Kelai kava
Kelai is a kava cultivar from Epi, Vanuatu. Legal class: Noble.
Origin
Island: Epi. Country: Vanuatu. Coordinates: -16.75, 168.25. Epi on the kava map.
Legal standing
Noble, per Vanuatu Kava Act No. 7 of 2002, Schedule Table 1.
Chemotype
A chemotype ranks the six kavalactones from most to least abundant. It says nothing about how much kava is in the root, only about the order. Published readings for this cultivar disagree, so all of them are shown.
| Code | Kavalactones, most to least abundant | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 423165 | Kavain > Dihydrokavain > Yangonin > Desmethoxyyangonin > Methysticin > Dihydromethysticin | Kava Society New Zealand |
| 423165 | Kavain > Dihydrokavain > Yangonin > Desmethoxyyangonin > Methysticin > Dihydromethysticin | Nakamal at Home |
| 423516 | Kavain > Dihydrokavain > Yangonin > Dihydromethysticin > Desmethoxyyangonin > Methysticin | Kava Forums chemotype thread |
| 421653 | Kavain > Dihydrokavain > Desmethoxyyangonin > Methysticin > Dihydromethysticin > Yangonin | Art of Kava; batch 3, 6.27% total kavalactones |
Chemotype genuinely shifts with plant age, which part of the root was milled, soil and shade. Some of this spread is real variation and some of it is disagreement between laboratories. Treat any single code as a claim about one batch, not a property of the variety.
Character
Heady. Clear-headed. Stays above the neck, so it suits daytime.
How it is described
- “Intensely heady and cerebral, fast onset with minimal body load”, Kava Society New Zealand
- “No anxiety-inducing effects reported”, Art of Kava
Taste and mouthfeel
- “Ripe banana, dark chocolate and almonds, with a mild cashew sweetness”, Kava Society New Zealand
Background
- “Mostly consumed on Epi rather than exported”, Kava Society New Zealand
Availability
Limited. Sold by a handful of vendors.
Known to stock it: Kava Society NZ, Nakamal at Home, Art of Kava.
Sold as
- Epik Kava Kelai, Nakamal at Home, 500 g: 98.60 USD (197 USD/kg)
Prices read from vendor storefronts on 2026-09-16, ranked cheapest per kilogram first. No vendor pays to be listed.
Documentation
Corroborated. Sources cited on this page:
- Vanuatu Kava Act No. 7 of 2002, Schedule Table 1
- Kava Society New Zealand
- Nakamal at Home
- Kava Forums chemotype thread
- Art of Kava