Specification for Kava   Description:

Kava will be the root, rhizome or scrapings (I civicivi) derived from the plant Piper methysticum. It will be sound, clean and substantially free from filth, soil and other contaminants. It will be prepared in accordance with good manufacturing practise and will not contain vegetable matter derived from any other species, insect fragments, or any other extraneous matter. It will have the following physical and chemical properties.

Physical

Colour

Kava will have a characteristic light brown / grey colour.

Aroma

Kava will have the aroma characteristics of the product. The aroma will be free of extraneous aromas indicating contamination with other plant material, solvents or other volatile matter.

Flavour

In the event of dispute, kava samples will be subject to taste panel assessment using the triangular taste test. There will be at least 20 penellists and results will be subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical significant samples will be treated as contaminated.

Filth

Using standard methods (AOAC) heavy filth will not exceed 0.63% w/w on a dry weight basis. Heavy filth exceeding 0.63% w/w but less than 0.7% w/w will be considered to be 2nd grade. Heavy filth exceeding 0.7% will be rewashed and redried.

Moisture

The moisture content will not exceed 12.54% w/w when dried to constant weight at 105º C. Moisture content exceeding 12.54% but less than 12.88% will be considered to be 2nd grade kava. Kava samples with a moisture content in excess of 12.88% will be redried.

Chemical

Ash

The ashcontent will not exceed 5.36% w/w when organic matter is removed at 440ºC. Samples exceeding 5.36% but less than 5.93% w/w will be considered to be second grade kava. Samples with an ash content in excess of 5.93% w/w will be washed and redried.

Kavalactone

The root (waka) will contain the following kavalactones: Desmethoxyyangonin not less than 0.22% and not more than 1.10% Yangonin not less than 0.61% and not more than 1.45% Dihydrokavain not less than 0.98% and not more than 1.94% Kavain not less than 2.11% and not more than 3.07% Dihydromethysticin not less than 0.51% and not more than 2.15% Methysticin not less than 1.00% and not more than 2.16%

The stem (lewena) will contain the following kavalactones: Desmethoxyyangonin not less than 0.07% and not more than 2.70% Yangonin not less than 0.18% and not more than 0.56% Dihydrokavain not less than 0.33% and not more than 0.74% Kavain not less than 0.31% and not more than 1.11% Dihydromethysticin not less than 0.23% and not more than 0.51% Methysticin not less than 0.34% and not more than 1.10%

The peeling (i civicivi) will contain the following kavalactones: Desmethoxyyangonin not less than 0.12% and not more than 0.16% Yangonin not less than 0.32% and not more than 0.36% Dihydrokavain not less than 0.73% and not more than 0.80% Kavain not less than 0.41% and not more than 0.45% Dihydromethysticin not less than 0.56% and not more than 0.60% Methysticin not less than 0.38% and not more than 0.54%

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Herbex Ltd.   - Environment Fiji Islands have no active volcanoes and therefore no poisonous chemicals can accumulate in plants. On islands with active volcanoes plants can take up heavy metals from the soil which can reach dangerous high levels in plants. The Fiji Islands have never been used as testing ground for nuclear detonations and are not used as a dumping place for industrial rubbish. Islands such as Tahiti which were used for under water nuclear test by French scientists are 6000 km away. Fiji has no heavy machinery or chemical industries that could spoil the environment, there are no autobahns, no oil refineries and no nuclear power stations. Fiji's environment is balanced, not exploited and untouched, it is left as it has been for thousands of years. Rain forests cover most of the interior of the islands, climbing up hills and along rivers that are full of fish, prawns and crabs.