Kava, a traditional drink consumed for hundreds of years by Pacific Islanders, has been gaining popularity recently in Australia and around the world as a natural alternative for stress relief and as a sleep aid. If you’re new to kava and want a brief introduction, please see our Article: Kava 101 – An Introduction to Kava.

Fijian Kava Powder vs Vanuatu Kava Powder – Which Is The Best Kava Root Powder?

Funnily enough, despite our company being called Kava Vanuatu, we’re often asked if Fijian kava powder is better than Vanuatu kava powder. People are curious to know where the best kava powder comes from and where you can buy the best kava powder in Australia. Others have more specific questions and want to know where the best ground kava powder or where the best instant kava powder comes from. Among kava enthusiasts, Vanuatu kava is largely considered to be the strongest kava available.

For newcomers to Kava, Fijian kava plants and Vanuatu kava plants are not the only types of kava plant; there are over one hundred different species of kava cultivated across many nations throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii, Tonga, and Samoa. Interestingly, around 70% of all kava plant species throughout the world are from Vanuatu, which is why many ethnobotanists believe the kava plant (as it is known today) originated in Vanuatu. In fact, there are more unique species of kava just on the Vanuatu island of Pentecost than any other individual Pacific Island country – including Fiji.

When it comes to selecting a kava root powder, there are many different types available on the market to choose from – but they are anything but equal. In fact, there can be a very big difference between the quality and strength of say a Fijian kava root powder compared with Vanuatu kava root powder – but it’s not directly related to the country of origin, rather, it is largely dependent upon the manufacturing process and variety of kava.

Finding The Best Kava To Buy In Australia

Noble kava plant varieties, more colloquially known as “drinking” kava varieties, are regularly consumed as traditional social drinks throughout the pacific. Noble kava plant varieties from Vanuatu, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries enjoy a long history of regular and safe use, and they are the only kava variety Australia permits to be imported for consumption. Naturally then, in broad terms, the best kava variety available to purchase in Australia is in the form of a Noble kava powder.

The moment any plant is harvested, it begins to degrade – the same is true for the kava plant. Exposure to UV-light from the sun combined with the oxidating properties of oxygen contained in the air, work to degrade the organoleptic qualities of kava. Kavalactones, the precious bioactive compounds contained in the kava plant, rapidly degrade with direct exposure to the elements. So, once a kava plant is harvested, the longer it is exposed to environmental elements such as the sun and air, the greater that degradation becomes. That’s why it is essential that kava is processed immediately after harvest with minimum exposure to the elements – this principle extends to any further processing and of course packaging.

Please keep in mind if you’re looking to buy premium kava, make sure you don’t buy a sun-dried kava powder! Sun-drying kava is the cheapest drying option available, unfortunately, it is also one of the worst methods for drying a kava plant. The sun-drying process takes days, whereby the kava plant repeatedly collects and evaporates moisture, while exposed to the air, as it is repeatedly heated and cooled as it turns from night to day.

Kava Vanuatu – Australia’s Best Kava Powder?

The process of creating a premium kava powder begins with the cultivation and harvesting of the kava plant. At Kava Vanuatu our Kava is 100% organic, and our sustainable farming methods follow Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) to ensure the highest quality kava plants are harvested. We use only Noble kava which is verified by both the Department of Biosecurity Vanuatu and Australian Biosecurity.

At Kava Vanuatu we pride ourselves on producing the finest kava powder available. Importantly, our processing facility is uniquely situated only a few kilometres away from our farms, where we process our Kava directly at the source immediately after harvest. Unlike other manufacturers, we do not sun dry our kava in the open environment; our processing method and facility is specifically designed to safeguard the hygienic and organoleptic quality of our kava – to prevent the degradation of kavalactones.

Our kava is processed using state-of-the-art facilities that conform to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and our facility is HACCP certified – which means we can consistently provide premium quality kava powder! When you buy kava powder from Kava Vanuatu, you can trust that you are getting a premium product that has been grown, harvested, and processed to the highest standards. Whether you prefer instant kava powder or traditional ground kava to create your perfect kava drink, you can feel confident that our premium kava powder is pure, hygenic, and of the highest quality.

As leading manufacturers of 100% pure organic noble kava root powder, our dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure our customers receive consistently superior products. So, if you would like to learn more about our kava powders, contact Kava Vanuatu today at contact@kavavanuatu.com.au