How to Drink Kava In Vanuatu (A Tourist Guide!)
Trying Kava is a fantastic way to experience Vanuatu culture on a deeper level.
The drink itself is an *acquired taste* (It’s horrendously bitter and vegetally) but induces calm, relaxing, and euphoric sensations.
Kava is such a big part of Vanuatu’s culture you really must try it while visiting but can be a little intimidating if you don’t know the etiquette.
Here’s everything I learnt about how to drink kava in Vanuatu as a tourist.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is Kava
Kava is the national drink of Vanuatu. It’s made from the ground root of the kava plant (piper methysticum) and is often consumed in ceremonies, social gatherings, and for simple relaxation after a hard day’s work.
It’s important to note kava isn’t alcoholic! It may be drunk like its beer, but it’s a natural psychotropic that is very different from alcohol.
The active ingredients in kava are called kavalactones. They’re responsible for the relaxing and anxiety-reducing effects. Unlike alcohol, kava doesn’t impair your thinking but not a lot of research as been done on the compound and it can be hard to tell fact from fable.
How Kava is Made
In the past, the root of the kava plant was chewed, releasing its active compounds. You might find this method practiced in some remote villages but is unlikely to be what you encounter as a tourist.
Modern nakamals, like the one I visited, use either pre-ground dried kava root, or grind the fresh root themselves, which is thoroughly mixed with water in a large bowl. This mixture is then strained to produce the earthy-looking, slightly muddy beverage, with a bitter and earthy taste.
Having spent time in both Vanuatu and Fiji, i noticed that Fijian kava tended to be made from the dried powder, and Vanuatus kava moreso from fresh root. This may be why the Vanuatu kava was MUCH more potent!
Where To Find Kava?
You’ve got a few options to get some Kava;
- From a roadside stall – Many locals make Kava at home and sell it outside their homes. This is the cheapest way to buy Kava but as a tourist you don’t really know who’s good, how strong it is, and if it particularly sanitary.
- From a Nakamal – These local kava bars are social joints where people meet, socialise, and enjoy some light food while drinking their Kava.
- At a Kava ceremony – If you go on some of the tourist experiences, or get lucky enough to spend time in a local village, you may be invited to a kava ceremony. This is a really cool experience and a great way to understand the cultural significance of the drink.
My Reccomonedation: The best placed to try kava is at a kava bar, a.k.a, a nakamal. Nakamals come in various forms, from simple open-air structures to enclosed buildings, but they’re easy to spot.
Look for the telltale red or green lights glowing outside, indicating a place where kava is served. Don’t hesitate to ask locals for directions–they’ll be happy to point you to the nearest bar.
Besides, offering directions is a sign of the welcoming Vanuatu spirit.
Tip: Everyone has a favorite Nakamal, and each owner pride themselves on making the best, strongest, or cleanest Kava in town. Talk to a couple of locals to find their recommended spot to visit!
Nakamal Recomendation: Bultahi Kava Bar (For The Local Kava Experience)
Bultahi is one of the many nakamals where you can get a good kava experience right in the heart of Port Vila town (about a 10 minute walk from the city centre) . It’s newly built and attracts a lot of locals and tourists alike. The bar has a couple of windows leased to different vendors from various parts of Vanuatu.
A shell cost around 300 vatu ($2) when I was there.
Highlights
How to Drink Kava (Well, At Least How I Was Shown..)
1,How To Order Your Kava
Kava is served in ‘shells’ and ordered in scoops.
Traditionally, a shell is half a coconut shell, but now it’s more common for these to be small red plastic bowls of the same size.
A scoop is a ladle full, approximately 50ml.
A shell holds 2-3 scoops, or 100-150ml of Kava.
As soon as you ente the nakamal, head up to one of the vendors (inside a little shack the size of a garden shed). This is where you’ll also order the number of shells you’d like (one or two to start for newcomers). Sometimes you’ll be asked about your preference–weak, medium, or strong.
Being a kava novice, I started with the weakest option; just 2 scoops – to gauge my tolerance before I went back for seconds.
(Full disclosure: my first time at a Nakamal I was so repulsed by the taste I barely finished my first round. Tips on getting through it later on..)
2. How to Drink Kava
For the most pronounced effects, it’s ideal to drink kava on an empty stomach. This allows the active ingredients to kick in. Great for 5pm after work!
Aim to have your kava session at least 3-4 hours after your last meal.
Now you’re ready to take your first sip!
- Receiving Your Kava: When your shell is offered, accept it with both hands. It’s also nice to call out “!” as a gesture of appreciation.
- Paying respects: Its traditional to stand up when drinking kava. Turn to face the sun, and bow three times. Pour a little on the ground to pay respect to those left behind.
- Drinking Up: Traditionally, kava is downed in one gulp. As a newcomer, it’s completely fine to sip your beverage rather than downing it all at once. I recommend you have some water or fruit handy to chase the earthy kava flavor. Spitting after drinking is a traditional practice, but tourists are not expected to adhere to this strictly. Just do as feels comfortable for you.
- Returning the Shell: Once you’ve finished, return your empty shell to the host with a smile and a thank you as a way of acknowledging the hospitality you’ve been shown.
What to Expect When Drinking Kava
Kava takes some time to take effect (around 20-30 minutes). You’ll first notice a numbing sensation around your mouth and tongue.
Depending on the chosen strength, this will likely be followed by a wave of relaxation.
At some point, I found myself feeling more sociable and talkative. Not alcohol-intoxicated rambling, but relaxed with a mild sense of contentedness.
Frequent drinkers even mentioned how it tends to sharpen their focus.
As the effects deepen, expect your muscles to relax and a pleasant drowsiness to set in.
How Long The Effects Last
You might be wondering, how long do I have to wait out these effects? Kava’s effects depend on the strength and variety of the kava, how many servings you drink, and your metabolism.
I experienced the initial euphoric and uplifting effects for up to 2 hours. But the calming sensations lingered longer.
Kava Etiquette
There’s really not much preparation needed for visiting a nakamal. It’s a casual experience, much like visiting your local bar. ]
The kava experience is meant to be social and relaxed. But basic humility/ humanity goes a long way and shows a willingness to engage with these local traditions.
Be open to conversation, try to understand local customs, and let the welcoming atmosphere of the nakamal wash over you.
Vanuatu Travel Planning Cheatsheet
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for Vanuatu?
100% YES! — Vanuatu’s healthcare system faces challenges, with limited hospital and medical facilities, and treatment costs, including pharmaceuticals, being expensive, often requiring immediate cash payment.
If anything serious happens to you, medical evacuation may be the only option and that’s EXPENSIVE.
If you DO get insurance, also be aware many policies won’t cover adventure activities like diving, climbing active volcanos, or scooter riding (as it’s a high risk activity)!
(that’s right, check the t&c’s)
I highly recommend World Nomads as you can get specific add-ons for these activities (Which are some of the main reasons I went to Vanuatu!)
🎫 Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?
Probably not! Many countries are entitled to 30 day tourist ‘visa on arrival’. However, some other countries do need a pre-approved Visa. Check the list of Visa exempt countries here
💉Do I need any vaccinations for Vanuatu?
YES! Make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccines. Common travel vaccines include Hep A/B + Typhoid, and Diphtheria + Tetanus.
As always, talk to your GP or specialized travel doctor a few weeks BEFORE you leave.
💸How do you pay for things in Vanuatu?
Cash is king in Vanuatu, but electronic payments have come a long way. You’ll want to get some folding tender out from an ATM when you land.
Generally, street food stalls, mum-and-dad shops and small businesses will only take cash, whereas larger bars, restaurants, hotels and resorts will be perfectly happy taking card.
I personally use a Wise debit card for all my international money needs as they only convert the funds when you make a payment, plus they offer a much better spread (margin on the true exchange rate) than the banks do. They work in all the ATMs I tried (although the ATMs do charge a fee of 700VUV to withdraw from a foreign card – around $6 USD) which is annoying but unavoidable. Taking out larger sums at once will minimise the hit.
🚌 What’s the public transport like in Vanuatu?
In short – basic!
Local buses are just dudes in minivans who operate in the grey area between a bus and a taxi. Get in, say where you’re going and they’ll take you as far as they want, provided there are enough other people on board to make the trip worthwhile.
Domestic flights from Port Vila to the outer islands are irregular and unreliable. Even more so since Air Vanuatu went into receivership.
Unfortunately, hiring a car is your most effective way to get around, but it’s waay overpriced for what you get.
📲 How do I get internet/data/wifi in Vanuatu?
Prepaid SIM cards are cheap and available to tourists and locals alike (You don’t need a pricey tourist SIM!) but they can be a little hard to come by. Your best bet is actually to buy a Vodafone or Digicell SIM at the Airport – yep, I can’t believe I’m saying that!). The sales assistant will get the SIM all set up and activated for you.
Another (better) option is the Saily eSIM. This is a little more expensive but works from the moment you land is is SOOOOO much easier than the in person verification process required for a local sim.
TIP: I used to use Airalo but now find Saily a much better product – you can get 5% off with code SPECIAL5
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to Vanuatu?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. Once you find the flight you’re looking for, I’d then suggest booking directly with the carrier (even if it costs a few $$ more than with one of the aggregators/agencies).
💧Can you drink the water in Vanuatu?
Safest not to — tap water in Vanuatu may be OK (the locals drink it) but is generally untreated and not recommended for tourists. Purchase bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing, or get water purification tablets.
I always use these Aquatabs and also recommend a Brita Water Bottle for as some of the tab water wasn’t exactly clear either!
