Key Takeaways
- Kava has centuries of traditional use and is generally well tolerated by healthy adults.
- The U.S. FDA advises a potential risk of rare, but severe, liver injury with kava-containing products.
- Kava is for adults 18+, not for use if pregnant or breastfeeding, and not with alcohol.
- If you have liver concerns or take medication, ask a healthcare professional first.
Written by Maya Ellison, Uchie Editorial. Last updated July 17, 2026.
Is kava safe to drink?
Kava has a long history of traditional use across the South Pacific and is generally well tolerated by healthy adults, but it is not risk-free and is not for everyone. The most important safety note comes from the U.S. FDA, which advises that a potential risk of rare, but severe, liver injury may be associated with kava-containing products, and issued a consumer advisory to that effect in 2002.
Independent resources such as the NIH LiverTox database and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarize the evidence and note that serious cases are uncommon. We reproduce this guidance rather than downplay it.
Who should not drink kava?
Kava is for adults 18 and over. It is not for use by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. You should not combine kava with alcohol, and you should not drive or operate heavy machinery after drinking it.
If you have or have had liver problems, or you take any medication, ask a healthcare professional before use. These are the same precautions the industry standard disclaimer reflects.
Does the type of kava matter?
Traditional growers have long distinguished noble kava, the cultivars favored for a smooth, balanced cup, from other types. Choosing noble kava reflects that heritage of careful cultivation, which is the standard we hold Uchie to.
Quality and sourcing matter with any botanical. It is one reason we build every can on noble kava from the South Pacific and taste every batch.
How can you enjoy kava responsibly?
Start with one serving, do not mix it with alcohol, and pay attention to how you feel. Keep it to adults 18+, and skip it if any of the precautions above apply to you.
Enjoyed sensibly, kava is a centuries-old social drink. Uchie simply puts it in a clean, low-sugar, sparkling format. For the fuller picture, see our article on kava and your liver.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Consumer advisory on kava and liver injury (2002); FDA scientific memoranda on kava.
- NIH LiverTox database — Kava entry.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) — Kava.
- FAO/WHO — Kava: a review of the safety of traditional and recreational beverage consumption (2016).