Yesterday I told you kava is a root. Today, let's talk geography.
Kava grows across what's known as the South Pacific "kava belt" — Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea. My dad is from 'Eua, Tonga, and kava's been part of my family long before Kavafied existed.
Every island has its own variety and its own name for it — Yaqona in Fiji, Sakau in Pohnpei, Awa in Hawaii. Same plant family, different roots, different flavors, different traditions.
That's one of the coolest things about kava — it's not one culture's drink. It's dozens of Pacific cultures, all connected by the same root. When you drink kava, you're not just trying a beverage — you're tapping into thousands of years of Pacific Islander history.
Ready to taste it yourself? Shop our lab-tested kava root.