How To Throw a Kava Party

Bring the Kava Party home to you today. For thousands of years, kava kava drinking has been encouraged because it promotes social cohesion. What better way to celebrate getting along and friendship than sharing kava kava, the South Pacific's drink of friendship.

So what does it take to throw a kava party and be down with the south Pacific krunk? It's not difficult, you just have to get a few items together. First we'll start with the supplies:

KAVA PARTY SUPPLIES

Kava Kava Root (of course)
Tasty beverages - juice, iced tea, hot cocoa, decaffeinated sodas, etc.
Fresh fruit - pineapple slices, strawberries, bananas
Candy - Starbursts, chocolates, carmels, mints
Large bowl and ladle for serving kava
Coconut shells for South Pacific-style drinking

So you've got all this stuff, now what? You need just the right environment. Kava Kava drinking is best enjoyed in dimly lit rooms or the outdoors after dark. Kava also seems to have a more prominent effect when there is little ambient noise. Make it as quiet as possible.

For an outdoor party, conversing with friends and drinking kava kava are best when around a small bonfire or fire pit. You and your guests can sit around the fire, while one serves the kava kava and has it passed around the circle. Invite a friend who is handy with guitar. Relaxing, fun music adds the extra touch to kava kava feel.

For an indoor party, low lights and candles will set the perfect ambiance. Bright or flashing lights are strongly advised against. Soft playing music preferred. Provide board games, cards, or other mulit-player interactive games. At Vanuatu and New Caledonia nakamals, conversation is the choice for entertainment. Talk to your friends, get to know them better and get to know new ones too over a shell of kava kava.

Before you invite your friends over, make sure you're a caring friend. Tell them the kava kava drinking rules before coming over:

Kava Kava can affect your motor skills. A designated driver may be required.
If you are using any prescription medication, especially anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, do not drink kava kava before consulting your physician.
Alcohol and kava kava should never be mixed. A good rule is, "if in the same day, stay away."

Women who are nursing or pregnant should not drink kava kava.
As for drinking kava kava among friends, we prefer not to bear the earthy kava taste alone, so we drink our kava kava with a friend or in a group. At times, drinking kava is a completely group function. Everyone patiently waits till everyone is served their shell of kava kava. When the kava is being served, kava kava drinkers will prepare their choice mouth-wash treat, such as unwrapping a Starburst (or two or three), or getting some fresh fruit or juice. When everyone has been served, it is the honor of the server or host to make a toast or designate someone to say a toast. Instead of saying, "Cheers," you can say "Bula," which is a Fijian word for good life or health.

The kava kava bowl should always be thoroughly stirred before serving. A typical shell of kava is half a cup or 4 ounces. Kava kava consumption should always be done in increments. An experienced kava drinker would drink a shell and wait at least 15 to 20 minutes before deciding to drink another.

The bottom of the kava kava bowl is always the best part of the kava bowl. So at the end of the kava bowl, the last shell of kava kava is always reserved for the host or the host's honored guest.

We hope that this is a helpful guide to throwing a successful kava party.

Bula!