A Vanuatu myth tells the story of a young man, after the untimely death of his sister, who sees strange plant growing from her grave. After seeing a rat gnaw the plant stock and die, the man, in his grief, decides to eat the plant himself hoping for the same result. He is instead contented and forgets his sadness.
A Samoan myth relays the story of the god, Tagaloa, who brings a kava plant to earth on one of his journeys in order to make a kava beverage. After the kava has been prepared using only the roots a mortal man gathers what was left over and replants them. It is said that thereafter “man enjoyed the god-like drink.”
There are many fables from across the South Pacific from Papua New Guinea to Hawaii that tell origination stories of the sacred plant known scientifically as piper methysticum, or intoxicating pepper. Research shows that people in Vanuatu began using kava ceremonially, socially, and medicinally over 3,000 years ago before slowly spreading its use throughout Oceania. With the introduction of alcohol and Christianity to many of these island nations kava use ceased but in places like Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga, among others, kava drinking is still prevalent and is often consumed as an alternative to alcohol.
The reason for kava’s popularity lies in its active ingredients; a series of lactones particular to the kava plant called kavalactones. These compounds generally provide a mild euphoria, a mental calmness, and a physical relaxation. Kava users often have a hard time comparing the feeling to other intoxicants because kava use, even in large quantities does not cause a loss of mental cognition similar to that of alcohol, marijuana, or other narcotics.
The mentally soothing and muscularly relaxing effects of kava lend themselves well to the treatment of ailments suffered by people the world over such as anxiety and general aches and pains. These same effects combined with the mild euphoria associated with the plant tend to make kava a possible alternative to alcohol. In the last decade many herbal remedy companies have westernized kava use by making concentrated pills and tinctures for use in Europe and the U.S.
As popular and potentially healthy as the pills and tinctures are, some people believe that the use of kava in such forms isn’t in keeping with the sacredness of the plant, root, and drink as it was originally used. Traditional preparation involves mixing ground kava root with water and squeezing the liquid from the fiber to create a murky, earthy tasting drink. Such drinking has traditionally been a social event where anything to be discussed was done so over a few coconut shells full of the drink.
In the U.S. kava bars have been sprouting up from Oregon to Florida spreading traditional kava use far from where the plant grows naturally. Jason Bohanan a regular at an Oregon kava bar says he enjoys kava for its relaxing properties and because it is a way to socially drink without the use of alcohol which causes unwanted side effects.
Although kava bars have gained popularity in the U.S. as of late, most people still aren’t close enough to one to enjoy it. These kava drinkers have turned to the option to buy kava online for home preparation. More and more online vendors arrive on the scene regularly, but as with every product that gains popularity there is the possibility that some vendors will sell inferior kava. One owner of a leading online kava store, says that kava purchased anywhere should have been allowed to grow for at least five years, be grown organically, dried, cleaned, and stored in proper conditions, and have been harvested at the very maximum 6 months before it is sold.
Whether you enjoy kava at a local kava bar or buy it online to enjoy with friends and family at home, kava’s introduction to the U.S. markets makes many people happy that they are now able to enjoy this “god-like” drink far from the south pacific.