What is the difference between Lewena and Waka?
Every kava plant has a heart root or stump (lewena) which grows straight down into the earth from the center of the plant and lateral roots (waka) that are smaller in diameter and radiate outward from the center stump. It is only in Fiji that the lewena and waka are traditionally distinguished from one another and sometimes processed and consumed seperately, while in Vanuatu and elsewhere they are usually mixed together. 1. The kava heart root tends to be lighter in color, have less overall kavalactone content than the lateral root (although maybe more Kavain), and will usually be sweeter or milder in flavor. 2. The lateral roots which are usually darker in color, have a higher overall concentration of kavalactones (although maybe more DHM), tends to be more bitter or stronger tasting in comparison to the heart root of the same plant. The heart and lateral roots of the same kava plant are very good to process and mix together because the kavalactone profile of each compliment one anoth
