February 2, 2002

Trying Kawa in Fiji

I spent a week in Fiji running a workshop. At the end of the classes, I was invited to attended a Kawa party. Kawa comes from the root of a pepper plant. The roots are dried and then crushed into powder form. Kawa is prepared in a large wooden bowl. The bowl is filled with cold water. The powder is suspended in a fine cloth and allowed to strain in the bowl.

The guest always gets to try the first drink. You have to scoop it out with a smaller coconut shell bowl. It tastes like mud with a slight hint of pepper. The same bowl is then passed to the next person.

Kawa is non alcoholic but it does make you feel relaxed.

A few days later, I went to Tonga. In Tonga, I bought a shirt that was dyed in Kawa. The logic being that kawa particles would slowely get absorbed by the body and this would make you calm and peaceful.

Fiji Food

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