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 aromatherapy and natural textile dyeing applications. Our products are not for human consumption.
For aromatherapy, the dried roots carry a warm, woody-balsamic aroma — a sensory profile unlike anything else in the botanical world. For natural dyeing, the pigment compounds in kava roots produce a range of warm, earthy tones on natural fibres, from soft honey-amber to rich caramel browns.
Kava Europe offers 100% natural kava products made from nothing but pure, clean, noble kava roots. All of our products are sourced directly from The Kava Society (Auckland, New Zealand), a leading specialist in fine kava, renowned for both deep expertise and outstanding quality. Kava Europe (Pacific Elixir sp. z o.o.) is the exclusive European distributor of The Kava Society’s range.
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. The selection of cultivars reflects over a decade of trials. The result is a range that retains maximum freshness and purity, ideal for aromatherapy sachets, scent infusions, and natural textile dyeing.
Our kavas are used two main ways: as a whole-root aromatic base, or as a water-prepared liquid for natural textile dyeing.
Aromatherapy. For scent work, the roots can be used straight from the package — loose in a bowl, in a sachet, or infused into a neutral carrier fabric. No preparation is needed.
Textile dyeing — preparing the liquid. For one t-shirt’s worth of dye:
• Place 35–40g of traditional powder in a strainer bag.
• Put the bag in a bowl with 500–600ml of warm water.
• Knead, squeeze and massage the bag for 5–10 minutes until the water is rich and cloudy.
• Squeeze out all the liquid. A second wash of the same bag yields a lighter, supporting bath.
You can also blend the kava in cold water for 3–4 minutes and strain, though the kneading method gives the strongest colour. Ratios are flexible between roughly 1:8 and 1:25 (kava to water) depending on how concentrated you want the bath.
Instant kava. Mix about 8g of instant powder per 200ml of water. Stir well — no straining required.
Once you have your liquid, submerge a clean, natural-fibre textile (cotton, linen, silk, wool all work) and let it sit. Overnight in the bath typically gives a warm honey-to-caramel tone; longer dwell times deepen the colour. Rinse and line-dry.
For more detail, see our Preparation and Storage page.
100% noble kava root (Piper methysticum), cleaned, dried and ground. Nothing else is added. No fillers, preservatives, or blending agents. Traditional powders are a fine grind of the dried root; instants are made by wet-processing fresh roots and dehydrating the liquid into a uniform powder.
The products in our store are sourced from New Zealand, where they are processed and packed by The Kava Society. The kava itself is grown on the islands of the South Pacific 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.
Skin. Prolonged hand contact with wet kava — for example, when kneading the dye bath repeatedly over time — can cause reversible skin dryness. 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.
Regulatory context. Pursuant to the Regulation of the Polish Minister of Health of 13 March 2024 (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 420), kava (Piper methysticum) is prohibited from use in food production in Poland. Our products are sold in accordance with EU regulations exclusively for aromatherapy and natural textile dyeing applications, and are not for human consumption.
Ordering and Shipping
The parcel is sent within 2 working days after the payment is received. The delivery time depends on the chosen delivery method.
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, kava can be personally collected in the chosen locations in the country.
