Editing Kava (section)

=== Composition ===
Fresh kava root contains on average 80% [[water]]. Dried root contains approximately 43% [[starch]], 20% [[dietary fiber]], 15% kavalactones,<ref name="wang">{{cite journal|pmc=4325077|year=2013|last1=Wang|first1=J|title=Kavalactone content and chemotype of kava beverages prepared from roots and rhizomes of Isa and Mahakea varieties and extraction efficiency of kavalactones using different solvents|journal=Journal of Food Science and Technology|volume=52|issue=2|pages=1164–1169|last2=Qu|first2=W|last3=Bittenbender|first3=H. C|last4=Li|first4=Q. X|doi=10.1007/s13197-013-1047-2|pmid=25694734}}</ref> 12% water, 3.2% [[sugar]]s, 3.6% [[protein (nutrient)|protein]], and 3.2% [[mineral (nutrient)|minerals]].

In general, kavalactone content is greatest in the roots and decreases higher up the plant into the stems and leaves.<ref name=wang/> Relative concentrations of 15%, 10%, and 5% have been observed in the root, stump, and basal stems, respectively.<ref name=Lebot1992/> The relative content of kavalactones depends not only on plant segment but also on the kava plant variety, plant maturity, geographic location, and time of harvest.<ref name=wang/> The kavalactones present are [[kavain]], [[desmethoxyyangonin]], and [[yangonin]], which are higher in the roots than in the stems and leaves, with [[dihydrokavain]], [[methysticin]], and [[dihydromethysticin]] also present.<ref name=wang/>

The mature roots of the kava plant are harvested after a minimum of four years (at least five years, ideally) for peak kavalactone content. Most kava plants produce around {{convert|50|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of root when they are harvested. Kava root is classified into two categories: crown root (or chips) and lateral root. Crown roots are the large-diameter pieces that look like {{convert|1.5|to|5|in|mm}}-diameter wooden poker chips. Most kava plants consist of approximately 80% crown root upon harvesting. Lateral roots are smaller-diameter roots that look more like a typical root. A mature kava plant is about 20% lateral roots. Kava lateral roots have the highest content of kavalactones in the kava plant. "Waka" grade kava is made of lateral roots only.