Klin Kava

It looks like its all over for kava importers, medical certificates, the lot! Dear John, thanks for your email of 23 July. At this time it is unlikely that kava will be able to be imported for therapeutic use, other than in the form of medicines that are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or where it will be used only for the manufacture of such medicines. Generally speaking kava for therapeutic use would be a prescription only medicine in Australia. It is included in schedule 4 of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons which is referenced or adopted into state and territory legislation covering medicines. There are several products approved for use in Australia that are not prescription medicines, however, they have been approved by the TGA and the quality and manufacture aspects are tightly controlled. You can search for approved products on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods https://www.tgasime.health.gov.au/SIME/ARTG...public?OpenView (search for kava and tick the fuzzy search box) To reflect traditional cultural use, up to 2 kg of kava in root or dried form can be brought into the country by a passenger. This allowance does not extend to therapeutic products approved by the TGA. Please feel free to contact me if I can assist further. Regards George Thomas Team Leader (Acting) Treaties and Compliance Office of Chemical Safety Department of Health and Ageing

I think the itchiness could be more prevalent with powdered kavas, maybe try some fresh when its available.

Attention all Readers My distributor has just received a letter from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. In this letter it states that the distributor "must be satisfied that the kava will be used soley for medical or scientific purposes". I guess the good news is that those consumers that have used kava for anxiety, stress, relief from alcoholism, insomnia etc, can ask their doctor for a letter confirming that kava addresses these medical issues. The distributor will hold these letters on file and review them every 12 months. The bad news is that if you want a social evening with your friends on kava instead of getting brain damage and liver damage from grog, you can't unless you travel overseas and bring some kava back with you. This is a small window of hope for those that require kava for medical reasons and Klin Kava will need to insure the rules are followed to keep this door open.

Itchiness! What I have experienced on this topic is that there are generally two factors involved here. The first is an individuals reaction to kava or the person's raction to a particular Genotype of kava, the second is that generally people who don't regularly partake in Kava or are starting out, often (about 30% of people)get the scratchies. When I first started, I would scratch my head and neck, while others scratch their arms. Last night I was talking to a Swedish chap who works on Santo Island. He partakes in kava regularly and is the only fellow I have met that finds his sex drive increases with a few (quite a few) shells of kava. He was drinking his favourite substance at a nakamal and noticed himself becoming itchy, he also commented on how strong the kava was. My assumption from this was that the kava most probably contained a kava genotype called "Palis" which is known for this reaction. The meat of this kava is full of flavokawain and is very yellow.

I have only used Lecithan once but I know its extensively used in a nakamal in Florida to increase potency. During the dryer seasons the kava is more dense (stronger per gram) than the wet season.With my extraction process it doesn't make a differents and the kava bars make allowances for the extra moisture in the kava. There is hardly any winter here, it always t-shirt and shorts and it makes no difference to the consumption rate. It is not such a well known fact but there is a practise for the Ni-Vanuatu divers who source their own fish by diving, have a night on kava before they dive. They find it keeps them warmer in the depths and they relax more in the water, hold their breath longer and perform better (in the water that is).

Nothing is as strong as the instant. I use 10grams of the Five Star Kava Powder but prepare it in small portions due to its fineness. I would rate it about 75% of the instant.

Five Star is different from the klin kava kava powder. I have made it very fine, maybe too fine, and requires more patients to prepare. To make it easier, first use a coarse strainer, maybe like a midgee screen or something half as coarse as fly screen for the first strain. When doing the fine strain use only small portions at a time. After squeezing the final strain, feel the mucas(fibres) if they are still oily masticate it through the fine sieve again in the solution already prepared. Be patient when masticating. Small portions at a time. If anyone is finding it too difficult, please return it and it will be replace with the Klin kava powder.

I forgot to mention that in Vanuatu alone there are reports of up to 360 different varieties. I think the number of different varieties is exagerated a little because most of the islands like to think their kava is different and give their varieties a different name, even though it may be the same as their neigbouring island. NB. A hot meal after a kava session will often bring about a resurgence of the kava affects.

I can only speak for Vanuatu, but different provinces and/or villages have their preferred species/genotypes. Some grow and dry only tudei kava, usually Palis, Ambae, or Smooth Hand. Fiji buyers like these varieties because it gives their kava a better strength when mixed. If you thought when you buy Fiji Kava thats all you get in your bag, then you would be quite often be mistaken. Santo Island alone was selling 17 cantainers a month of dried kava to Fiji buyers. Since the debarcle between Vanuatu and Fiji sales have deminished and sometimes none to 3 containers leave a month. I think none at the moment. Fiji now sources most of their externally acquired kava from PNG, tonga and Somoa. The tudei kava generally gives you the hangovers for up to 2-3 days. Some tudei kavas are used for ceremonies and general drinking by locals. This is more prevelant for the Kava Ambae which many call a tudei kava but the locals will disagree with this. I tried using Kava Ambae in the instant but it used to give me a headache. I know one nakamal that uses one third Ambae in all his mixes and gets no complaints and sells the most kava on Santo. I use the ceremonial Chief's kava Melo Melo (30%) and Borogoru (70%) in my mixes. Melo Melo gives the good sharp hit but reduces the time the effects last. Generally the Instant Kava (buz) affects last up to 2-3 hours before it starts to noticeably disappear. Torsten's experience of reaching a high and unable to go further with more consumption is quite tipical. Trying to drink more after that generally only makes you sicker. Vanuatu Kava scientist (Vincent Lebuet) has been granted 30,000,000 vatu to ride Vanuatu of the tudei kavas and educate growers into growing the better safer varieties. This will be a difficult task when buyers are asking for the tudei kavas. After the kava is dried, it is difficult to determine what variety it is, so the farmers will tell you what you want to here. If you want Palis, then thats what they will have in their truck, if you want borogoru and they have already told you its Palis, they will have a little discussion, argue (in their native tongue) and then say the first call was a mistake by the person who said it, and its actually Borogoru. You can have a little fun in these scenerios. I choose my areas where I know they grow certain varieties only. As most of my kava is purchased green I have less trouble in identifying the genotypes. If I get it wrong, my factory girls will soon set me straight.

Its taken 3 years to develop Instant Klinkava and it hasn't always been as strong or reasonable tasting. The basic principles are to [*]Factors [*]Select the correct kava genotypes from the right areas [*]combine the genotypes at the right proportions for the best synergy [*]process within 24 hours of harvesting REMOVE ALL SKIN FROM THE USUABLE PARTS, which are the basal stump (no stems or buts of stems) and roots(from underground not surface ones) [*]Avoid oxidization during processing It takes about 12kg of green kava to make 1 kg Instant. The whole process will take about a week(7days).

Thanks for your responses -- but just a quick question .. having read the other thread -- what would be the best way to preserve the dried kava for extended periods of time? Just throw some desiccant capsules into the bags and put them in the freezer?? As Torston said, keeping it in the fridge or freezer preserves the kava almost indefinitely. Klinkava comes in a resealable sachet, so once you have decantered the amount you want quickly seal the sachet again. When you initially open the sachet , don't cut it too close to the zip. Before resealing with the zip, partly close the zip, leaving an inch not closed and force all the air our of the sachet by rolling it up(hard). When all the air is out, finish the last inch of the zip. If your kava ever becomes smelly (bacteria) put it on a tray in the hot sun for a while and it should return to normal.

Wow! 32 grams one night. I usually stop at half that. Having a gut full of kava, be it powdered or fresh will, in most cases bring on nausea. I would say about 30% of first time drinkers would not feel the affect of kava on their first attempt, provided theyonly have a couple. However once they have had a big hit like you have just had, people seem to feel the affects quicker from there on in. A young fellow (Ben) who was looking to buy land in Vanuatu stayed with me a few weeks ago. It was his second visit and his second attempt on kava. On his first visit he could not get anything from his nakamal experience except for nausea. This time around I introduced him to my liquid concentrate and after 4 small shells we dragged him to my car. His legs wouldn't move his eyes couldn't see and his speech was very very slow. After that night he only needed 1 shell from a nakamal to give him a good affect.

"Triple L" One of my friends from South africa believed it was sap from a sausage tree. Try and google "triple L"

Thats a good point. You are allowed to bring 2kg into the country legally from a holiday by a cruise ship or by plane SO why is it illegal to get it posted?? So by deduction, why is postage illegal?? There is no rhyme nor reason to this legislation. This could also be seen as discriminatory in that those people that can't afford to travel can not access the anxiety relieving product, kava! Provided a lobby was successful for the two kilos, each shipment order of kava would incurr expenses such as 1. Quarantine inspection ($20-00) 2. Customs clearance ($44-00) 3. Aqis inspection (about $30-00) 4. GST on all the above 5 Customs clearance in Aussie by an agent. (approximately $250-00 to be divided among all orders) 6. Postage out to the different locations (about $20-00) 7. There is at least one other minor cost that i can't think of at the moment. Items 1 & 2 above could be reduced if I succesfully lobby the Vanuatu Govt. to do an accumulative calulation on these amounts so that they are able to maintain exports to Aussie. Once a month a shipment can be made of all the 2Kg orders under the same bill of lading. This could bring the cost of 1 kilo to anywhere between $70- $90 per kilo. A lot of money and something to consider before going to all the trouble.

Hear we go, some contact numbers and web sites to go to to complain, protest... etc <http://www.cbfca.com.au/_content/AutoImages/PageHeading/hdnNNF2007054Ka vaimportrestrictions.gif> Please note the attached joint news release from The Minister for Health and Ageing and the Minister for Justice and Customs, which will affect all imports of Kava. From 26 June 2007, the importation of kava will not be allowed except for medical or scientific purposes, even if a previously issued permit for a consignment has been granted by the Minister for Health and Ageing, or his delegate. The passenger concession for 2kg of Kava in dried or root form for an adult over the age of 18 years is not affected by this decision. Any imports of kava, other than those subject to the passenger exemption will be detained by Customs until further notice. The detention of the goods will be effected under Division 5 section 77EA of the Customs Act. Immediate queries may be directed to Treaties and Compliance Team, [email protected] or 1800 170 723. Importers seeking further information should be directed to the website of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (www.tga.gov.au/impexp/index.htm <http://www.tga.gov.au/impexp/index.htm>), and a Frequently Asked Questions sheet is also available at www.tga.gov.au/import/kavafaq . Contact Officers in Canberra for Customs are Jim Stewart (Director Community Protection 02 6275 6642) and Martin Davies (Manager Drugs and Therapeutic Substances 02 6275 5963). CBFCA - National Download Attachments: ABB79 - Joint Johnston - Kava - 27 June.doc <http://www.cbfca.com.au/_upload/20070628091439405.doc>