A measured pour of kava can make a longer drink with ginger, citrus or tropical juice. These five alcohol-free recipes each use 1.5 oz of Kava Moon, so one glass contains one serving.
Pure Canvas leaves out orange juice and gives you more room to choose a mixer. Signature Citrus works too if you want orange in the drink. The kava's earthy, peppery taste will still come through.
Before you start mixing
- Shake the Kava Moon bottle as directed and measure 1.5 oz for each drink.
- Check that your ginger beer and other mixers are alcohol-free.
- Shake juices and kava with ice, but add carbonated mixers afterward.
- Serve promptly and stir again if the drink settles.
New to kava? Read what a kava drink contains and our first-time guide before serving it to yourself or friends.
1. Moon Mule
Ginger and lime stand up to kava's earthy taste. Use a mild ginger beer if you prefer less heat.
Ingredients for one drink
- 1.5 oz chilled Kava Moon
- 4 oz alcohol-free ginger beer
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- A lime wheel and mint sprig
- Ice
Method
- Fill a mug or glass with ice.
- Add the measured kava and lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
- Add the lime and mint, then serve.
2. Cosmic Colada
Coconut cream gives this drink a thick texture. Taste it before adding honey or agave; pineapple juice may provide enough sweetness.
Ingredients for one drink
- 1.5 oz chilled Kava Moon
- 3 oz coconut cream
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- Up to 1 tablespoon honey or agave, optional
- A pineapple wedge and toasted coconut flakes
- Ice
Method
- Add kava, coconut cream and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice.
- Add the optional sweetener if needed, then shake for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish with pineapple and coconut flakes.
3. Midnight Citrus
Orange juice and sparkling water make a lighter drink. Add the bubbles after shaking so they stay in the glass.
Ingredients for one drink
- 1.5 oz chilled Kava Moon
- 2 oz orange juice
- 4 oz sparkling water
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
- An orange peel twist
- Ice
Method
- Shake the kava, orange juice and honey syrup with ice.
- Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
- Add the sparkling water.
- Squeeze the orange peel over the glass, drop it in and stir gently.
To make the syrup, stir equal parts honey and warm water until combined, then refrigerate.
4. Cinnamon Moon
A warm drink with honey, oat milk and cinnamon. Let the brewed tea cool before adding the kava.
Ingredients for one drink
- 1.5 oz Kava Moon at room temperature
- 4 oz brewed chamomile tea, cooled to warm
- 1 tablespoon honey
- A splash of oat milk
- A cinnamon stick and a little ground cinnamon
Method
- Brew the tea and let it cool until warm.
- Stir the measured kava and honey into the tea.
- Add the oat milk.
- Finish with the cinnamon stick and ground cinnamon. Stir again before drinking if it settles.
5. Island Sunset
Mango and passion fruit give this one a fuller fruit flavor. A small splash of grenadine settles beneath the juice for a layered glass.
Ingredients for one drink
- 1.5 oz chilled Kava Moon
- 2 oz mango nectar
- 2 oz passion fruit juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- A splash of grenadine
- A mango slice and mint
- Ice
Method
- Fill a tall glass with ice and add the grenadine.
- Shake the kava, mango nectar, passion fruit juice and lime juice with ice.
- Pour slowly into the glass to keep the layers visible.
- Add the mango and mint. Stir before drinking to combine the flavors.
Serving kava to friends
Tell guests what the drink contains before serving it. Measure each glass separately, and offer alcohol-free options without kava for anyone who doesn't want it. A shared pitcher makes it harder to keep track of servings.
Set up a small mixing station
For four Moon Mules, set out 16 oz of alcohol-free ginger beer, 4 oz of lime juice, four lime wheels, four mint sprigs and ice. Keep the Kava Moon bottle separate: measure 1.5 oz into each guest's glass when serving, rather than adding it to a shared pitcher.
Chill the mixers before guests arrive. Put a jigger beside the bottle and a short ingredient card beside each mixer. Assemble drinks one at a time using the method above, adding ginger beer last. Offer a separate ginger-and-lime drink without kava, and clearly identify which glasses contain kava.
Start with one serving each. Wait at least an hour before considering a second and stop at two in an evening. Arrange rides in advance; nobody should drive after drinking kava.
Our serving and recipe page has more mixer ideas. You can also use Signature Citrus for a measured pour over ice.
Pedro Luz, Co-Founder of Kava MoonPedro runs Kava Moon with his family in Orlando, Florida. The family makes its drinks with noble kava and publishes its independent laboratory reports.
