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Photos courtesy of Fiji Kava Manual 2017
There are thirteen (13) different types of kava in Fiji, all of which are of noble varieties which are desirable for export to Australia. They have chemotypes that make them appropriate for both domestic and international markets.
The various kava cultivar plants have different compositions and yields of kavalactones. Furthermore, they all prefer different optimal growing conditions. Some kava varieties are more suited for cultivation in shaded areas, others in valleys, on hilltops, or on the sides of hills etc. Some varieties can withstand arid circumstances and various soil types. Different kava cultivar types react differently to various settings, including salinity, drought, and disease.
• Kava type 1: Yalu
• Kava type 2: Yonolulu
• Kava type 3: Qila balavu
• Kava type 4: Damu
• Kava type 5: Qila leka
• Kava type 6: Vula kasa leka
• Kava type 7: Vula kasa balavu
• Kava type 8: Dokobana vula
• Kava type 9: Matakaro leka
• Kava type 10: Matakaro balavu
• Kava type 11: Dokobana loa
• Kava type 12: Loa kasa leka
• Kava type 13: Loa kasa balavu
Dark green stems have either no or very few discernible lenticels.
Brown lenticels may be spotted on internodes beneath the higher node. In regions of the stem where there is chlorosis (yellowing), some dark green lenticels could be visible. The stem is smoother to the touch than other kinds since there are no lenticels. Typically, the internodes are brief. The plants that were sampled typically had several stems and reached chest height. The dark green coloration of the stem and extremely few lenticels are distinguishing characteristics of this variety of kava.
The top two thirds of the internode have a few, big green lenticels that are scattered throughout the green stems. The stems feel relatively smooth because there aren’t many lenticels. Some dark green colouration may be seen above the lower node of the internode. The internodes are usually short and thick. The plants that were sampled had a bushy habit and a propensity to reach shoulder height.
An important distinguishing feature of this variety of kava is the sparse cluster of green lenticels towards the internode’s top. Yonolulu and Qila balavu are distinguished by their short internode lengths.
The top two thirds of the internode primarily contain the few lenticels that do exist on the green stems. The lenticels are a darker green than the surrounding stems and often have raised brown centres. Different plants have different sizes of the dark colouring around the lenticels. Some dark green colouration or striping may be seen above the lower node of the internode in some plants.
Internodes are typically very lengthy. One distinguishing feature of this particular kava type is the sparse cluster of green lenticels towards the internode’s apex. Yonolulu and Qila balavu can be distinguished by their lengthy internode length.
The top third of each internode contains the majority of the stem’s few lenticels, which give the stems a slight purple hue.
Internode coloration varies between plants, ranging from predominantly green to dark purple. Each internode’s colour changes from darkest above the lower node to lighter as it ascends. Lenticels are purple and frequently have raised, dark brown centres. Internodes can be long but are most frequently short and thick. The plants that were sampled exhibited an upright habit, few stems, and a propensity to grow above head height.
This kava kind can be identified by the stems’ purple coloration and the very small quantity of black or purple lenticels on their internodes.
The very small, slightly darker green striations (lines) that run lengthwise along the node of the stems are green. The lenticels on the stems are numerous but less distinctly shaped than those on stems from other kava types. The elevated, green lenticels are the same colour as the striations and occasionally have brown centres. Typically, the internodes are short. Plants in the sample ranged in habit and height from waist height to head height, and they might be either spreading or erect.
The distinctive features of this kind of kava are the green striations, less well defined lenticels, and relatively short internodes.
The stems are light green in colour, and each internode is covered in several tiny, dark green lenticels. The stems are often stout, with noticeable nodes and a narrow “waist” in the internode. The internodes are typically short. Although few tall plants were observed, most of the plants sampled were chest or shoulder height and had a spreading habit with multiple stems.
Both Vula kasa leka and Vula kasa balavu have the characteristic of having a great number of green lenticels. It can be challenging to distinguish between Vula kasa leka and Vula kasa balavu due to the short length of the internodes.
The stems are light green in colour, and each internode is covered in several tiny, dark green lenticels. Compared to Vula kasa leka, the internodes are typically long and thinner. The plants sampled tended to be head height with many stems.
Both Vula kasa balavu and Vula kasa leka have the characteristic of having a great number of green lenticels. It can be challenging to distinguish between Vula kasa balavu and Vula kasa leka because of the larger length of the internodes in the former.
Green stems have numerous lenticels running the length of each internode. Lenticels have very deep green colouring and frequently have raised brown centres. Just above the lower node of internodes, there may be some pigmentation that is dark green with purple undertones. In some plants, the lower node of the stem may produce dark green triangular stripes that extend upward to the higher node. These stripes can be seen or not, and they come in different sizes. Long internodes are typical. The examined plants ranged in habit from spreading to upright, and they tended to grow above head height.
In contrast to Matakaro leka and Matakaro balavu, Dokobana vula has lenticels that are frequently very dark green rather than purple. If purple pigmentation is present, it is typically confined to a tiny area low on the internode. Like Matakaro balavu, Dokobana vula frequently has lengthy internodes.
Stems are green with several lenticels scattered throughout the length of the internode. Lenticules are typically dark purple, however they can occasionally be green towards the top of internodes. The internode typically is mostly green, there may be some purple coloration above the internode’s lower node. Internodes are brief.
Loa kasa leka and Matakaro leka are comparable, however Loa kasa leka bears purple pigment throughout the whole internode, yet there is hardly any pigmentation on matakaro leka. Matakaro Leka features a striking contrast in colour between its lenticels (nearly purple in colour) and the stem (green).
The lenticels that cover the length of the internode on the green stems are numerous. Lenticules are typically dark purple, however they can occasionally be green towards the top of internodes. Although the internode above the lower node may have some purple coloration, it often has a green colour. The main distinction between Matakaro balavu and Matakaro leka is the length of the internodes. The plants that were sampled tended to have an erect habit and be shoulder height.
Similar to Loa kasa balavu, Matakaro balavu has very little, if any, pigmentation. In contrast, Loa kasa balavu exhibits purple pigment down the length of the internode.
The lenticels on matakaro balavu are very dark, almost purple, and the stem is a very different colour (green). The main distinction between this variety of kava and Matakaro leka, which has shorter internodes, is the length of the internodes.
Lenticels are numerous and evenly spaced along the length of each internode in stems. The lenticels are purple in colour, and the internodes have purple pigmentation which is darkest above the lower node and fades towards the upper node of the \sinternode. Typically, the internodes are short. Petioles often have a dark reddish-purple colour, with a hint of purple at the place where they connect the leaf.
The plants that were tested were typically head- or shoulder-high.
A crucial trait of this kava type is that the purple pigmentation disappears below the higher node of the internode so that an area of green stem may be seen below the upper node.
It can be distinguished from Loa kasa leka and Loa kasa balavu by the green stem areas.
The colour of the stems ranges from dark purple to black and they feature many lenticels throughout the length of the internode. Raised lenticels frequently have dark brown centres. Purple pigmentation may reveal some green hues, but the dark colouring predominates. Petioles often have a dark reddish-purple colour, with a hint of purple at the place where they connect the leaf. Typically, the internodes are short.
Although they seem extremely similar, loa kasa leka and loa kasa balavu have different lengths of internodes (loa kasa leka is shorter).
The colour of the stems ranges from dark purple to black and they feature many lenticels throughout the length of the internode. Raised lenticels frequently have dark brown centres. Purple pigmentation may reveal some green hues, but the dark colouring predominates. Petioles often have a dark reddish-purple colour, with a hint of purple at the place where they connect the leaf. Internodes are often very lengthy.
The plants that were sampled exhibited an upright habit, few stems, and a tendency to grow to head height or higher.
Although they have extremely similar appearances, loa kasa balavu and loa kasa leka have different internode lengths, with loa kasa balavu being longer.
Kava is often sold as dried waka (roots) and dry lewena (basal stem) pieces that have been chopped into slices or chips. It is fairly tough to differentiate the different kava kinds when they are dried. Only laboratory testing using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) can detect the chemotype of dried kava. Even though waka and lewena may have been harvested from the same plant, their chemotypes might vary. The chemotype, on the other hand, is constant amongst plants of the same variety and also holds true when plants of the same variety are cultivated in other environments. While a variety’s chemotype does not change with age, the overall amount of kava lactones does rise as kava plants get older.
