Definition

Noun: 1. A beverage made from the roots of a specific plant: Kava is a traditional drink prepared by grinding or pounding the roots of the Piper methysticum plant (a pepper shrub) and mixing them with water. It is known for its relaxing and sedative properties. 2. The plant itself: The term can also refer to the shrub (Piper methysticum) from whose roots the beverage is made.

Usage and Examples

• As a beverage:
  • After the ceremony, they shared a bowl of kava.
  • Kava is consumed for its calming effects.
• Referring to the plant:
  • The kava plant is cultivated throughout the Pacific islands.
  • Farmers harvest the roots of the kava.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural and ceremonial use: Kava holds significant cultural importance in many Pacific Island societies (e.g., Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa), where its consumption is often part of rituals, social gatherings, and ceremonies to welcome guests or facilitate discussion.
  • The chief presided over the kava ceremony.
• In modern contexts: It is sometimes used in Western contexts as an herbal supplement for anxiety.
  • Some people take kava extracts to promote relaxation.

Variants and Related Words

• Kava-kava: An alternative name, sometimes used to distinguish the plant or its extracts, especially in commercial or botanical contexts.
  • The label listed the ingredient as kava-kava root extract.

Synonyms

• Ava: A traditional name for kava, particularly used in Samoa.
• Yaqona: The Fijian name for kava.
• Sakau: The name for kava in Pohnpei.

Notes on Meaning

• Not an alcoholic drink: Contrary to some older definitions, kava is not an alcoholic beverage. It does not involve fermentation. Its active compounds are called kavalactones, which produce its characteristic effects.
• Legal status: Its sale and use are regulated or restricted in some countries due to concerns about potential liver toxicity with improper use of certain plant parts or extracts.

Noun

1. an alcoholic drink made from the aromatic roots of the kava shrub