When we first joined the cruise, we often found ourselves being asked if we'd tried kava. I didn't really know what it was, so needless to say I hadn't tried it. Although Greg had made a point to read about it before arriving in Fiji, he'd never tried it either.
We learned it's a drink enjoyed by most Fijians in a social setting. That setting runs the whole gamut, from a casual local outdoor market to a formal ceremonial induction of a tribal chief.
In this photo you can see the way the roots were presented for a ceremonial occasion. However, the root is sold in the outdoor markets both whole and as shaved-off pieces. You can also buy kava online from a Californian company, and if you click the link you'll see its various forms: Monterey Bay Spice Company.
Onboard ship, some evenings crew members set up a kava circle, after the evening meal. The photo below is of one of our crew members.
The wooden vessel is the one typically used to make the kava drink. The base liquid is water, and onboard they used a powdered kava, put into a small fabric bag. They'd put the bag into the bowl and squeeze it.
Both men and women can join the circle of people who gather to share this drink. Centuries ago, it was made solely for the chief of a tribe and the elders, but now most Fijians drink it. On ceremonial occasions, a hierarchy exists for serving the drink, and seniority within the tribe and honoured guests is strictly observed.
Everyone sits cross-legged and barefoot on the mat, which is deemed sacred ground. Here you'll see Greg having joined the circle, after he'd taken time to learn the protocol. He's sitting directly across from the man in the green bula shirt in the previous photo.
When Greg felt he was ready, he was to give a single hollow clap with cupped hands. The kava was then stirred by the man and some was scooped out and given to Greg in the rind of a coconut shell. Upon receiving it, Greg was to hold it out and say 'bula', and everyone in the circle together said 'bula' after him. By this point we'd learned that the word 'bula' meant far more than the original meaning of 'hello' that we'd learned. It was used for so many instances, and this case represented him saying thanks.
When Greg had finished, he returned the bowl to the person giving out the kava and then did a slow triple-clap to show his appreciation.
The kava plant is a member of the black pepper family. When I asked Greg what it tasted like, he mentioned that he felt a little peppery tingle on his lips but that there wasn't much taste to the drink itself. After the kava he was to eat a candy or drink some cola, to remove any bitter aftertaste.
Greg participated in the kava drinking for one or two nights onboard. There are many theories as to the benefits or effects of kava, including it having a sedative effect to it having aphrodisiac powers. All I know is that the first time Greg tried it, he had the best night's sleep on board the ship!
As for the correct protocol, I'm not sure having his bula shirt fully unbuttoned was appropriate. The evenings didn't cool down much in Fiji, so he was probably just hot. Let's hope he didn't offend the Fijians!
Here's Greg again, trying another drink that was a first for him, and again in his bula shirt. This time, however, it was in Los Angeles last week, a day or two after the cruise. The drink is an espresso martini, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
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