What are kavalactones?

Kavalactones are the active compounds in kava root. They're the reason kava does anything, and the most useful number on any kava label.

Why the number matters. Kava is a plant, so strength varies — with the cultivar, the growing conditions, how much root was used and how it was prepared. A traditionally strained bowl might contain anywhere from 100 to 250 mg. That variability is the main reason two people can drink "the same" kava and have completely different experiences.

A measured product removes the guesswork. Every Kavayn serving states its dose: 350 mg of kavalactones in a 1.5 fl oz pour of the Noble Kava Spirits, 250 mg in a Snap Pack — the same every time, in every bottle and every pack.

Three things worth knowing:

• More means longer. Effects scale with dose in a fairly predictable way, so a higher-kavalactone serving lasts longer and feels more pronounced.
• Food slows it down. Kavalactones absorb better on a lighter stomach. After a big meal, expect a slower start and a milder evening.
• Onset is gradual. Different kavalactones absorb at different speeds, so kava arrives as a settling rather than a hit.

If a kava product doesn't state its kavalactone content, you have no way of knowing what you're getting. That's the first thing to look for on a label — ahead of origin, flavour or format.