Kava
Kava is the root and rootstock of Piper methysticum, a shrub of the pepper family propagated only by cuttings and grown across the Pacific islands, principally Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. The peeled root is dried and milled and prepared as a cold water beverage, which is its traditional use across Melanesia and Polynesia, and it is also sold as milled powder, instant powder and extract into the beverage, kava bar and dietary supplement trades. Its activity comes from a group of compounds called kavalactones, concentrated in the lateral roots and the rootstock. Plants are typically grown for three to five years before harvest.
Listed kava markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Kava is contracted on cultivar class, root fraction and kavalactone chemotype together. Noble cultivar status and the exclusion of aerial parts are the two terms that determine whether a lot is legally and commercially saleable in most destination markets, and they sit above the assay.
Botanical identity as the contracted article
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Piper methysticum G. Forst.The commercial article | The binomial is the contract. Piper wichmannii, the wild ancestor, is not saleable as kava. |
| Cultivar classDeclared, against the origin classification | Noble cultivars are the only class permitted for export from the principal producing states. Two-day and wichmannii type cultivars are excluded and the classification is a legal term, not a preference. |
| Named cultivarDeclared | Individual noble cultivars are named on the contract where the buyer specifies them, because the kavalactone chemotype travels with the cultivar. |
| Chemotype codeDeclared, as the six digit sequence | The Pacific convention orders the six major kavalactones by concentration and expresses the result as a six digit code. It is the standard identity shorthand in this trade. |
| Plant partDeclared | Peeled lateral root, rootstock, or a stated blend. Stems, leaves and aerial parts are excluded, and their exclusion is a certified term. |
| Identity testingCertificate of analysis, with the method | High performance liquid chromatography of the kavalactone profile, plus macroscopic verification of the root fraction. |
Physical form and processing route
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peeled lateral rootDeclared | The highest kavalactone fraction and the premium article. |
| Rootstock, or basal stumpDeclared | Lower in kavalactones than the lateral root and priced below it. |
| Blend ratioPercentage by mass | Where lateral root and rootstock are blended, the proportion is stated on the contract. |
| Whole dried rootDeclared | Cleaned, peeled and dried root pieces for onward milling. |
| Milled powderDeclared, with the mesh | Traditional grind or a finer specification, with the sieve stated. |
| Micronised or instant powderDeclared | Processed for direct dispersion rather than straining. |
| ExtractDeclared, with the solvent, the ratio and the residual solvent limit | Water, acetone or ethanol extraction, named explicitly because destination markets differ on which solvents they accept. |
| Colour and odourDeclared, against a retained reference sample | Pale cream to light brown. Grey or musty material indicates poor drying. |
| Drying routeDeclared | Sun dried or mechanically dried, with the temperature. Poor drying is the origin of the mould risk in this article. |
Kavalactone assay and chemotype
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Total kavalactonesPercentage by mass, minimum | The headline assay, on a dry basis, with the method stated. |
| KavainPercentage by mass | One of the six major kavalactones, reported individually. |
| DihydrokavainPercentage by mass | Reported individually. |
| MethysticinPercentage by mass | Reported individually. |
| DihydromethysticinPercentage by mass | Reported individually. |
| YangoninPercentage by mass | Reported individually. |
| DesmethoxyyangoninPercentage by mass | Reported individually. |
| Chemotype sequenceSix digit code | The six kavalactones ranked by concentration and written as a sequence. The trade standard for describing character. |
| Flavokavain BMilligrams per kilogram | Reported and, in several destination markets, capped. It is elevated in non-noble material and in aerial parts, so it doubles as an authenticity check. |
| Chromatographic fingerprintReference chromatogram | Retained with the lot. |
Purity and contaminants
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Loss on drying, or moisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying or by the entrainment method. It governs mould risk in the bag and it is weight the buyer is not paying botanical prices for. |
| Foreign organic matterPercentage by mass, maximum | Soil, stones, stems where stems are not the article, other plant species and any material other than the named part, separated by hand and weighed. |
| Total ashPercentage by mass, maximum | Mineral residue after incineration. |
| Acid-insoluble ashPercentage by mass, maximum | The sand and silica fraction, and the classical measure of how carefully the material was lifted and washed. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, against CXS 193 and the destination limits. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Multi-residue screen against the destination market limits. Contracted on every lot destined for the European Union, Japan or a certified organic buyer. |
| MycotoxinsMicrograms per kilogram, maximum | Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. Field dried botanicals carry the risk and the destination sets the ceiling. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, maximum, with the pathogen absence criteria | Total aerobic count, yeasts and moulds, bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella. |
| Irradiation and sterilisationDeclared | Steam sterilised, ethylene oxide treated, irradiated or untreated. Declared on the contract, because destination markets differ on what they permit. |
Origin, legality and delivery
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wild collected or cultivatedDeclared | It drives availability, the legality file and, in several of these articles, the marker chemistry. |
| Legality and collection permitDeclared, with the permit reference | Export permit, forest or land access agreement, or community collection agreement, travelling with the lot. |
| CertificationCertificate, with the scheme and the certificate number | Organic, FairWild, Fair for Life, Rainforest Alliance or a private buyer standard, named on the contract when it is contracted. |
| Crop year and harvest dateDeclared | Marker compounds decline with age. The crop year is a price term, not a formality. |
| PackingDeclared | Paper sacks, polypropylene bags, cartons, fibre drums or bulk bags, with the liner and the pallet configuration specified. |
| Sampling planDeclared | How many packages are sampled, by whom, and against which retained reference sample. Field dried botanicals are heterogeneous between bags. |
| Export certificationDeclared, with the certificate reference | The producing states operate statutory kava export certification covering cultivar class, plant part and quality. The certificate travels with the lot. |
| Destination regulatory statusDeclared | Kava is regulated differently across destination markets, and the permitted form and route are named on the contract before shipment. |
| Plant age at harvestYears, declared | Three to five years is the commercial standard. Immature root carries a lower assay and it is a price term. |
| Aerial part exclusionCertified | Stated explicitly on the certificate, because it is the central compliance term in the trade. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | Pentecost, Santo, Malekula, Tanna and Ambae | Origin |
| Fiji | Kadavu, Taveuni, Ovalau and Vanua Levu | Origin and destination |
| Tonga | Vavau, Haapai and Tongatapu | Origin |
| Samoa | Upolu and Savaii | Origin |
| Papua New Guinea | New Ireland and the Highlands | Origin |
| Solomon Islands | Guadalcanal and Malaita | Origin |
| Micronesia | Pohnpei | Origin |
| United States | Hawaii as an origin, and the mainland kava bar and supplement trade as a destination | Origin and destination |
| New Caledonia | Grande Terre | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne | Destination |
| New Zealand | Auckland and Wellington | Destination |
| Germany | Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr extract cluster | Destination |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam and the ingredient cluster | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Felixstowe and the supplement cluster | Destination |
| France | Marseille and the overseas territories trade | Destination |
| Canada | British Columbia and Ontario | Destination |
| Japan | Tokyo and Osaka | Destination |
| South Korea | Seoul | Destination |
| Poland | Gdansk and the contract manufacturing cluster | Destination |
| Switzerland | Basel and the ingredient cluster | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the plant material is lifted or cut at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is drying, cleaning, milling or extraction, laboratory clearance and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecPlants are lifted on demand once they reach three to five years, so harvest is continuous rather than seasonal. Cyclone damage between November and April is the real supply constraint. |
| Fiji | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecRolling lifting through the year, with cyclone season the main interruption to both crop and shipping. |
| Tonga | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecContinuous lifting, with dry season harvesting favoured for drying quality. |
| Samoa | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecRolling lifting, with the drier months from May to October giving the cleanest drying. |
| Papua New Guinea | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to DecLifting concentrates in the drier months for drying quality. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for kava. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading1211.90 Plants and parts of plants used primarily in pharmacy, including kava root
- PackingMultiwall paper sacks or PP bags of 20 kg to 25 kg with food grade liner, or fibre drums for powders and extracts. Sieve size, ash and foreign organic matter stated at load.
- Container loading20ft: 8 t to 14 t. Volume limited for whole leaf and root, weight limited for powders and extracts.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on specification with a certificate of analysis, botanical identity confirmed by macroscopic or HPTLC identification. European Herbal Infusions Association quality guidance and the terms of the importing association. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsRestricted or prohibited as a food or supplement in several EU member states and subject to a US FDA advisory on hepatotoxicity. Novel food status under Regulation 2015/2283 must be established before EU food placement. Kavalactone profile and the noble cultivar declaration are contract quality clauses, and non noble material is rejected outright at several destinations.
Common questions
What grades of kava does SIP Global trade?
We quote 44 published grades of kava, including Piper methysticum G. Forst. - The commercial article, Cultivar class - Declared, against the origin classification, Named cultivar - Declared, Chemotype code - Declared, as the six digit sequence, Plant part - Declared and Identity testing - Certificate of analysis, with the method. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is kava graded?
Kava is contracted on cultivar class, root fraction and kavalactone chemotype together. Noble cultivar status and the exclusion of aerial parts are the two terms that determine whether a lot is legally and commercially saleable in most destination markets, and they sit above the assay. Grading runs on 5 systems: Botanical identity as the contracted article, Physical form and processing route, Kavalactone assay and chemotype, Purity and contaminants and Origin, legality and delivery.
Where does SIP Global trade kava?
We trade kava in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Micronesia and United States and 12 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is kava harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Vanuatu: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Fiji: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Tonga: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Samoa: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Papua New Guinea: harvest may to oct, arrival jul to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for kava?
Kava is normally classified under HS 1211.90 (plants and parts of plants used primarily in pharmacy, including kava root). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for kava?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed kava market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- Codex AlimentariusFAO and WHO food standards
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.