6 Kava Drink Brands, Ranked Worst To Best - Tasting Table

"Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just looking for a way to have a fun night out sans booze, you've probably already heard of kava. Kava bars are popping up all over the place to give those without a drive for inebriation a place to rest, relax, and socialize, all while still sipping on a fun bevvy. The non-alcoholic drink will still give you a slight buzz, but rather than being intoxicating, it tends to impart more of a euphoric body-feel onto the drinker"

"Editor's note: While kava is not a controlled substance in the U.S., precautions should always be taken with unregulated substances. Some countries (like Australia) classify kava as a depressant drug. As with any substance, do your own research before consuming or making your own batch of kava and enjoy it responsibly. Kava is made a few different ways, and home kava preparation will typically see you working with medium-ground kava, fine-ground kava, or a kava concentrate/extract."

"Some companies have gone as far as to make ready-to-consume kava beverages (or, at the bare minimum, ones that require little preparation). However, not all kava is created equal - especially given that this is a relatively new wellness trend, quality and characteristics of kava drinks can vary pretty widely from brand to brand. I got my hands on six different ready-to-drink kava brands (in the case of one, nearly ready-to-drink) to compare them based on their flavor and the resulting body feel."

Kava provides a non-alcoholic, mildly euphoric body sensation that supports relaxation and socializing without strong mind-altering effects. Preparation methods include medium-ground, fine-ground, and concentrates or extracts, and some companies sell ready-to-drink kava beverages requiring little preparation. Readily available kava bars cater to sober and sober-curious drinkers seeking a communal, alcohol-free experience. Product quality and effect size vary substantially across brands. Six ready-to-drink products were compared for flavor and body feel, with most performing competitively and one product judged not worth repeated consumption. Safety precautions and local legal classifications should be considered.

Read at Tasting Table