Located in Mechanicsville, one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, Kava Mama is a unique bar serving a tropical root beverage that has something to offer for America’s “sober curious” community.
The sober curious movement is comprised of individuals interested in pursuing an alcohol-free life. This is where kava comes in.
Kava, the national drink of Fiji, is a popular drink that can relax drinkers without the effects of alcohol. Grown in the South Pacific Islands, kava is a well-known alternative to alcohol.
Kava and its effects
According to a Healthline article, kava is a shrub found in the South Pacific Islands and its roots are harvested to make the drink.
“It really offers a nice sense of euphoria, along with relaxation,” said Angie Lizarraga, owner of Kava Mama. “It really allows you to focus and start your day.”
The main active ingredient in kava is kavalactones, which can lessen anxiety, relieve nerves and reduce pain. Kavalactones interact with the GABA receptors in the brain, which reduces cortisol, a known cause of stress. The drinker is often more relaxed after consuming kava, said Lizarraga.
According to a Botanitonics article, some effects from kava can be likened to that of marijuana, minus the psychoactive effects.
Lizarraga said that kava is like alcohol in that it makes you relaxed and social but is euphoric like marijuana. Kava differs from alcohol in that it does not cause one to lose control of their actions.
Many kava drinkers enjoy the beverage regularly, which is why Lizarraga specifically enjoys Fijian kava. She describes it as lighter than other kavas and easier to drink throughout the day.
The only drawback for some may be the flavor, which Lizarraga likens to “licking a river rock.” The root has a strong earthy flavor, which is not necessarily appetizing to some.
Another side effect of the kavalactones is a numbing of the mouth.
The appeal of kava
Angie Lizarraga, owns Kava Mama, the first kava bar in Atlanta. She learned about kava when helping her son in his battle with alcoholism.
“My son suffers from alcoholism and my friends have been sober with kava,” Lizarraga said.
Lizarraga learned about kava in Florida, where kava is more popular. She sampled the root in hopes that it would help her son.
Now, Lizarraga’s son is eight years sober, thanks to kava.
After witnessing her son’s success in achieving sobriety by switching to kava, Lizarraga knew there were many people in the Atlanta community who may benefit from the root.
She opened Kava Mama in 2017 to help others connect to kava in the way her son did.
“Everyday one other person tells another person that there is something that can help them stay sober,” Lizarraga said.
St. Petersburg, Florida is where Billy Mays III began drinking kava in 2015, after performing music at kava bars. He is a musician under the name Infinite Third and his father, Billy Mays, was popularly known for being the face of OxiClean.
“There’s kava bars like every other block,” said Mays about St. Petersburg. “Unfortunately, that’s because of the opioid problem in Central Florida, but that’s also like how people get off it. There’s a big demand for it.”
Kava’s safety
Since kava is used as an alcohol alternative, an important question is whether or not kava is safe to consume, both short term and long term.
A 2016 comprehensive report published by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization analyzed kava’s safety by comparing the results of hundreds of studies and medical journals. Kava was found to have little risk of adverse health effects on moderate kava users. The report concluded its research on kava’s safety stating, “it is possible for kava beverage to be consumed with an acceptably low level of health risk.”
According to 2023 article from UCLA Health, Dr. Robert Ashley warned of potential liver complications from heavy or long-term use of the plant. He recommended people not mix kava with alcohol and to not use it if you have had previous liver problems.
In addition, the report says that the quality and type of kava may also have to do with its safety.
The traditional kava ceremony
While kava’s popularity has spread overseas, kava has rich cultural roots and is commonly used in Fijian cultural ceremonies.
“When someone gets married, they drink kava. When someone passes, they drink kava. When you go over to someone’s house, you bring kava,” Lizarraga said.
This ceremony is common in Fiji for weddings, deaths and oftentimes just to have fun with friends and family. For Fijians, kava is believed to be a better alternative to alcohol as it is believed to support peace and bringing people together.
Lizarraga pulled out a brand new tanoa, a traditional wooden Fijian kava bowl, to share how to hold a traditional Fijian kava ceremony.
First, the dried and ground kava root is placed within a thin cloth strainer. Next, water is poured over the kava-filled cloth. To extract the beverage, the mixture is wrung out by hand for 10 minutes. The final kava drink is poured into cups and served.
With kava’s cultural roots in mind, Lizarraga has been serving Atlanta’s sober community since 2017, in hopes that others may find sobriety through kava as her son did.
“Once it helped my son get sober, he said, ‘Mom, we need to open a kava bar to have a place for people to begin sobriety and have the feeling like they are at a bar,’” Lizarraga said.
For more from Fresh Take Georgia and the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
