Wicker light fixtures and the smell of incense fill Kanoa Kava, one of four kava bars in Austin, Texas. The strumming of guitars echoes in the room as patrons sip the pale, earthy drink out of coconut shells to relax.
Kava is a traditional Polynesian tea brewed from the kava plant’s root, scientifically known as “piper methysticum.” The drink can be consumed on its own or mixed into various cocktails. Kanoa Kava offers kombucha cocktails, coconut kava and many others.
According to the National Library of Medicine, some South Pacific cultures have been brewing kava since at least 525 A.D. Kava has many names in the Polynesian islands, including “awa” in Hawaii, “ava” in Samoa and “wati” in New Guinea.
Ben Cohn, owner of Kanoa Kava, is from Hawaii and tried kava for the first time when he was 13 years old on an intense kayak trip to a remote island with his dad and some friends.
“Some of us got picked up by some shore break waves and smashed on the rocks,” Cohn said. “We were all kind of (shaken) up, and one of the men went and found a kava plant that was growing in the valley and harvested it and gave us roots to chew on. It’s very numbing. It’s like a novocaine sensation, and that relaxed all of us.”
According to the DEA, the drink contains kavalactones, which are found in the root of the kava plant and have a psychoactive effect that causes relaxation and a desire to socialize without causing a hangover or the “munchies,” a term that refers to food cravings after cannabis use.
“You can still think clearly, communicate clearly and it doesn’t encourage bad behaviors or bad decisions,” Cohn said. “It’s conducive to conscious conversations and more like dropping you into your authentic sense of self.”
Because of these positive effects, kava continues to grow in popularity. According to Fortune Business Insight, the global kava root extract market is predicted to grow from $1.61 billion in 2024 to $5.45 billion by 2032.
Part of kava’s appeal comes from shifting drinking habits. Alcohol is becoming increasingly unpopular, especially among Generation Z. In 2023, Nielsen reported that 45% of Gen Z above the legal drinking age have never consumed alcohol, which is about 12% higher than previous generations. Additionally, there are no age restrictions on the tea, making it more accessible to a younger audience, according to Riverstone Health.
Kava is an unregulated substance that is generally not considered addictive, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
“ Like (with) anything else, you can get mentally addicted,” Cohn said. “You can get addicted to sex and get addicted to television … so kava can have that sort of (addictiveness) to it, but in general, it’s people in recovery from drugs and alcohol who use kava because it’s a safe substance.”
Although kava is not addictive, Cohn noted that many kava bars also sell kratom, a highly addictive substance. Kratom is a tropical tree, and products like pills and powders are produced from the tree leaves, according to the FDA. However, he clarified that his bar does not offer kratom.
“Kratom and kava, unfortunately, have been put together,” Cohn said. “A lot of kava bars in Florida started (selling them together) and it became this trend where people were mixing the two things. Kava has now been associated with kratom.”
In proper amounts, kava can cause happiness, relaxation and numbness of the mouth and throat. However, if taken in large amounts, one may experience drowsiness, nausea, loss of muscle control and a mild fever, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
In order to prevent adverse side effects, the preparation of kava is crucial. Cohn said drinking properly sourced and strained kava is the safest option.
“In Hawaii, we call (poorly sourced kava) ‘dirty kava.’ (Other bars in Austin) don’t strain their kava, so theirs is just thick (and) chunky,” Cohn said. “The kava fiber from the root is in there and the drink is not smooth. It should never be like that. It makes you feel nauseous.”
While kava offers a unique way to relax and socialize, responsible consumption and personal research remain essential. Compared to alcohol, kava may be the better alternative, but research is still early and drinking responsibly is vital.
“Kava is increasingly more popular … it’s just a pleasant substance, and it’s a good way to socialize and connect with people,” Cohn said. “I think eventually kava bars will be just as popular as alcohol bars, if not more.”
