Borogu from Vanuatu This is the most popular variety of kava in Vanuatu and is considered a good afternoon kava. It is still a balanced kava and starts out heady but tiring effects are more pronounced with higher doses and tend to set in a few hours after consuming.

Kava is a beverage or extract that is made from Piper methysticum, a plant native to the western Pacific islands. The name “kava” comes from the Polynesian word “awa,” which means bitter. In the South Pacific, kava is a popular social drink. It is consumed as a beverage in ceremonies to promote relaxation.

Cook Islands had influence and permeance of kava at some point in time, but it’s very ephemeral now. On the other hand, Tahiti and Her Islands raised kava to impossible levels.

It’s not the most difficult plant to grow, but kava (AKA kava kava, or more scientifically, piper methysticum) does merit its specific challenges. It’s typically grown in the Pacific Islands, with notable roots in Hawaii, Fiji, and Vanuatu.

While research hasn’t yet shown kava’s specific effects on the liver, there is much evidence to suggest that kava is a healthier alternative to alcohol. Kava lends itself to a relaxed social setting because, while it has anxiety-relieving and muscle-relaxing properties, it doesn’t affect cognitive function.

Kava has been shown to cause liver damage when taken in an alcoholic or acetonic extract. For this reason water based extracts of Kava ( as a drink or tablet) should not be consumed with alcohol, especially if there is a history of liver damage or disease.

There is some evidence that kava that is prepared with water is less harmful to the liver than suspensions prepared in acetone or ethanol. Studies have shown that consumption of kava supplements leads to a slower reaction time and an impairment of motor skills.

People traditionally mix kava kava with water or boil it into a tea, but it can also come as a tablet. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), kava kava has a mild anxiety-reducing effect, but it may also cause severe liver damage.

The mild, almost non-existent impact of the 23mg of kavalactones per bag of Yogi, plus any impact from the herbal blend of sarsaparilla, anise, etc., may produce mild sleepiness. But beyond that users are not likely to feel any high.