| Description |
Kava is a perennial plant native to the Pacific tropics that is grown for the medicinal and psychoactive properties of its root. It is in the Piper genus of the Piperaceae family and related to black pepper (Piper nigrum). The plant has heart-shaped leaves and multiple stalks that grow to about 2 m tall. Roots can reach depths of 60 cm and must grow for 4-5 years before they have high enough concentrations of kavalactones to be harvested. Native to the tropics, Kava requires year-round temperatures between 21-35° C, 70-100% relative humidity, and abundant rainfall. It is grown as understory crop and benefits from partial shade. Female flowers are rare and do not produce fruit, even when hand-pollinated, so it must be propagated through root division or stem cuttings. Roots can be used fresh or dried to produce drinks and teas with sedative, anesthetic or euphoriant effects. Kava has been used in the traditional medicine of the South Pacific Island for centuries to treat central nervous system and peripheral disorders.
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