Kava is the traditional national drink of Fiji. It is a mildly narcotic and sedative drink made from the crushed root of the yaqona (pronounced yang-GO-na) strained with water. It is served in a large communal bowl as part of the traditional kava ceremony. Kava is the gift you bring to enter a village. A gift of Kava root is given to the Chief as an offering. When we went to the village and spoke with the Chief, we brought an offering of Kava.
Kava is used to bring people together. It is part of Fijian life and accompanies any important occasion, from the welcoming of visitors to blessing new homes to settling arguments. Yaqona is more common than alcohol in Fiji because it is consumed in a different way.
Before drinking, Fijians clap three times, say, Bula which means life, or to live, and is also used as a greeting and salutation. After drinking the entire shell, kava drinkers clap twice more. Clapping is believed to scare off any evil spirits.
The Chef of the ship mixed up a large bowl of the stuff surrounded by the crew. When it was time, I was honored to be selected to be the first one to drink (because of the previous Ratu designation). Before the Chef dipped out a cup for me he asked me, “high-tide or low-tide? Of course I said “high-tide” not knowing what he meant. Then I found out. It was a full cup of Kava. Interesting taste, earthy, rooty, with a top note of asparagus (joke). I drank it down, clapped three times said Bula and the Chef asked if I wanted another and of course I said yes. I drank the second cup as other people got in line behind me. I moved aside next to Janine as my mouth went numb and I chilled out. Not all of the tourists onboard sampled the drink. When all were finished, the crew broke out guitars and sat in a circle singing traditional Fijian songs. It wasn’t for our benefit, it was what they do at the end of the day.
I brought a bag of Kava home with us. We clap three times every night.
