Bluesjunky
Kava Curious
I had some negative experiences with kava after I got my Vitamix--the Rolls Royce of blenders--last year. I quickly discovered that the blender was so powerful that straining the kava was optional--if you blended the kava on the highest setting it would be chopped almost as fine as the instant. My first thought was "Oh, how convenient. Now I don't have to deal with the freakin' mess that is straining this stuff." Paraphrasing here, of course Anyway, after a while, I started having kava hangovers for the first time, and these continued for a couple weeks before I realized they were probably related to this insanely powerful blender. So, back to straining and blending on a lower setting and order restored. As long I don't overdo it I usually have a very pleasant kava experience. If I do too much or don't properly strain, however, that's when I can run into that edgy kind of feeling you described. And if I don't feel well to begin with then I stay away, because I've tried that, too, and that usually doesn't equal a good time.