What forms does kava typically come in?

    Written by:
    Daryl Nault

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Kava typically is available in traditional forms such as macerated root steeped in liquids, as well as less-traditional preparations like tinctures, teas, capsules, and dried powders. Standardized kava preparations, which are often used in clinical trials, include root extractions with specific kavalactone concentrations.

    Traditionally, kava root is macerated, then steeped in a liquid (e.g., water, coconut milk, alcohol) and strained before being drunk.[1] Some reported traditional medicinal uses also incorporate plant parts other than the root.[2]

    Less-traditional kava preparations include (but aren’t limited to) tinctures, teas, capsules, and dried powders. When researchers tested different preparations, they found a wide variety of kavalactone content, sometimes inconsistent with the labeling.[3] Kava extracts have been used in cosmetics, but there is still insufficient evidence regarding both kava’s toxicity and efficacy when applied topically.[1]

    Standardized preparations of kava also exist and can be found throughout the scientific literature. The standardized preparations cited most frequently in clinical trials include kava root extractions (ethanol-in-water or acetone) standardized to 30–70% kavalactones.[4][5]