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WHAT IS KAVA?

Kava is a small shrub originating in the South Pacific Islands. Traditionally, the root and stump of the plant are ground down and made into a natural, non-alcoholic tea. When consumed, kava relaxes the mind & body, inducing a sense of calm and euphoria making it ideal for social interacting.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Kava is a known adaptogen and can be used to amplify sociability and reduce everyday feelings of stress & anxiousness without most of the negative effects alcohol might have. As your mood boosts and stress reduces, your mind stays sharp and present. Expect to feel relaxed, at peace, and ready to socialize. Kava can also help to relieve muscle tension or when getting to or staying  asleep is difficult. 

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REVERSE TOLERANCE

Unlike other substances, kava is not known to create tolerance. In fact, Kava has been shown to have a reverse tolerance, meaning less is needed to produce the desired effect in experienced drinkers. This is because of the distinct way your brain and body adapt to drinking kava. As long time drinkers ourselves, even with months having gone by, much less is needed to produce the desired effect from when we were first introduced.

FOR OUR ADVENTUROUS NEWCOMER FRIENDS

For the uninitiated, adventure seeker, drinking kava is meant to be a leisurely experience, had with friends or while unwinding from the day. It is best consumed in 1 to 2 servings every 20 minutes or so, over the course of at least an hour. 

 

Because of kava's reverse tolerance and adaptogenic properties, some patience may be needed for first time drinkers. It can take a few kava drinking sessions before you get the full benefits of kava. 

 

We encourage you to come prepared to spend some time with us. Don't worry! We are an easy-going crew and we love newcomers! 

SOURCING

At Gather Coffee & Kava Bar our kava is ethically sourced from a select farmer in the remote region of Melanesia  Our processor is in the United States and is registered with the FDA. Our Kava is grown organically without the use of chemicals and has been rigorously tested by third party independent labs for USP food standard quality, microbiological integrity, heavy metals, pesticides, as well as kavalactone lineup, content and flavokavain levels. 

KAVA IN THE PRESS

Unfortunately misinformation and health warnings from almost 20 years ago still dominate the internet. What was not understood at the time was that the origin of these claims, came from research done regarding kava containing dietary supplements, not kava as a traditionally prepared tea. This led Switzerland and Germany to impulsively ban ALL kava consumption in those countries in 2002. In 2015, those bans were reversed, after a growing body of research called into question those early findings. 

 

Despite this, anyone researching kava for the first time will most certainly find websites, blogs and articles that claim kava drinking is bad for the liver and your health. Knowing what we know now, based on current science, poorly sourced and processed kava supplements were to blame for this undeserved reputation. Which brings us to our next subject.....

*Note: These statements about Kava effects have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Before starting a dietary supplement, it’s always wise to check with a medical doctor to find out which is the best kava variety for you. It is especially important for people who are: pregnant or breast feeding, chronically ill, elderly, under 18, taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines. None of the information is intended to be an enticement to purchase and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Herbal products contain phytochemicals that are not ordinarily found in typical food sources and may produce a physiologic effects. Indiscriminant use of any herbal product is not recommended except under the direction of a trained health care professional. In addition, there may be drug interactions that may produce reactions or interfere with the efficacy of prescription medication.

© 2020 by GATHER COFFEE & KAVA BAR. 

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