PHAMA is working to create kava quality standards in Fiji

Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) has been working to establish the National Fijian Quality Standard for kava. This quality standard has been described in the Fijian Kava Quality Manual, released in 2017. The manual touches on all aspects of kava including: transplanting seedlings, soil, fertilizers, pests, harvest, post harvest, storage, and transport. It also emphasizes testing and best practices throughout. It's a great document. 
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For us at Fiji Fresh, one of the most interesting takeaways is that PHAMA documented at least 13 unique kava varieties in Fiji.

• Kava type 1: Yalu
• Kava type 2: Yonolulu
• Kava type 3: Qila balavu
• Kava type 4: Damu
• Kava type 5: Qila leka
• Kava type 6: Vula kasa leka
• Kava type 7: Vula kasa balavu
• Kava type 8: Dokobana vula
• Kava type 9: Matakaro leka
• Kava type 10: Matakaro balavu
• Kava type 11: Dokobana loa
• Kava type 12: Loa kasa leka
• Kava type 13: Loa kasa balavu

This is a bit surprising as even many Fijians who know kava and drink kava believe there is just one type of kava that grows in Fiji. Currently, most vendors sell Fijian Kava as 'waka' or 'lawena', indicating the only differentiator in Fijian kava is whether the root or stump is processed.  There's clearly much more to the story of Fijian Kava than just 'waka' or 'lawena'. It would be exciting if there were cheap, easy to use field tests that could be used to differentiate Fijian kava varieties quickly after they've been harvested and dried. Or, if chemotype or kavalactone yield could be correlated with the varieties in a unique way. 
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Another interesting finding is that there are non-kava plants that look very similar to kava. If these plants are mixed with kava they can create nausea and decrease potency. The stem and leaves of this 'false kava' are difficult to differentiate from piper methysticum, but the roots are very different. This last bit is a little concerning for those who purchase exported powder, but since we at Fiji Fresh only import whole roots, it's easy for us to know that we only buy real kava.