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How to Read a Kava COA: Kavalactones and Chemotype Explained
A Kava COA (certificate of analysis) is the lab report for one batch of Kava. The two numbers that matter most are the total Kavalactone percentage, which tells you strength, and the chemotype, a six-digit code ranking the six major Kavalactones, which tells you the profile. This guide explains how to read a Kava COA, what the chemotype means, and what to ask a supplier. It's written by Qamea Kava, a farm-direct grower of Noble Fijian Kava on Qamea Island, Fiji, which lab-tests every harvest.
What's on a Kava COA
| Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Batch / lot number and date | Which Kava the report applies to. It should match what you receive. |
| Lab name | Who ran the test. |
| Total Kavalactones (%) | How strong the Kava is. |
| Individual Kavalactones | The amount of each of the six major Kavalactones. |
| Chemotype | The six Kavalactones ranked from most to least abundant. |
The six major Kavalactones and their numbers
Kava chemotypes use a standard numbering for the six major Kavalactones:
| Number | Kavalactone | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desmethoxyyangonin | DMY |
| 2 | Dihydrokavain | DHK |
| 3 | Yangonin | Y |
| 4 | Kavain | K |
| 5 | Dihydromethysticin | DHM |
| 6 | Methysticin | M |
How to read a chemotype
The chemotype lists those numbers in order of abundance, most first. So a chemotype of 4-2-3-6-5-1 means the Kava contains the most kavain (4), then dihydrokavain (2), then yangonin (3), methysticin (6), dihydromethysticin (5), and the least desmethoxyyangonin (1). Two kavas with similar total Kavalactones can have quite different chemotypes, which is why buyers look at both numbers. The chemotype system was introduced by Kava researchers Lebot and Lévesque in 1989 and is now the common way to describe Kava profiles.
How to read total Kavalactones
Total Kavalactones is the percentage of the sample's weight made up of Kavalactones. Kava root powder typically falls in the single digits to high teens depending on cultivar, the part of the root and growing conditions. Extracts are concentrated to much higher, standardised levels such as 30% or 80%. When comparing suppliers, compare like with like: root powder with root powder, extract with extract.
Example: Qamea Kava's lab profile
We publish every COA for our Noble Fijian Kava in full. Across five independent tests, total Kavalactones ranged from 10.0% to 17.24%, averaging about 14%, and the chemotype shifted from harvest to harvest, which is normal for a natural root:
| Lab and date | Total Kavalactones | Chemotype |
|---|---|---|
| Murray-Brown Laboratories, Apr 2026 | 10.0% | 4-6-3-2-5-1 |
| Murray-Brown Laboratories, Apr 2025 | 14.5% | 2-3-4-6-5-1 |
| Botany Evolution, Jun 2024 | 12.09% | 4-3-2-6-5-1 |
| Fiji Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory, Dec 2022 | 14.2% | 2-4-6-3-5-1 |
| Wonderland Labs, Dec 2021 | 17.24% | 4-3-6-2-1-5 |
Notice the pattern that stays the same: kavain (4) is in the top three every time, and dihydromethysticin (5) and desmethoxyyangonin (1) are always the two least abundant. That consistency is what you want to see across a supplier’s reports. See the full COAs.
What to ask a Kava supplier about their COA
- Is this COA for the batch I'll receive, or an older one?
- Which lab ran it, and when?
- Do you test every harvest or batch?
- Is the Kava noble, and from which origin?
- Can you send the COA before I place a wholesale order?
Red flags
- "Lab tested" claims with no report available.
- A single COA used for every batch, year after year.
- No batch number or date on the report.
- Kavalactone numbers that change every time you ask, with no batch explanation.
FAQ
What does COA stand for?
Certificate of analysis: the lab report for a specific batch of a product.
What does 4-2-3-6-5-1 mean in Kava?
It's a chemotype. It ranks the six major Kavalactones from most to least abundant: kavain (4), dihydrokavain (2), yangonin (3), methysticin (6), dihydromethysticin (5) and desmethoxyyangonin (1).
How do I get a COA from Qamea Kava?
Request one here and we'll send the certificate of analysis for the current batch. Wholesale customers receive it with pricing. Looking to buy? See wholesale Kava or shop Noble Fijian Kava powder.
Sources: Lebot, V. & Lévesque, J. (1989), "The origin and distribution of Kava (Piper methysticum Forst. f., Piperaceae): a phytochemical approach," Allertonia 5(2); FAO/WHO, Kava: A review of the safety of traditional and recreational beverage consumption (2016). General information only, not medical advice.