In the cannabis capital, Kiva rules the edible market with their gourmet chocolate, micro-dose mints, and newly released infused gummies. California based Kiva Confections was launched by Scott Palmer and Kristi Knoblich in 2010. Back then, there weren’t too many regulations in California’s medical cannabis industry. It was still very much the wild west and very much illegal under federal law. However, that didn’t stop Kiva’s rise to popularity.
Transforming Edible Cannabis
At this time, the industry was shaking its stoner persona and your average edible was a brownie or a cookie, wrapped in janky packaging with a homemade label. Kiva transformed the edible cannabis market with modern packaging, high-quality ingredients, and reliably consistent dosing.
Their mission to “develop innovative ways for people to consume cannabis which nurture, enhance, and improve lives” has continued into California’s legal adult use market, as well as operating in AZ, NV, IL, and HI. But here I’m only going focus on their California products because those are the edibles I know and love.
Chocolate Covered Blueberries
My first experience with Kiva Confections was with their Terra Bites. The Terra Bites come in a cute little tin as chocolate covered blueberries, or my absolute favorite, chocolate covered espresso beans. If you like the taste of chocolate and coffee as much as I do, watch out! You’ll eat a whole tin full before you know it.
Each expresso bean is 5 milligrams of THC, that can add up a little too fast. On the contrary, this makes them perfect to micro-dose. A cannabis edible micro-dose is typically 5 mg of THC or less. Great for a beginner, but also a delicious treat for someone looking for a stronger effect.
Cannabis Chocolate Bars
Arizona specific chocolate barsKiva also has a variety of cannabis chocolate bars. In California, Kiva is almost synonymous with a chocolate bar. They have a range of flavors from the traditional milk and dark chocolate to Irish Mint Cream and Vanilla Chai. Being delicious and high in THC, these chocolate bars also come with CBD options which the Terra Bites do not. The dosing is straightforward as the bar is divided into ten pieces and is typically a total of 100 mg of THC and/or CBD.
CBD Gummies
Kiva is now expanding its CBD offerings with their new product, Camino Gummies. The Caminos have a variety of fruit flavors and are easily dosed in 5 mg portions of either THC or CBD. I always prefer to let them dissolve in my mouth for a faster sublingual activation and to savor the flavor. Who doesn’t love gummies, right?
THC Mints
Kiva’s last product is also easy to absorb sublingually. Their Petra Mints come in two tasty flavors, Moroccan Mint and Eucalyptus. They provide the perfect micro-dose and freshen your breath. That’s a win-win. These mints are all dosed at 2.5 mg of THC. The only downside is that there is no CBD option. Nevertheless, the flavor is great and the potency is on point. Great for a beginner or an aficionado that always wants fresh breath.
Socially Responsible Cannabis Business
Kiva’s dedication and mission truly go beyond confections and encompass every aspect of their business. Kiva’s home base in Oakland, CA. A city with a rich history that is being squeezed of its culture by the increasing gentrification from the latest tech boom. Kiva has made it a point to hire locally, with an emphasis on communities facing higher rates of unemployment.
They are socially responsible leaders in the city’s equity program which lends aid to people desiring to start a cannabis business but have been negatively impacted by the war on drugs. As their products expand and the geographical reach grows, their positive social impact will hopefully spread like a weed to more communities.
