Kava is a beverage made from the roots of a tropical shrub cultivated throughout the Pacific Islands. It has been prepared and shared for roughly 3,000 years across Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, and goes by many names — kava kava, awa, yaqona, sakau, and others depending on the island.

It is neither intoxicating like alcohol nor stimulating like coffee. Traditionally, it has been used to promote a relaxed, sociable state of mind without clouding mental clarity.

Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Micronesia, and other Pacific Islands. Each growing region produces root with its own character, some more heady and talkative, some more physically relaxing.

Most people describe feeling calm, at ease, and ready to talk. Your body relaxes; your head stays clear. It's the opposite of a drink that makes the room fuzzy.

Earthy, bitter, and a little peppery. We won't oversell it — kava is an acquired taste, and most regulars will tell you they came for how it feels and grew to like the flavor later.

Kava will numb your lips and tongue for a few minutes. That's completely normal and a sign the kavalactones are present. First-timers are often surprised by it, so we like to mention it before you take a sip.

Onset is usually 15–30 minutes. Effects typically last two to three hours, tapering gradually rather than dropping off.

A light stomach generally makes for a better experience while a heavy meal right beforehand can blunt the effects. That said, don't come in on a completely empty stomach either. Something small an hour or two ahead is the sweet spot.

We recommend new guests start with one 12 oz "High Tide" shell of traditional fresh Kava for an authentic experience and give it 20–30 minutes before deciding on another.

Kava isn't like alcohol or cannabis. There's no obvious switch that flips, no impairment you can point to, nothing that announces itself. What most people notice is quieter than that; muscles letting go, shoulders dropping, an easy calm that leaves your head clear. Plenty of our regulars say they focus better on kava, not worse.

Sensitivity varies a lot from person to person, and the same shell can land differently depending on how recently you've eaten, how hydrated you are, which cultivar we're pouring that day, your own body chemistry, and honestly your mood and who you came in with.

If you're not sure you felt it, say so. We'll usually point you toward something with a little more behind it such as a Hard Nak shell, or a few High Tides over the course of your visit. Take your time with it either way; kava rewards a slow evening, not a fast one.

You wouldn't be the first, and it doesn't have to be a dealbreaker. Traditional kava is earthy and bitter by nature, so we keep chasers on hand and most people find the second shell easier than the first.

If the traditional preparation isn't for you, ask about our kava tonics and iced pours. Same root, very different drinking experience, and plenty of our regulars never go back to the shell.

We've been a leading purveyor of high-quality kava for 20 years — long enough that a significant portion of the industry buys from us including many successful kava bar franchises. We source directly from farms across the Pacific, building relationships with growers face to face, and today we grow our own American Kava on farms right here on mainland America.

Everything we produce runs through our FDA-registered cGMP facility. That's not a small thing in this industry: it means documented processes, controlled conditions, and traceability from root to shell.

Two decades in, a fair number of the things you now find at kava bars started here. Fresh frozen kava — harvested, cleaned, and blast-frozen within hours so you can drink green kava thousands of miles from where it grew — was ours. So was Polynesian Gold®, the first commercially available water-soluble CO2 kava concentrate, which we brought to market in 2012 and today is the number one extract used in kava shots and other kava products nationwide.

When we pour you a shell, we can tell you what cultivar it is, where it grew, and what's in it. Most places can't.

Kava cultivars fall into broad categories. Noble varieties are the ones Pacific Island cultures selected and cultivated over thousands of years for daily drinking — balanced, pleasant, and well tolerated. Tudei ("two-day") varieties have a different chemical profile, are more likely to produce nausea and lingering next-day heaviness, and are not traditionally consumed as a daily beverage.

We serve Noble Kava cultivars only, made from lateral roots and basal stumps never stems, no leaves, or aerial parts.

We have been pioneers of lab testing in the kava industry for 20 years! Every lot we serve is tested by HTPLC for identity, HPLC for kavalactone content and cultivar authenticity, and for a barage of pathogens and heavy metals before our kava ever reaches the bar. We know what's in our kava because we are the manufacturers of our products and we certify them through third party FDA registered testing labs — not because a supplier told us "its good kava".

Ask us and we'll tell you exactly what you're drinking and where it came from. You can view our lab tests here.

Concerns about kava and liver health largely stem from a small number of case reports involving European kava extracts in the early 2000s. All of those products differed substantially from traditional root and water kava beverages, including the use of alcohol- or acetone-based extraction methods and, in some cases, plant material other than the root or unidentified plant material altogether.

The Kava we serve is made from Beverage Grade and Noble Cultivars, using root material only and water-based preparation consistent with traditional Pacific use. We thoroughly test our kava for quality and safety through reputable FDA registered analytical labs.

As with any botanical product, responsible use matters. Kava should not be combined with alcohol or other substances that may affect the liver. Anyone with a liver condition, who takes medication, is pregnant or nursing, or has other health concerns should consult a qualified healthcare professional before consuming kava.

Alcohol: no. We don't serve kava to guests who have been drinking, and we'd ask you not to combine the two.

Medication: ask your doctor first. Kava can interact with a range of medications, including anything processed by the liver and anything with sedative effects. If you take any prescription medication or have any medical condition, please consult your physician before drinking kava.

We also don't recommend kava for anyone with a history of substance abuse, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone we believe is intoxicated.

Kava can cause drowsiness and may temporarily impair your ability to drive. We do not recommend driving or operating machinery after drinking kava. Plan your ride the way you would for any relaxing night out.

No. We don't serve kava to anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

Yes. You must be 21 or older to be served kava at our bars, and we card. Everyone is welcome in the space, but the shells are 21+.

Kava is not considered physically addictive and does not produce the dependence or withdrawal associated with alcohol or other substances. As with any habit, moderation is still the right approach.

Kava is not included on standard employment drug panels and is not chemically related to the substances those tests screen for. If your employer uses a specialized or expanded panel, check with them directly.

Yes. Kava is legal to sell and consume in the United States and is regulated as a dietary supplement.

It can happen with very heavy, sustained daily consumption. It's called kava dermopathy, it's well documented in the traditional literature, it isn't dangerous, and it reverses on its own when consumption is reduced. At the amounts that the vast majority of our guests drink, it isn't something you'll encounter.

Plenty of our guests don't drink it at all. We pour specialty espresso and a full range of functional botanical drinks and tonics, so the designated driver, the curious friend, and the person who just wants a good latte all have somewhere to sit.

Our bars are 18+ adult spaces for relaxing and socializing. If you are a parent or guardian and would like to bring your son or daughter to try kava with you, we ask that they be 16+ and you must accompany them the entire duration of your visit.

Ask our friendly staff members or head over to our reference shelf where we have the most up to date peer reviewed information on kava available.