkava.com/Kava-Strainer-Bag_p_20.html

try putting the kava INSIDE the bag and then basically massaging it and letting it sit under your water or milk or w/e.