What is Kava?

The term kava can be confusing. Kava kava, or simply kava, is both a plant and a beverage made from the roots of the kava plant. The latin name for kava is Piper methysticum which means "intoxicating pepper" in English. Kava is grown on islands in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. The largest producer of kava in the world is currently the Republic of Vanuatu but Papua New Guinea is quickly catching up to them.

The kava in Vanuatu is extremely potent when it is mature upon harvest. In Vanuatu, if you ask the natives where you can purchase some kava kava they will look at you funny because they are wondering why you are repeating kava twice. We have not been able to trace the origin of the duplication of the word "kava" on kava products but evidence has pointed to good old American marketing.

The first kava products that were introduced for sale in the American market back in the 1980's were kava pills and extracts. These products were made by phytopharmaceutical companies wishing to bring the peace and inner tranquility that this root imparted to those who consumed it. These businessmen never thought that Americans (or westerners in general) would be willing to drink kava because it is known to have an earthy, pungent, and rather unappealing taste. They captured the essence of the kava properties in pills and extracts for quick and easy dosing and bottled the goods.

Once on the shelf of a retail store some genius, marketing guru must have noticed that the word kava is very small by itself. When a new, unheard of, product is being launched the last thing a marketing person wants is for the name of the product to not be seen. Therefore, it has been suggested that the term kava kava was invented to get these new kava products noticed on the shelves in stores. What makes the most sense about this theory is that when it comes to the marketing of labels they are only good if the consumer can read them. If a consumer replaces a bottle on a shelf the wrong way so that the small print on the back is showing, the product is less likely to be seen. In the case of the kava kava label it can be ascertained that there is a higher probability of the product being seen if the word kava is on the label twice even if it is put back on the shelf sideways.

The kava drink should not be ignored either. This beverage is served as a centerpiece to ceremonial, religious, and social functions. Kava Kava drinking is taken very seriously in some countries where it is traditonally used. On some of the outer islands in Fiji it is neccesary to bring a gift of kava kava root to the local chief. It will also be neccesary to drink kava with the islanders as a token of their friendship. To not drink the kava is very rude and may result in the guest being prohibited from visiting the island.

Kava is known by many names:

• kava kava
• kava-kava
• kava root
• kava-kava root 
  
• kava pepper
• kavapipar
• kawa
• kawa kawa
• kawa pepper
• kawapfeffer
• maori kava
• rhizoma di kava-kava
• ava
• ava pepper
• ava root
• awa?
• gea
• gi
• intoxicating pepper
• kao
• Piper methysticum
• Macropiper Latifolium
• Piper inebrians
• Malohu
• maluk
• meruk
• milik
• kew
• Rauschpfeffer
• sakau
• tonga
• Wurzelstock
• yagona
• yangona
• yaqona
• yongona

On the islands of Vanuatu, kava serves a social function. Traditionally, at a 'nakamal', the house where the men gather, the native tribesmen would meet at sunset to drink kava and discuss the days events. Kava bars, also known as 'nakamals', are popular throughout the islands of Vanuatu and their westerly neighbor New Caledonia. Now a nakamal exists in the United States.

On the island of Fiji, kava serves as a ceremonial function. When Pope John Paul II visited the islands in 1986, he was welcomed with a kava ceremony. Before any formal talks with the Pope began, he was offered the kava beverage as a sign of friendship.

The beverage is made similar to tea by using only the roots of the plant. South Pacific islanders have been drinking kava for over three millennia. The consumption of the beverage may induce a mellow, relaxing feeling.

Within the past century, kava has been used as a basis for anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication. It is also a common herbal supplement in the form of capsules and tinctures, where it is known as kava kava. We think kava kava pills are garbage. In recent research, drinking kava is viewed as safer and more effective. So, why even bother with kava kava pills when science promotes consumption in its traditional manner?

The market for kava products is slowly growing in the United States. Now there are 10 kava bars in existence that we know of. If the market keeps growing, you may find a kava bar in your neighborhood before too long.

More kava information can be found within this website. We recommend that you read all of it.