kava

Maru calls for creation of Kava industry

His call comes in the wake of a revelation from two Fijians who recently attended the 14th World Indigenous Business Forum in Port Moresby, where they highlighted the growing demand for kava in the Pacific region, surpassing its supply.

Kava, traditionally consumed as a beverage, has evolved into a source of livelihood for thousands of smallholder farmers and a lucrative business, particularly in the pharmaceutical and social sectors.

Kava craze hits the USA

Kavafied is the brain child of former NFL player Matt Masifilo, who developed a simple and quick way to make kava at the end of his 2014 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

He says people in the USA are catching on to the kava craze and the demand for the Pacific Island beverage is at an all-time high.

“There’s not enough kava right now to meet demand, especially with the phenomenon of the American kava bar scene that’s exploding on to the market right now."

Vanuatu leads push to make narcotic drink kava a worldwide favourite

The kava plant – Piper methysticum – only grows in the south Pacific islands, with each one producing different varieties according to growing conditions, soil and climate, much like the different varieties of tea, coffee or wine.

The sedative brew is made from the roots of the kava plant, a member of the pepper family. As a drink it looks like muddy water and has a bitter aftertaste, but it is popular in the islands for its relaxing, narcotic properties.

Kava drinking club - cool or cultural appropriation?

The multi-cultural group meets up for a drink each week, and is part of a trend that has seen kava go beyond its Pacific roots, but the Kava Society has got some social media users hot under the collar. 

But one of its founding members, Zbigniew Dumieński, said the group didn't pretend to follow any rituals or ceremonies and thinks it would be bad, culturally, if they did. 

He said his initial interest in kava was sparked while he was in the Cook Islands and Niue for research. 

Kava produced from Madang ‘koniak’ is loved in Fiji

This was pointed out recently by sales representative from a kava processing company from Fiji called Niugini Kava whose popular market brand Kava Toks was showcased recently at the Madang Investment Summit.

 The company set up a stall at the Sugeng Aben Park near Madang Resort Hotel where it showcased products made from kava that originated from along the NCR in Madang.

An agent for Niugini Kava had been buying kava roots from smallholder farmers along the NCR and later shipping it overseas for processing and marketing.