A Brief Introduction To Kava...

When Patrick and I came home one evening, our landlords presented us with a light grey liquid in a shallow bowl. 'Kava', they explained as they handed it over, 'the national drink of Fiji'. So we both took a sip; first came what can only be described as a bitter tastelessness (though I know that doesn't make sense!), then a bizarre tongue-numbing sensation.

   We'd had no idea what 'kava' was when we'd been given this taster, but soon began to see the name everywhere! Surprisingly, considering its ‘acquired’ taste, it is NOT alcoholic. It is in fact from the root of the piper methstyicum plant, part of the pepper family. Here is how the website KavaRoot describes it:

“A soothing drink with proven medicinal effects, kava is now available to anyone seeking to calm nerves or ease stress as well as anxiety while combating fatigue the natural way. Its special anti-depressant components fight the "blues" and bring on a happy, tranquil state. Kava is amazing for treating ailments like migraine headaches and cramps but best of all, it keeps the mind alert as the body relaxes. This traditional drink still plays a key role in Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan societies where it is drunk in ceremonies meant to honour visitors, unite participants and validate their social identities.”

That's the effects in a nutshell...but the really interesting part of kava- also known as 'grog'- is the way it is prepared. First of all, you find the nearest grog shop; this could be anything from the top floor above the fruit market to a little shed in the middle of nowhere that says 'Grog Shop: Open 24 Hours'. I cannot speak for the latter yet- will keep you posted when I visit one of these little shops- but if you visit the bigger 'grog' market, you will find dozens of stalls that look like trees are growing out of them. These are the 'roots' from which kava originates.

Just next to these will be lots of little paper bags with 'kava' scrawled across them; the powdered form of the roots. According to this link, pounding one's own kava root is the preferred method for Fijian village dwellers. Traditionally, the kava root is a gift given to a village chief in order to enter his village; giving powdered kava is considered as cheap and impolite. I asked one stall-holder how we'd turn this kava 'powder' into the mouth-numbing drink...he said to 'place the powder into a cloth, dip it into 2 litres of water, then wring it'. Never had such an interactive drink before...can't wait to try it! We'll let you know how our first attempts go...

This was more than a drink; it’s a source of national pride. In the words of Tom Harrison in Savage Civilisation (source shamelessly borrowed from KavaRoot.com once again):

"Your head is affected most pleasantly. Thoughts come cleanly.
You feel friendly...never cross...You cannot hate with kava in you."