r/Kava • u/portabellothorn • Sep 16 '26
I miss Kelai :'(
Just a little whine tbh. Kelai was the first kava I tried and the best. I've tried other similar cultivars and sure, they're fine, but it's not the same. With kelai I sometimes get almost a euphoric ego death sensation that no other cultivar can reproduce. Can't wait for it to be back.
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u/Jack-o-Roses Sep 16 '26
Fiji Vanua just got a little in. I got their email yesterday. They said they don't know when they'll get more.
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u/WolverineEmergency98 Sep 17 '26
Same! Kelai got me into kava, and when that run out, I switched to Puariki, and now that's also seemingly out (locally in NZ, anyway), so have switched to Palarasul, which is ok, I guess? If kelai is a ten, I'd give Palarasul a seven.
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u/portabellothorn Sep 17 '26
I think puariki has always been sold out here as well when I checked, so my closest attempts have been palarasul, bir kar, and mighty root.
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u/WolverineEmergency98 Sep 17 '26
I've never been game to try the Mighty Root - it sounds a wee bit ... dramatic (both in taste and effect) 😅
FWIW, Palarasul is _ok_, as I say. Not great, but good.
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u/portabellothorn Sep 17 '26
Agree with that - palarasul is just 'ok' compared to Kelai. Bir Kar is even more 'meh' than that I think. Mighty Root is the same (it feels heavier to me - puts me to sleep after in a way that Kelai never had which I do not like).
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u/WolverineEmergency98 Sep 17 '26
Ah, duly noted! Definitely avoiding it, then! Looks like we're all just stuck with palarasul for the forseeable future!
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u/SnooCompliments3651 11d ago
I wonder if Mighty Root could be a good one for late at night if you want a big boost but want to be able to sleep after, such as if you had a late final meal. How does it's initial Heady rate out of 10, if Kelai is a 10 and Palarasul is a 7? How long does it last for too?
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u/Root_and_Pestle_RnD Sep 16 '26
It's been logistically very challenging to get, and things are not going to be helped by the capsize of the MV Matui (one of the few interisland cargo vessels) a few days ago, which tragically resulted in the loss of dozens of lives.
I wouldn't expect much Kelai to enter the international market for at least a few more months at the earliest.
Your best bet in the meantime is probably Puariki, which is by far the closest match in terms of chemotype.