Kava in Fiji

j_rench18:07 UTC15 Dec 2012

I'll be in Fiji celebrating my wife's birthday around the new year. We have much of the itinerary sorted but I need some advice for the last few days. We have Jan. 5-10 to figure out. What I'm looking for is an area where kava cultivation and exportation is important to the local people. I own a kava bar in Portland, Oregon and I'm looking for connections. Ideally, I would find some fabulous kava with a trustworthy exportation network. I know kava drinking is a big part of Fijian culture everywhere but I'm looking for a place where kava as a cash crop is also important. Other considerations are that my wife is relatively high maintenance (let's keep that between you and me), so no areas with only "rustic" accommodation, and because of our short time frame where we go needs to be quickly and easily accessible from Nadi.

Thanks for any advice.

peter_n_margaret23:22 UTC15 Dec 2012

Nothing that I know of "quickly and easily accessible from Nadi". There is some up in the mountains of Viti Levu, but those areas can be hard to get to in ideal times and impossible if wet. Forget it in January.
Saw some on Tavenu and that might be a better option for you?

Like good wine, good kava is about the soil and the weather.
Locally it will be called "grog" or "waqoma".

Perhaps go to the market at Lautoka (40 minutes by cab north of Nadi) and talk to the kava traders there. Many of them bring it in from various places to sell it there.

Cheers,
Peter

hardnosethehighway03:59 UTC18 Dec 2012

"The kava grown in Kadavu is supposed to be....the best"

Agreed-in Fijian terms.

However Tongan product is much stronger and Vanuatu is supposed to be best of all.

As to OP's request Kadavu has some relatively high end accommodations and easy flights from Nadi.

However this can all go to hell if it's rained a lot and the airstrip @ Vunisea is muddy.

http://matava.com/

http://www.papagenoresortfiji.com/

Kava in Fiji Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
j_rench18:07 UTC15 Dec 2012	I'll be in Fiji celebrating my wife's birthday around the new year. We have much of the itinerary sorted but I need some advice for the last few days. We have Jan. 5-10 to figure out. What I'm looking for is an area where kava cultivation and exportation is important to the local people. I own a kava bar in Portland, Oregon and I'm looking for connections. Ideally, I would find some fabulous kava with a trustworthy exportation network. I know kava drinking is a big part of Fijian culture everywhere but I'm looking for a place where kava as a cash crop is also important. Other considerations are that my wife is relatively high maintenance (let's keep that between you and me), so no areas with only "rustic" accommodation, and because of our short time frame where we go needs to be quickly and easily accessible from Nadi. Thanks for any advice.
peter_n_margaret23:22 UTC15 Dec 2012	Nothing that I know of "quickly and easily accessible from Nadi". There is some up in the mountains of Viti Levu, but those areas can be hard to get to in ideal times and impossible if wet. Forget it in January. Saw some on Tavenu and that might be a better option for you? Like good wine, good kava is about the soil and the weather. Locally it will be called "grog" or "waqoma". Perhaps go to the market at Lautoka (40 minutes by cab north of Nadi) and talk to the kava traders there. Many of them bring it in from various places to sell it there. Cheers, Peter	1
hardnosethehighway03:59 UTC18 Dec 2012	"The kava grown in Kadavu is supposed to be....the best" Agreed-in Fijian terms. However Tongan product is much stronger and Vanuatu is supposed to be best of all. As to OP's request Kadavu has some relatively high end accommodations and easy flights from Nadi. However this can all go to hell if it's rained a lot and the airstrip @ Vunisea is muddy. http://matava.com/ http://www.papagenoresortfiji.com/	2