An introduction to Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu, (pop. of 221,506) formerly called New Hebrides,
is a volcanic and coral island archipelago, consisting of about 82
small islands. It is situated in the south Pacific, east of Australia.
The 3 official languages are English, French and Bislama (pidgin)
and there are more than one hundred spoken languages. It was discovered
in 1606 by the Portuguese and was later colonized in the 18th century
by the British and French. It became independent on July 30th, 1980.
Kava Root Powder
Botanical Name:
Piper methysticum
Common Names:
Kava, kawa, kavain, intoxicating long pepper, tonga,
Common Uses:
Kava is typically made into a drink that is consumed
primarily as a tranquilizer to aid relaxation while
purpotedly not affecting mental clarity.
Qualities & Properties: Anti-anxiety, analgesic,
anticonvulsant
Yes you can buy kava in Canada or almost anywhere in
this wonderful world!
Fiji Kava
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The
14 biggest islands of the archipelago, with more than 100 square kilometers, are
Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae
(aka Aoba), Vanua Lava, Gaua, Maewo, Malo, and Anatom (aka Aneityum). The biggest
towns are Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu on the island of Efate, and Luganville,
on the island of Espiritu Santo, with the highest mountain, Mount Tabwemasana,
rising at 1,879 meters or 6,160 ft.
There are active volcanoes in Vanuatu,
and despite being a paradise with the happiest people in the world, the islands
are a very active tectonic area, and is often hit by destructive tropical cyclones
and earthquakes.
Vanuatu has about nine months of hot rainy weather from
October to June, and three months of cool dry weather in July, August and September.
The Vanuatu tropical rainforest is part of the Australasia "ecozone", that includes
New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand. Vanuatu
has fifteen bird species and many mammal species found nowhere else in the world.
Population growth, scarce freshwater, deforestation and pollution is starting
to change the face of the islands.
Kava exportation is very important
in Vanuatu and many depend on kava farming to survive. Vanuatu has kava bars called
Nakamals, which means place for peace. It is a place for men to gather at the
end of the day and mainly socialize while drinking kava. In the old days women
were not welcome in nakamals that but in the 21st century things have changed
and good nakamals welcome women.
Vanuatu is said to have the best kava
in the world with the most varieties. Only the noble varieties are allowed to
be exported. Among the popular noble varieties there is Melomelo from Ambae, Borogu
from Pentecost and Palarasul from Espiritu Santo. The noble varieties are for
everyday drinking. There are as well the medicinal varieties used traditionally
for medecinal purposes, the two-day varieties for effects lasting two days, and
the ones that no one in Vanuatu would drink, called the Wichmannii (wild kava).
The Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute has a pretty complete list that
can be found at the bottom of the page at this address: http://www.paclii.org/vu/legis/num_act/ka200252.rtf
Before
drinking a coconut shell of kava, people in Vanuatu say Bula!
Vanuatu
kava Glossary
kae-kae: snacks
Kastam: Traditional
Nakamal : Kava
Bar (place for peace)
Ni-Vanuatu : From Vanuatu Mountain
Rose Herbs sell a blend of Vanuatu noble varieties: borogu, palarasul, and
melomelo. Blends of Kava are not always a certainty of quality...most kava root
powder blends do not have a percentage of root type listed so it is a bit of a
gamble if you are a true aficionado of kava! We have tried some of the root powder
and were a bit disappointed in the quality...but it could have been the batch
or blend. We haven't tried their other supplements but they do have a nice store!
They ship their kava kava root, capsules and supplements, teas, candles, spices
and a variety of natural products around the world. They also sell herbal teas,
essential oils, candles, natural products, gifts and much more. Buy yourself something
special along with your kava… you deserve it! |
