Skip to content
SupplyList
Menu

Kava

Kava suppliers and sourcing guide

Kava is Piper methysticum, a shrub in the pepper family grown in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii, and the trade uses its rootstock (rhizome and roots). Root is dried and sold as powder for traditional beverages, or extracted with water, ethanol, acetone or CO2 and sold as a powder or paste standardized to kavalactones by HPLC. Buyers specify noble cultivars and peeled root, because stems, peelings and non-noble varieties are traded too.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Piper methysticum · kava kava · awa · yaqona
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of kava

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Root powder

    Dried, ground rootstock from named noble cultivars, sold for traditional water-based beverages and by kavalactone content.

  • Aqueous extract

    Water extract of the whole or peeled rhizome, dried to a powder.

  • Standardized solvent extract

    Ethanol, acetone or CO2 extract sold with 30% to 70% kavalactones by HPLC, as powder or paste.

  • Instant or micronized kava

    Dried kava beverage concentrate or finely milled root sold for drink mixes.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity and cultivar
HPLC or HPTLC chemotype test to confirm Piper methysticum and a noble cultivar, often against national export standards such as Vanuatu's.
Kavalactone assay (HPLC)
Total kavalactones and the six major kavalactones by HPLC, which sets the declared amount per serving.
Plant part
Confirmation that the material is peeled rhizome and root and free of stems and leaves.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
Residual solvents
For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvents against USP <467> or the buyer's specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep root powder and extracts sealed in lined, light-proof containers in a cool, dry place; kavalactones degrade with heat and light. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, with the kavalactone assay repeated at retest.

Lots and expiry dates

Kavalactone content and chemotype vary with cultivar, plant part and origin, so record the cultivar, part, chemotype and kavalactone result for each lot. Keep export certificates and the supplier lot traceable to finished batches.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database entry for Piper methysticum requires the amount of kavalactones to be declared in the product licence application or cover letter.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • The same entry requires human data for safety assessment unless kavalactones are no more than 125 mg per single dose and 250 mg per day, from an aqueous extract of the whole or peeled rhizome at up to 3 g/day crude equivalent.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists Piper methysticum extract (kava kava) among ingredients prohibited for use in cosmetic products.

    Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Kava suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking kava suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell kava? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of kava can brands buy?

Common forms include root powder, aqueous extract, standardized solvent extract and instant or micronized kava. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for kava include?

Expect identity and cultivar, kavalactone assay (HPLC), plant part, heavy metals, microbiology and residual solvents, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should kava be stored?

Keep root powder and extracts sealed in lined, light-proof containers in a cool, dry place; kavalactones degrade with heat and light. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, with the kavalactone assay repeated at retest.

What is the regulatory status of kava?

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database entry for Piper methysticum requires the amount of kavalactones to be declared in the product licence application or cover letter. The same entry requires human data for safety assessment unless kavalactones are no more than 125 mg per single dose and 250 mg per day, from an aqueous extract of the whole or peeled rhizome at up to 3 g/day crude equivalent. Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists Piper methysticum extract (kava kava) among ingredients prohibited for use in cosmetic products.

More botanicals and mushrooms

All 167 botanicals and mushrooms

Sell ingredients to brands?

Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.

Request a listing