A Pacific tradition
Kava has been prepared from the root of Piper methysticum across the Pacific islands for centuries. It's part of welcome ceremonies, weddings, funerals and ordinary evenings, and it carries a different name almost everywhere it's drunk.
- Fiji: yaqona, or simply "grog." Served from a wooden bowl called a tanoa into a half coconut shell, with a clap before and after, and a "bula!"
- Vanuatu: drunk at the nakamal, a village meeting place, often at dusk. Vanuatu is known for strong kava and strict rules about which varieties can be exported.
- Tonga and Samoa: kava ('ava) is central to formal ceremonies that mark rank and welcome guests.
- Hawaii: known as 'awa, with its own long tradition.
The ritual
Traditionally the root is pounded or ground, mixed with water, and strained through cloth. It's passed around in a shared shell, and everyone drinks in turn. The point has always been the gathering as much as the drink.
Kava comes to America
Kava bars started opening in Florida and have spread across the country. They look like coffee shops or neighborhood bars, but everything on the menu is alcohol-free. For a lot of people, they've become the third place a bar used to be.
And then, the can
Canned kava takes the ritual home. Botanical Brewing brews sparkling, fruit-forward kava for the end of the day, when you can't make it to the kava bar.
Who should skip kava
- Kava drinks are for adults 21+. Skip them if you're under 21.
- Skip kava if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Skip kava if you have a liver condition or drink heavily. Kava has been linked to rare cases of serious liver injury.
- Skip it if you take antidepressants (including SSRIs), sedatives, sleep aids or medications that affect the liver, unless your doctor says it's OK.
- Rules on kava vary by place. Check your local rules before you buy.
- One can or shell is one serving. Don't mix kava with alcohol, and don't drive after drinking it.
These are general cautions, not medical advice. If you're unsure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions people ask
Where does kava come from?
The South Pacific islands, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii.
What do you say when drinking kava?
In Fiji, people say 'bula' and clap before and after drinking from the shell.
What is a kava bar?
A bar or lounge that serves kava and other alcohol-free drinks.
