User:Lmann 416/sandbox

Kava Bars:

*First

With kava's increasing popularity, bars serving the plant in its liquid state are beginning to open up across the country. Starting in the early 2000's, kava bars first opened in the beach communities of Hawaii, Florida, and California. Since then, locations have spread to other regions. For example, KavaSutra, a chain who's first four locations were located in Florida, recently opened a bar in the East Village area of New York, and one in Denver, Colorado. Outside of the New York bar, is a sign that reads 'Alcohol is so 2014'. People are interested in the idea of a non-alcoholic substance with "intoxicating" effects. These customers are typically part of the up-and-coming health and wellness trend. Most bars open mid-morning and close after midnight aiming to attract both the before work as well as nightlife crowd.

Traditionally, kava is paired with almonds and agave nectar in order to mask the earthy taste. Most bars serve multiple strains, each claiming to produce a different effect. For example, some strains induce relaxation, while others act as a stimulant. In addition to the choices of strains, most menus include a variety of juices and smoothies in which the kava can be added to.

In many kava bars, it is typical for patrons to follow after the Fijian tradition by shouting "boola" before taking their first sip. In addition to being a greeting, the term means "to live."

*Final

With kava's increasing popularity, bars serving the plant in its liquid state are beginning to open up outside of the South Pacific. Starting in the early 2000s, kava bars first opened within the beach communities of Florida, Hawaii, and California. Since then, locations have spread to other regions. While some bars have been committed to only serving the traditional forms and types of kava, other establishments have been accused of serving non-traditionally consumed non-noble kava varieties (cheaper to obtain, but with a much higher potential for producing unpleasant effects and adverse reactions than noble kava varieties) or serving kava with other substances, including alcohol.

History:

*First

There are numerous myths and legends about the origin of kava. However, the most widely accepted is the discovery of the plant by James Cook whilst on a voyage in the Pacific Islands during the 1700's. Upon the discovery of the plant, he gave it the name "intoxicating pepper." The islanders used the plant during formal ceremonies and religious rites. Kava was seen as a means to connecting with the spiritual world and the gods. To prepare the kava, they would chew the root in their mouths and then spit the macerated mass into a bowl that was later poured through a strainer in order to accumulate the liquid. Some cultures preferred to have the young children or beautiful women chew the kava because of their received lower bacteria levels. Once the kava was prepared, they would pass it around, each taking sips until the mixture was gone. Once nearby colonial governments and missionaries heard of this practice, they made it illegal to prepare the drink in such a way. They forced the islanders to prepare the kava by grinding the root stock. Kava remains to be widely used in the Pacific Islands for various ceremonies and gatherings. Both Hilary Clinton and Pope John Paul II have participated in a Kava Kava ceremony while visiting communities who continue this practice. Today, kava is a staple cash crop in the pacific islands and it is extracted by machinery which is later manufactured into various forms.

*Final

Kava originated in the Pacific_Islands. Because it was seen as a means to connecting with the spiritual world and the gods, the islanders used the plant during formal ceremonies and religious rites. This practice remained unknown by the rest of the world until James_Cook, an English naval captain and explorer, discovered the plant's use in 1777 during one of his voyages in the Pacific Islands. George Forster, a naturalist on Cook's voyage, wrote a description of the process in which the islanders prepared the kava.

"[Kava] is made in the most disgustful manner that can be imagined, from the juice contained in  the roots of a species of pepper-tree. This root is cut small, and the pieces chewed by several people, who spit the macerated mass into a bowl, where some water (milk) of  coconuts is poured upon it.  They then strain it through a quantity of fibers of coconuts, squeezing the chips, till all their juices mix with the coconut-milk; and the whole liquor is decanted into another bowl.  They swallow this nauseous stuff as fast as possible; and some old topers value themselves on being able to empty a great number of bowls."

Once nearby colonial governments and missionaries heard of this practice, they made it illegal to prepare the drink in such a way. They forced the islanders to instead prepare the kava by grinding the root stock. Kava remains to be widely used in the Pacific Islands for various ceremonies and gatherings. Both Hilary Clinton and Pope_John_Paul_II have participated in a Kava ceremony while visiting communities who continue this practice. Today, kava is a staple Cash_crop in the Pacific Islands and it is extracted by machinery which is later manufactured into various forms.