Kava comes in many forms. While most people drink it as a tea, you can also buy it as a supplement, micronized powder, ready-mix, or instant — and even as a kava paste.
What is kava paste?
Kava paste is a concentrated form of kava — powder mixed with a small amount of water to form a thick paste. It's a more concentrated format than a traditionally prepared shell.
Kavalactones in paste
Kavalactones are the compounds most associated with kava's characteristic effects. In paste form, the full profile of kavalactones present in the root is retained in a concentrated format, which is part of why paste is a stronger preparation by volume than a traditional shell.
The six major kavalactones — desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, yangonin, kavain, dihydromethysticin, and methysticin — occur in different relative proportions depending on the cultivar, which is what the six-digit chemotype code describes. We are not going to make specific health claims about individual kavalactones here; if you want the real chemistry, our chemotype guide covers it properly.
What people report
Drinkers commonly describe physical relaxation and a calm, sociable mood after using kava paste, consistent with what's reported from traditionally prepared kava — concentrated into a smaller volume.
How it's used
Kava paste is taken directly, in small amounts, rather than prepared as a beverage. Because it's concentrated, dosing is different from a traditional shell — follow the specific product's guidance rather than assuming a paste and a shell are equivalent by volume, and start with less than you think you need.