KAVA-KAVA TRADE NAMES
Kava Kava (available from numerous manfacturers) Alcohol Free Kava Kava, Kava Kava Power, Kava Kava Premium, Kava Kava Root

KAVA-KAVA DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the peeled, dried, cut rhizome, which has normally been freed from the roots, and the fresh rhizome with the roots.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has numerous small flowers in spike-like inflorescences 3 to 9 cm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 2 to 3 m high, erect dioecious bush. The leaves are very large, measuring 13 to 28 cm by 10 to 22 cm. They have a deeply cordate base and 9 to 13 main ribs that are slightly soft on the undersurface. The stipules are large. The plant has a massive, 2 to 10 kg, branched and very juicy rhizome with many roots. They are blackish-gray on the outside and whitish on the inside. The fracture is mealy and somewhat splintery. The central portion is porous with irregularly twisted thin woody bundles, separated by broad medullary rays, forming meshes beneath the bark.

Characteristics: The taste is pungent and numbing, and the odor is reminiscent of lilac.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the South Sea Islands and is mainly cultivated there.

Production: Kava Kava rhizome consists of the dried rhizomes of Piper methysticum.

Other Names: Ava, Ava Pepper, Intoxicating Pepper, Kawa, Kawa Pepper, Tonga, Kew