WHAT IS KAVA?

We are asked this kava question about 100 times a week at minimum. Kava is many things to many people. First and foremost kava is a plant from the south Pacific. The latin name for kava is Piper methysticum. This literally translates into "intoxicating pepper" in our English language. The scientific name Piper may sound familiar to you, especially if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The Piper plants are in the pepper family. One of the close relatives of the kava plant is the common spice Piper nigrum, or what we would call black pepper at the dinner table.

The word kava is also the name of the intoxicating drink made from the roots of the kava plant. Did we say intoxicating? Well, a more accurate description of the effects of the kava drink would be euphoric. Kava has been consumed by the indigenous people of the south Pacific for thousands of years. Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea are some of the countries where kava is grown and used traditionally. Kava is also consumed in Hawaiii, right here in our back yard. 

Kava is prepared differently in each part of the world. Making kava in Vanuatu for instance involves fresh green kava roots that have not been dried.Kava made in this fashion is often called kava juice.This method is also used in Hawaii sometimes. In Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga dried, powdered kava root is preferred to be used for making the kava drink.The nakamal or kava bar market in Noumea, New Caledonia also uses dried kava powder to make the kava which is served daily.?Here in the United States we are just starting to appreciate the speed and ease with which new, instant kava powder products can be prepared.

We already have an entire website full of kava information?at our online retail store,Nakamal At Home. For more in depth information about any of the highlighted topics above, just click on them and you will be led there.

NOTICE: Statements on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for medical advice.