Frequently Asked Questions

Kava Products

The term refers to Piper methysticum, a perennial plant cultivated across the South Pacific for millennia. In its Pacific homelands, kava has long been valued for ceremonial and social purposes.

In the European Union, kava is sold in accordance with EU regulations exclusively for botanical home fragrance and natural textile dyeing applications. Our products are not for human consumption.

For botanical home fragrance, the dried roots carry a warm, woody-balsamic aroma. For natural dyeing, the pigment compounds in kava roots produce a range of warm, earthy tones on natural fibres, from light sand to dark walnut, depending on the cultivar.

Kava Europe (Pacific Elixir sp. z o.o.) is the exclusive European distributor of The Kava Society in Auckland, New Zealand. All of our kava comes from them, and it is noble kava root with nothing added.

Their kavas are grown organically by farmers using traditional knowledge and techniques. Each batch is harvested to order, then cleaned and dried in temperature-controlled dehydrators at HACCP-certified facilities. Every batch is laboratory tested and the certificate for your specific batch is published. The selection of cultivars reflects over a decade of trials.

100% noble kava root (Piper methysticum), cleaned, dried and ground. Nothing else is added. No fillers, preservatives, or blending agents. Traditional grind is coarsely milled dried root; instant is the same root with the hard woody fibres removed before drying.

The products in our store come from The Kava Society in New Zealand, and are processed and packed for them in Vanuatu. The kava itself is grown in Vanuatu by farmers using traditional techniques. Kava Europe (Pacific Elixir sp. z o.o., ul. Czerniakowska 73/79, 00-718 Warsaw) is responsible for distribution within the European Union.

Botanical home fragrance and natural textile dyeing. For fragrance, the dried root carries a warm, woody, gently peppery aroma. It suits sachets for drawers and wardrobes, and works as an earthy base note in potpourri blends. Coarse root pieces hold a gentle scent in dried arrangements and open jars. Each cultivar has its own character, from soft and lightly woody through to warm and peppery.

For dyeing, kava gives warm earthy colours on natural fibres, from soft beige through to deep brown. Lighter cultivars give softer tones and darker cultivars give richer browns. The same colour works as a stain on wood and as a sepia-style wash on paper. Test a small sample first, as the tone varies with cultivar and fibre.

Skin. Some people prefer to wear gloves. The pigment compounds that make kava a good dye for textiles will also tint skin temporarily; this fades with a few washes.

Surfaces. Because kava stains, we recommend working over a surface you don’t mind picking up colour from: a laundry sink, an enamelled basin, or a protected worktop. Ceramic bowls, stainless steel, and glass rinse clean; porous wood and light stone can pick up a faint tint.

Storage of opened packets. Keep dried roots in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Under good storage, our kavas hold their colour and aromatic character for 12–18 months.

Ordering and Shipping

Orders are dispatched from Poland within two working days of payment. Delivery time then depends on the destination country and the carrier chosen at checkout.

You can buy kava in the online store, and in two brick-and-mortar stores:
ul. Szczęśliwicka 48B, Warszawa
and
Kava Europe, ul. Czerniakowska 73/79, 00-718, Warsaw.

Yes. Orders can be collected from either Warsaw address listed above.

Yes. We ship to all member states of the European Union, as well as to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and selected other European countries. The destinations available at checkout are the definitive list.

For deliveries within the European Union customs union, the price shown at checkout is the final price. No customs procedures or import charges apply on delivery.

For deliveries to destinations outside the EU customs union (Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and any other non-EU country), the parcel will be subject to customs clearance on arrival. Any customs duties, import VAT, brokerage fees, or other charges imposed by the destination country are the buyer’s responsibility and are payable on delivery. The buyer is also responsible for ensuring that the products may lawfully be imported into and possessed in the destination country.

If a parcel is held, returned, refused entry, or seized by the customs or regulatory authorities of the destination country, we cannot be held responsible and a refund cannot be issued for products lost in this way. For full details, please see our Terms and Conditions.

By card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or by bank transfer in euros. Checkout shows the methods available for your country.

Yes. You can withdraw from a purchase within 14 days of receiving it, and you then have a further 14 days to send it back. For a full refund the pack must come back in its original packaging with the inner seal intact. Email [email protected] to start a return. Full details are in our Terms and conditions.

Yes. Every order earns points: 10 points for every €100 you spend. You can spend them on free items from our shop, starting with a tote bag at 50 points. How points and rewards work.

Shipping costs

CountryUp to 1 kg1 to 3 kg
Austria13.64 €16.57 €
Belgium13.76 €16.71 €
Bulgaria13.64 €16.57 €
Croatia14.21 €17.26 €
Cyprus22.60 €22.60 €
Czech Republic8.85 €16.71 €
Denmark14.21 €17.26 €
Estonia14.10 €17.12 €
Finland14.27 €17.33 €
France13.64 €16.57 €
Germany12.57 €16.43 €
Greece14.10 €17.12 €
Hungary14.44 €17.54 €
Ireland12.99 €16.99 €
Italy13.87 €16.85 €
Latvia13.76 €16.71 €
Lithuania13.76 €16.71 €
Luxembourg13.30 €16.16 €
Malta22.41 €22.41 €
Netherlands13.76 €16.71 €
Norway16.99 €16.99 €
Poland4.18 €4.85 €
Portugal13.99 €16.99 €
Romania13.76 €16.71 €
Slovakia8.99 €16.99 €
Slovenia13.87 €16.85 €
Spain13.76 €16.71 €
Sweden13.20 €17.26 €
Switzerland16.99 €16.99 €
Türkiye11.59 €11.59 €
United Kingdom (UK)16.99 €16.99 €

Dispatched from Poland within two working days. Prices include VAT where it applies. Other carriers may be offered at checkout for some countries.