Culture - Kava-kava Bar

[PoolShark1184]

SWIM has been to two different kava bars in Florida and in Hawaii. They were a really good time and SWIM thinks it is a great idea to open one of these. SWIM thinks it would be a great substitution for the bars that we have now, since kava is a peaceful social drink, not something that makes people do things they wouldn't normally do. Anyway SWIM would love to open a kava bar, and is wondering if anyone has any information about why they think this is a good or bad idea? Has anyone been to one of these? Will anyone visit mine once it is open?

[senorsalvia]

Hhhhmmmm!! SWIM just happens to reside in Fla.... How come SWIM has not heard of an up and running Kava Bar here before??? An actual addy would be cool since the drink is legal (hint hint)----------- sal

[jesusfreak666er]

there are kava bars in the philadelphia area, they are usually hawaiian/chinese fusion restaurants or something along those lines... that way one might generate funds from the foods along with the kava.... they come for the food and come back for the kava.

[Bajeda]

Having a bar/resteraunt could be a good idea. I know a decent amount of places where you generally sit down in the lounge and have a drink before going on to your table for dinner. Kava is an excellent social lubricant, so it could work for this purpose as well.

One thing though, it would be a good idea to really work on different Kava preparations and good tasting recipes, as I've seen posts elsewhere complaining about the terrible taste of the kava mixes in these Kava Bars (haven't been to one myself). Traditional preparation may be more authentic, but I think people care more about having it taste good and getting the effects than drinking the 'real deal'.

[PoolShark1184]

You can find the kava bar in Boca Raton. I definitely know what you mean about making the taste better...this is something I have been working on for awhile. I've been to one in Maui that sold sushi and kava, and they also have flavored kava drinks. Maybe some day you will see one in CT, where I am from!

[Bajeda]

CT wouldn't be bad, MA would be a better place to have it. The people over there really need to chill out!

[PoolShark1184]

New England would be a good place on the whole because of its liberal nature. New Haven, CT in particular. I'll see if all those Yaleys would care for it.

[Nagognog2]

With the influx of flavored Kava~Kava - such as Cocoa, Vanilla, Banana, etc. - such should not be overlooked to mask the natural flavor that some don't like. Bongo finds it sort or soapy and peppery, but not unpleasant. But many howl it's horrors.

So I'd think a Yalie would be best suited with a banana up their...er...I mean...banana-kava smoothie made with chocolate-milk.

[snapper]

SWIM just throws some vanilla or whole banana into the blender with the powder and some soymilk +/- a little sweetener. Works pretty well. The best way to make it drinkable is to give it some flavor but not to mask it with too much sugar. Overdoing it just makes it hard to drink. SWIM accidentally ordered some of the coarser filter powder last time, which does not work blenderized... That stuff may be a bit harder to deal with since it is pulverized in silk cloth into water...

[Bajeda]

I've heard that extract (vanilla, bannana, etc.) makes the taste much better for very little effort. Anyone have experience with this?

Swim used soymilk with Kava in the past and agrees that it works well. The one he got was already vanilla flavoured and it tasted quite nice.

[snapper]

SWIM uses vanilla soymilk or a tespoon of vanilla syrup. A 1/4 banana in the blender also helps.

[Swimster]

Kava bar? swim has never heard of a kava bar, OR a kava beverage before,
sounds novalty-ish.
I wouldn't think of kava as a replacement for alcohol.
Swim finds Kava to be weak compared to acohol.

[Nagognog2]

Kava~Kava is not a replacement for alcohol. It is Kava~Kava. But the missionaries in the South Seas are heavily invested in the import of alcoholic beverages to the islands. So they have been running a crusade to ban Kava~Kava - believing that if Kava~Kava were to disappear, their profits would soar. They just don't get it. You can't get drunk and violent on Kava~Kava like people can with alcohol. If a regular drinker of Kava~Kava can't get their beverage, they won't rush off to buy booze. But an alcoholic, who can't get their sauce, may well try Kava~Kava (and anything else) to fill their need.

[PoolShark1184]

Yes Kava is not like alcohol, though it does have a sedating effect, with a loss of social inhibition, it is not quite as forgiving as alcohol when abused. Drinking too much kava will make you dizzy and sick and it doesn't take an extreme level of inebriation to get to this point. Kava is for people who know how to moderate their intake of substances, and is to be respected.

"Kava bar" is just a name for a place where kava is served, you could just as well call it a "kava cafe". Kava is only meant as a substitution for alcohol for people who like to be relaxed and social but without using alcohol, which is much less healthy. Also, as the previous person said it wont make you violent, or cause you to do things you wouldn't do while sober.

SWIM uses kava quite often and loves it. It is most definitely the perfect drug swim has ever tried (and hes tried a lot)

[Bajeda]

One thing for swiy to do though, would be to look at a range of different 'name' possibilities for the bar/cafe. You would want to market this in a way so that people aren't going expecting alcohol replacement, or even a similar atmosphere to what you would get in a 'bar' per se.

Maybe in the mornings it could be more of a Kava Cafe serving Kava Java to wake people up, then at night a Kava Lounge for relaxation.

[Swimster]

^^ The whole "Bar" part makes it sound pretty Alcohol related. Just as you
say, "kava Cafe" sound ideal, although, it also sounds like a coffee place aswell.
Alot of Average folks don't even know what kava is(at least in the U.S)

[PoolShark1184]

Absolutely marketing is essential. What is your opinion, would a south pacific theme be the way to go or would a place like this be able to survive by having more American (albeit not very traditional...) interior design. I think that the south pacific decor works in a warm place like florida, but to truly americanize kava I think it would take a place that is decorated more like a coffee lounge in a posh section of Manhattan. Relaxing music and lighting, quirky peices of art, couches with various board games and tables with large books of art. I would love to use some Buddhist terminology and/or themes however I don't know how I feel about using my religion to market a drug.

Also, as I was told by the owner of a kava bar in Hawaii, selling solely kava does not work. I would also sell coffee, pastries, sandwiches (time to hop on the flatbread/wrap craze), juices and various all-natural foods. Basically I think kava would fit right in with the all-natural trend that is sweeping the nation...kava is healthier than alcohol...