Colour and aroma
What each kava gives on natural fibres, and how it smells.
The range
Every kava has its own colour
Kava root carries its own pigment. Dried and milled, each one sits at a slightly different point on the same warm scale, from the pale sand of Nakamal Nights through to the deep brown of Mighty Roots. The order below is the range as it actually runs.
What changes it
Why the same kava gives different results
Two things move the result more than anything else. The cultivar sets the starting point, and the strength of the bath decides how far it goes. Fibre matters as well, since natural fibres take pigment differently from one another. Test a small sample before committing a whole piece.
Aroma
How each one smells
The scent sits in the root itself and survives drying. It opens bright, settles into wood and warm earth, and the middle is where one kava stops resembling another. Coarse root holds a gentle scent in a dish or an open jar. Instant powder is finer and more concentrated.
| Kava | Origin | Colour | Aroma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nakamal Nights | Espiritu Santo | Light sand | Soft wood, mild earth, powdery |
| Palarasul | Espiritu Santo | Sand | Floral, lemongrass, light spice |
| Kelai | Epi | Honey | Citrus zest, light spice, smooth wood |
| Puariki | Tongoa | Warm honey | Vanilla, soft spice, bright green |
| Melo Melo | Ambae | Amber | Warm wood, hay, soft pepper |
| Bir Kar | Espiritu Santo | Warm amber | Black pepper, dark resin, roasted |
| Silesse | Malekula | Caramel | Creamy wood, nutty, faintly fruity |
| Borogoru | Maewo | Dark caramel | Green peppercorn, damp earth, deep wood |
| Pacific Elixir | Espiritu Santo | Walnut | Nutty, liquorice root, warm spice |
| Mighty Roots | Espiritu Santo | Dark walnut | Sharp pepper, green root, resinous |
In short
What it is sold for
A natural textile dye and a botanical home fragrance. One ingredient, noble kava root grown in Vanuatu, laboratory tested and traceable to its growing region. Sourced from The Kava Society in New Zealand.
