Kava in the Kitchen

Cooking with Kava

Kava is best known as a drink — ground root, water, and a strainer, the same way it's been prepared in the South Pacific for thousands of years. But its earthy, peppery flavor also plays well in the kitchen. Much like matcha, kava's flavor pairs naturally with chocolate, warm spices, and baked goods, and home cooks have been experimenting with it in brownies, cookies, sauces, and spiced drinks.

Kava food is meant to be shared — try one of these at your next potluck or gathering.

Kava Brownies

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp medium grind kava
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt the butter, then combine it with the cocoa, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the kava, flour, and baking soda and continue mixing. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
  4. Pour the batter into a parchment-lined baking pan.
  5. Bake 25–30 minutes, until the top is set and a toothpick comes out of the center clean.
  6. Allow to cool before serving.

Spiced Kava Chai

Inspired by South Asia's traditional spiced black tea, this warm cup combines powdered kava root with cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

  1. In a small pot, combine 1 tablespoon powdered kava with 1 cup water.
  2. Add cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, crushed ginger, and cinnamon to taste.
  3. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and strain out the kava pulp and spice solids.
  4. Serve with a splash of hot milk, nut milk, or honey, if desired.

Chocokava Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp medium grind kava
  • ⅔ cup whole-wheat flour
  • ½ cup white flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips
  1. Mix the flours and baking soda in a small bowl.
  2. Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the kava, and strain. In a larger bowl, mix the strained butter with the sugar, vanilla, egg, and salt.
  3. Gradually fold in the flour mixture and chocolate chips until you have a workable dough. Chill in the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  5. Roll the dough into balls, place on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 8–10 minutes.
  6. Serve and enjoy.

Rather Have Someone Else Do the Prep?

Skip the strainer and let our bartenders handle it. Elixir Lounge pours kava seven nights a week at 206 Main St in Old Town Spring, TX (18+). Try a kava flight — four flavors for $16.50 — or swing by Happy Hour, Monday–Wednesday 4–7pm. Browse the menu, order through Toast, or share your own kava recipe with us via our contact page — we love hearing from our community.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kava products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Elixir Lounge serves guests 18 years of age or older.