Why a to-go pack?
Kava stick packs are flavored drink mixes made with kava extract: stir one into cold water and drink, no straining. (Want plain instant kava, the dried kava juice you mix yourself? See the best instant kava.) Stick packs solve one problem: portability. They're light, shelf-stable, and you can make a drink anywhere there's cold water. They're perfect for flights, hotel rooms, gym bags and the drawer at work.
Leilo Berry Kava Drink Mix
Leilo's stick packs are the easiest kava mix we've found. Tear one open, stir it into 12 to 16 oz of cold water (Leilo's product-page directions; its FAQ says 8 to 12 oz, adjust to taste), and you have a berry kava drink in a minute. Each stick lists 1,000 mg of a proprietary kava root extract blend, 5 calories and 0 grams of sugar, sweetened with stevia. Lemon lime is also available.
Check price on AmazonMitra9 Kava Drink Mix
Mitra9's kava drink mixes come in island punch, lemonade, orange dreamsicle and strawberry watermelon, and they print the dose: 500 mg of kava extract with 150 mg of kavalactones per serving. No added sugar, sweetened with stevia.
Check price on AmazonHow do stick packs compare with cans and instant powder on cost? See kava cans vs. instant kava vs. stick packs: cost per serving.
When a can is the better buy
Stick packs win on portability and price per serving. They lose on experience. A cold, sparkling can just tastes better, and it feels like a drink rather than a supplement. If you're drinking kava at home, at the end of the day, we'd buy cans.
How to make a stick pack taste better
- Use very cold water, or shake it over ice.
- Add a squeeze of lime or a splash of juice.
- Drink it within a few minutes; kava settles if it sits.
Who should skip kava
- Kava drinks are for adults 21+. Skip them if you're under 21.
- Skip kava if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Skip kava if you have a liver condition or drink heavily. Kava has been linked to rare cases of serious liver injury.
- Skip it if you take antidepressants (including SSRIs), sedatives, sleep aids or medications that affect the liver, unless your doctor says it's OK.
- Rules on kava vary by place. Check your local rules before you buy.
- One can or shell is one serving. Don't mix kava with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
These are general cautions, not medical advice. If you're unsure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions people ask
What is the best kava powder to-go pack?
Leilo's stick packs for most people: easy to mix, 5 calories, 1,000 mg of kava extract blend per stick. Mitra9 is the pick if you want the kavalactone amount printed.
Is kava powder as good as a kava drink in a can?
For convenience and price, yes. For taste and experience, a cold sparkling can is better.
What's the best kava on Amazon?
Of the kava powders we compared, both picks are on Amazon: Leilo's stick packs for most people, Mitra9's drink mixes if you want the kavalactone amount printed. For a ready-to-drink can at home, we link Botanical Brewing's Orange Dream on its own site.
Is a kava stick pack the same as instant kava?
Not quite. Stick packs like Leilo and Mitra9 are flavored mixes made with kava extract. Instant kava is plain dried kava juice or micronized root you measure yourself. We compare those in our best instant kava guide.
How do you mix a kava stick pack?
Leilo's product page says to stir one stick into 12 to 16 oz of cold water; its FAQ says 8 to 12 oz and to adjust to taste. Shaking it with ice makes it smoother.
