KIVA HEALTH FOOD
COMPANY INFO
Kiva Health Food is based in Honolulu, Hawaii, and specializes in natural food products, including health supplements, spices, and honey. The brand is known for offering innovative, globally sourced products that are both flavorful and health-focused. While black seed oil is part of their product range, it is not a primary focus — their main product category appears to be honey.
● On March 20, 2025, we reached out to Kiva via email requesting detailed product information and any available laboratory analyses for their black seed oil. No response was received, and all information included in this report was obtained through independent research using publicly accessible online sources.
It’s important to note that only three companies responded to our inquiries: Piping Rock, Bionatal, and Prime Natural.
PACKING AND SAFETY SEAL
Kiva’s black seed oil is packaged in a standard amber glass bottle with a plastic cap, a format commonly used by many U.S. black seed oil brands. The bottle is secured with a transparent shrink wrap, and there is a basic plastic liner inside the cap, but no foil seal on the neck.
● The sealing is not sufficient to fully prevent leakage, especially during high-temperature conditions, when black seed oil can expand by up to 20% during transport.
SEEDS ORIGIN
Both the product label and the official website state that this black seed oil is a product of Turkey, made from Turkish-grown Nigella sativa seeds.
OIL DISCRIPTION
The oil has a light yellow, cloudy appearance, with a pleasant herbal aroma and a mild level of bitterness.
Based on our assessment, the oil is identical in color, aroma, and taste to several other Turkish-origin oils, including Zhou Nutrition, Piping Rock, Prime Natural, Sweet Sunnah Premium, Maju, and Amazing Herbs Premium. However, there is a noticeable difference in bitterness compared to Freshfield, Healths Harmony, Rawya, and Rawya Extra Strong.
Some of our testers noted that this oil has a delayed or milder bitterness compared to other brands with similar profiles. A similar sensory pattern was observed with Prime Natural and Maju oils. This variation in bitterness is likely due to differences in farm elevation and regional climates within Turkey—where the cooler Black Sea coast and warmer Mediterranean coast can significantly impact seed characteristics.
● An interesting observation: Prime Natural, another Turkish black seed oil with similar lower bitterness, features the exact same thymoquinone claim on its label — “Over 1.5%” — as this oil. Both brands are also USDA Organic certified. This consistency suggests that they may be sourcing their oil from the same importer, who likely provided lab analysis and USDA certification and TQ results to both companies.
THYMOQUINONE (TQ)
The label states that this oil contains “Over 1.5%” thymoquinone, which is consistent with levels commonly associated with Turkish black seed oils. Although none of the following brands have publicly released certified lab reports, their claimed TQ levels align with this range:
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Maju, Rawya, Rawya Extra Strong – Minimum 2%
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Sweet Sunnah Premium – 1.71%
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Freshfield – 1.64%
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Prime Natural – Over 1.5%
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Amazing Herbs Premium – Minimum 1.2%
● It’s important to note that, as confirmed by experienced farmers, TQ content can vary even among seeds from the same country. This variation is influenced by multiple factors, including farm elevation and climate conditions. In Turkey—a country with diverse mountainous terrain—farms can be located at widely varying altitudes. Additionally, climatic differences between the cooler Black Sea coast and the warmer Mediterranean coast also play a role in determining seed potency and TQ concentration.
TABLE OF ANALYSIS
Extraction oil videos & photos
NO
Acids pH level analyses
NO
Nigellon level
NO
Non-filtered oil with seeds
NO
Thymoquinone level
YES
Volatile Oils level
NO
Cold press method analyses
NO
Thymohydroquinone level
NO
Heavy Metals level analyses
NO
Thymol level
NO
Industry Clarifications:
(The following industry points are worth noting)
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"Unrefined" ≠ Non-Filtered: Even unrefined oils are typically filtered and don’t contain seed particles.
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"Cold Press" misuse on the label: The term is widely used without proof. True cold pressing should be validated by testing for compounds like Benzo(a)pyrene and related PAHs.
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"Organic" ≠ Pesticide-Free: USDA standards still allow natural pesticides (§§ 205.601 - 205.602). No Nigella sativa seeds are entirely free from them.
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"Non-GMO" claims are unnecessary: Nigella sativa is not genetically modified, and global demand doesn’t justify GMO cultivation.
FINAL RANKING #5-B
Positions #1 and #2 in our ranking are confidently held by the world’s strongest black seed oils—both extracted from Ethiopian Nigella sativa seeds.
Position #3 (sub-positions A through D) is occupied by Turkish black seed oils that show a slightly higher level of bitterness than other Turkish-sourced brands, earning them a modest edge in the rankings.
Position #4 (sub-positions A through E) includes Turkish black seed oils with medium bitterness and no significant differences, even after thorough testing.
Position #5 is designated for the remaining Turkish black seed oils, all of which exhibit a lighter level of bitterness with no noticeable distinctions upon deeper analysis.
Within this group of lighter oils, there is no clear leader in terms of quality or potency. However, we awarded sub-position “A” to Prime Natural, as it was the only brand in this category that responded to our inquiry — demonstrating a minimum level of engagement. Kiva receives sub-position “B” due to its neutral standing. The brand provided neither negative nor standout positive attributes that would influence a higher or lower placement.
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