Combinations - Kava and calcium (hydr)oxide

[salviablue]

SWIM has recently been studying kavakava preperations and remembered reading about how the kava root is chewed (usually by children!)and spat into a bowl. The mixture is then diluted.....

It was mentioned that the alkalinic saliva helped 'activate' the kavalactones (or helped extract them - another source).

So swim had a huge bag of top grade kava lateral root powder (well mostly powder anyway) from a fairly reliable source and wondered wether in preparation some calcium oxide shouldn't be mixed in?
About 2 heaped tea spoons of the powder went into the tea strainer ball with a level teaspoon of calcium oxide.
Warm water was poured into a mug with the tea ball in, enough to cover the kava mix and left it to soak a few mins. The mix was neaded in the tea ball (fine wire mesh), the mesh opened out again (it was a bit squashed flat at this point)and left to 'do its thing'.
After 20mins or so, hot water was poured onto the tea ball in the mug and left until luke warm.
The tea ball was then squeezed for 'kava juice' and drinking of the brew was attempted.
Swim said attempted because the brew couldn't be finished due to its disgusting taste (and texture). Swim normally enjoys the taste of kava.
The brew had very quickly separated into a yellow/light brown clear liquid top layer and a coagulated brown suspension in the lower layer. Usually (w/out calcium oxide) swim finds the brew a tan colour, semi-transparent and with a 'smooth' brown suspension that settles after some minutes.
This stuff just didn't look right, and it tasted vile. A little of the kava flavour but with an insipid acrid bitterness, that stuck to the back of swims thoat for hours!

The effects are more noticable but still not that great. Maybe its because there was too much calcium oxide added or maybe its because swim is still trying to eek a substancial effect from kava (Its just around the corner swim is sure!)
It was the biggest effect had from it yet but still not what more experienced kava drinkers seem to get.

Swim may try again but with less calcium oxide later. Also swim would like to grow some so that the fresh root can be prepared more trad and consumed fresh.

Anyone done anything similar, with the 'base activation' thing?

Didn't really know where to stick this thread so it ended up here. Maybe there should be a preparations selection/section?