The Story and History of Kava | Kalm with Kava

The Bilo Story: Coconut Cups for Kava

Jason Strand — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 22:49:50 +0000

An iconic image of relaxation is sinking into a lounge chair on a beach with a coconut shell cup in one hand, sipping on a delicious beverage as you gaze at the sunset. Sounds like paradise, right? Well, while we can’t deliver an ocean view to your doorstep, we can offer you vessels for relaxation: coconut cups, or, as they’re known in the Pacific Islands, bilos. Let’s dig into the details of these amazing drinking vessels—bula! What is a Bilo? A bilo is half a coconut shell hollowed out, smoothed, and carved to form a cup. Authentic bilos are handmade and range in size and style depending on their island of origin. Many bilos are left unadorned, but some feature intricate designs that highlight the culture they come from. Most coconut cups hold about 4-6 oz of liquid per shell making them the perfect vessels for serving kava. The common styles of coconut cups found in Vanuatu and Fiji are called bilos, but they go by other names depending on the region. In Hawaii, a coconut cup is called an apu, and awa, or kava, is served in an apu. History: Coconut Cups for Kava Serving kava in a coconut […]

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Borogu: The Popular Kava of Vanuatu and Beyond

Jason Strand — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 15:33:34 +0000

We love that no two kava varieties are alike, even if they are from the same island! Every kava brings its unique kalm to the table, and we want to showcase one of the most popular kavas on the market: Borogu. Borogu kava, grown on the archipelago Vanuatu, is often considered the “OG” or original kava! It’s widely served in kava bars across the Pacific Islands and, now, in the United States. Its special, relaxing qualities make it a top choice for people who want to buy kava online and enjoy some calm in the comfort of their home and on the go. What makes this Vanuatu kava so special? Let’s explore! Borogu in Vanuatu In many of the locally used Melanesian languages, Vanuatu, which means “Our Land Forever,” is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises 83 small islands, and only 65 of those islands are inhabited. This archipelago is geographically diverse, ranging from rugged mountains to coastal terrain to active volcanoes. Best of all, Vanuatu is the ancestral home of Pacific Island kava! This rich landscape lends to the uniqueness of kava it produces, as there are over 80 varieties of kava (Piper methysticum) across Vanuatu. At […]

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Pacific Island Kava: the Difference Between the Islands and Their Kavas

Jason Strand — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:21:29 +0000

Pacific Island kava has been around for centuries. With deep, traditional roots, kava has been at the heart of Pacific Island culture for generations. Kava is a unique plant that comes in many varieties throughout the Melanasian and Polynesian islands. Kava growth, the flavor, and the style of drink vary depending on the climate and growing conditions of each island. Even with the variation, one thing is consistent across the islands: how much island inhabitants cherish kava. Let’s take a look at the different island nations and the kavas they produce. Tongan Kava Tonga Quick Facts: Tonga is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Called the Friendly Islands, Tonga is an archipelago consisting of some 170 islands. People inhabit only 36 of them. Volcanic undersea mountains form the two chains of the Tongan islands. Several of the islands are still active volcanoes, which makes their soil rich and unique. About Tongan Kava: The unique, volcanic soil of Tonga creates a smooth, easy-tasting kava. What’s more, all kava varieties cultivated in Tonga are Noble kava varieties. These kavas are known for being uplifting and suitable for daytime drinking. For example, our Pouni Ono Kava is a wonderful, social […]

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The Kava Community in the US and Beyond: What Makes Kava Special

Jason Strand — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:45:27 +0000

Kava is truly special and unlike other natural products. One of the biggest ways kava shines is in the way that it brings people together. Drinking kava has traditionally been a ceremonial and highly social activity in the Pacific Islands. Now the community aspect of kava is catching fire in the US and beyond. We want to take a minute to talk about the growing kava community and how to immerse yourself in this beautiful, unique culture. Grab a shell (or bilo) and join us! What is the Kava Community Like in the Pacific Islands and the US? Pacific Islands Kava culture in the Pacific Islands is a rich blend of slowing down, bringing people together, and relaxing. In the Pacific Islands, drinking kava has deep, traditional roots. Kava has been a core part of ceremonies since ancient times, and though the ceremonies themselves may vary between the islands, the community is always right at the heart. The installation of a new Chief, agreements between communities, or the welcoming of visitors will all include a kava ceremony. Kava culture goes far beyond ceremony in the Pacific Islands as kava is also used medicinally, for conflict resolution, and every day for […]

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The History of Kava in the US

Emily Gunderson — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:36:16 +0000

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Piper Methysticum, or Kava’s Name and History

Jason Strand — Wed, 12 May 2021 04:43:20 +0000

Yaqona, ‘awa, ava, sakau, malogu are just a few of the names that island nations call what we know as, “Kava.” Kava however, is the Tongan word for the scientific name of the plant, “Piper Methysticum.” Piper is the genus name of the Pepper family, with kava being one of many within the genus. Often confused with other members of the Piper family, other notable Piper plants include: Piper Auritum: Often called the Mexican Pepperleaf or, “Hoja Santa” which means Sacred Leaf in Spanish. Piper Wichmanii: Wild Kava, a plant that looks similar, but is not Piper Methysticum. Piper Nigrum: Black peppercorn, used in cooking around the world. Piper Betle: The Betel pepper, who’s leaves are often chewed by southeast Asians. The Piper species has been used by humans for millennia, primarily growing in tropical forests around the world. Similar to kava, these other Piper plants like warm, humid climates. Many of them have a leaf pattern that is similar to one another. While these plants look similar, they are far from the same! Hoja Santa, or Piper Auritum leaves, have been used for many years in Mexican cuisine as a way to give complexity to dishes through notes of […]

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Kava Time: 10 Fun Facts About Kava

Kalm with Kava — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:19:49 +0000

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Kava Varieties and Origins

Jane Kava — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 06:20:25 +0000

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Farm to cup – A detailed look into sourcing Kava

Kalm with Kava — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:45:24 +0000

Background: When I started drinking kava 16 years ago, the availability was very limited in the US, and I was often confused by the fact that buying the same exact product would produce different effects from one order to another. I loved the kava when it was good and I was convinced there had to be factors influencing kava quality that I didn’t yet understand, which could help me get those good effects each time. I was determined to learn as much as I could which eventually led me to go straight to the source, my first trip to Fiji in 2011. As soon as I hit the ground and started asking around, I realized this was going to be more complicated than initially imagined. Kava was widely known across the South Pacific Islands and it seemed everyone I asked about kava had a friend or cousin growing it. Even the taxi driver who picked me up from the airport had kava plants growing, and they all had the same response: “It’s the best kava available”. It turned out many of these people had a small kava patch in their backyard or 5-10 plants among other crops they grew. I […]

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Local botanists’ discovery of pepper plant Kava Kava

Kalm with Kava — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:09:48 +0000

Piper Auritum News, Lafayette, Louisiana, 4.1.2017 – Two local botanists have discovered the plant Piper Methysticum, better known as kava kava growing in the Louisiana swamplands. The researchers, surprised by the discovery of kava plants, have yet to fully identify the cultivars and to establish just how the plant came to be growing in this southern state, but are planning to investigate further. One theory is that the plants may have originated in French Polynesia and have been brought to the state by French explorers via Europe. French Polynesia is comprised of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 1,200 miles in the South Pacific Ocean. It is divided into five island groups one of which is the Marquesas Islands. And they are home to 21 different cultivars of Kava. And Louisiana was a kingdom of France from 1682 to 1763— hence the speculation about a French connection. What is certain is that the plants were transported to Louisiana from elsewhere. Kava is a non-invasive species and is not propagated by seeds, which means that whole plants must have made the journey to the state. The kava plant favors sunny, humid conditions and year-round […]

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