March 10, 2011

Sometimes we just need something to help us unwind and help us relax. So for over 9 years, Nakava has brought something special to the small town of Boca Raton, Florida; kava.

However, most people in the Boca Raton area are not even aware of what kava is! In fact, most people in the United States still don't know what kava is either. Mainly because kava was brought over from another island and introduced to the United States MUCH later than alcohol. Alcohol, being our #1 source of mind altering beverage here in the U.S., has been consumed for thousands of years; but so has kava!

Why is it until now that kava is just being recognized? Again, kava is a drink made from the root of a plant from the South Pacific Islands. Islands such as Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga are all very well known for their kava, and they drink kava like we drink alcohol or coffee! We don't realize it, but everyday we consume beverages with properties that can be considered "mind altering," such as alcohol and caffeine. These beverages were introduced to us before we can remember. Some people have never even heard of kava in Boca Raton, yet they don't realize it's about the same as wanting to take a quick  "power shot" at Starbucks, only the opposite effects: RELAXATION.

It's all a matter of what we were introduced to, at what point in our life, and the reasoning why we were introduced to it. Most people eventually find out about kava by word of mouth, googling what kava is, then those that are left REALLY curious about what kava is come venture out to our one of a kind kava bar, Nakava. Once they do, here is the catch- kava doesn't taste very good. AND it has a reverse tolerance. BUT, wouldn't people want to drink something that the more you drink, the more you feel the effects and don't build a tolerance to it?! As opposed to alcohol, where you drink and drink and drink, and the more you drink your body does eventually build a tolerance and then we have an alcohol problem.Maybe it's kava's peppery-dirt watery taste that makes it difficult for people to build a tolerance or want to drink excessive amounts of. The relaxing effects can't be disputed though.

People have been drinking kava for thousands of years, as s social norm. Some drink to build soicializing environments, to build relationships, and like many modern U.S. religions today, kava is used during ceremonies (much like wine in Catholic mass.)

Nakava, North America's first real kava bar, introduced a foreign beverage to one of the most prestigious cities in the United States. Wanting to deliver a safe alternative to alcohol, Nakava has brought together a vast variety of cultures and people in one small location. Some say it's one big island in the city, others just use it as their everyday cafe.

 Whatever the reason someone decides to drink or try kava, it's one more person to spread the "kava word." While some people don't like coffee, or tea, or alcohol, or any beverage for that matter, kava may not be for everyone either. But once those that are curious enough to try it, and like it, they'll tell you that it's definitely a good alternative to alcohol.