FAQs

Kava is a tea derived from the root of the kava plant. It’s an indigenous Polynesian shrub that grows throughout the Pacific Islands as far east as Hawaii. It is cultivated commercially throughout the region. For over 3,000 years, specific strains have been intentionally selected for the effects of relaxation, pain relief, and euphoria.

We offer a variety of endemic plant species; our house teas originate in Southeast Asia. A tropical evergreen that grows between 4 and 16 meters tall, it’s indigenous to Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and New Guinea.  A relative to the coffee plant, without the caffeine, the leaves of this tree are mainly used for pain relief with some energizing properties.

• In general, kava’s effects are predictable. At modest doses, kava is calming and relaxing. In larger doses, it leads to euphoria, with no hangover the next day. Served cold, it has an earthy, peppery taste and leaves the mouth feeling slightly numb. 
• It’s important to acknowledge that everyone and every body is different. The effects of kava will vary depending on the strain.
• You know your body best, so tuning into the energetic, mental, and physical shifts you feel is an important part of entering an allyship with kava. Once familiar, you can experiment with different doses and varieties.

House teas can be grouped into three strains, which refer to the way the leaf was harvested and processed. These differences affect most users’ experience:

• 🌿 Green — A middle ground type of strain, it is the most popular and will provide a great balance of energy and pain relief. 
• 🌿 White — The most stimulating of the strains, white is your go-to for an energizing and uplifting effect. 
• 🌿 Red — The more relaxing of the strains, it is a great option to help you unwind. It’s known to offer the most pain relief.

These teas can serve as an alternative to coffee to help elevate mood and focus, without any caffeine. Small doses can be stimulating, and larger doses tend to be associated with more relaxing effects.

The specifics of kava brewing vary from person to person and from bar to bar. The basic components are water, ground up kava root, and muslin cloth. The root is strained through the muslin cloth by squeezing. This results in a tan earthy, magic elixir which is best served cold and traditionally served in a coconut shell.

The historically ceremonial aspect of kava translates well into our modern-day kava bars, which are naturally social gathering places. At a kava bar, you’ll find people connecting and catching up with each other. During non-event times, customers are usually swapping stories over a shell. During events, you’ll find people sharing their talents at our open mic nights, dancing the night away at our live music events, or participating in game tournaments. 

Yes! While kava is relaxing to the central nervous system and can be elevating, there is little effect on your common sense. As with anything, use your best judgment. While there is no test for kava in your system, bad driving leaves you vulnerable. It’s always best to drive when you honestly feel able to keep safe. This means you’ll be able to drive home after a night out with kava.

From a health perspective, kava has less sugar and calories than alcohol. Kava is less work for your liver than alcohol and prolonged use won’t lead to liver damage. In a general sense, kava will give you all the great effects of your favorite cocktail without all the harmful side effects. You’ll find yourself chattier, physically and emotionally loose, and open to socially connecting in an extremely conductive environment. You won’t experience loss of memory, motor skills, or judgment. 

Our teas stay in the body for up to 24 hours with effects typically lasting up to two hours. 

There is no research that shows kava is addictive or harmful. The most attractive part will be your new community of welcoming friends. Cultivating nourishing relationships is a special effect of kava and will have you coming back for more!

Our herbal offerings are a safe tool for energy and pain relief and a variety of other homeopathic health benefits. 

No, it is not recommended to have kava and alcohol on the same day. It can cause stress on your liver. 

Caution is always advised when pregnant or lactating.

We allow service dogs in our bars, but this *does not* include emotional support animals. We know that your furry friend is an important part of your life and we apologize for any inconvenience. We appreciate your cooperation!

You must be 18+ to enjoy our bars, however those who are younger may be accompanied by a parent.

• Currently, we are open at 5 locations — 4 in Colorado (Longmont, Olde Town Fort Collins, College Ave in Fort Collins, and Westminster) and 1 in New Mexico (Santa Fe). 
• We have plans to open several more locations along the Front Range.

Yes! There have been no research findings that show damage from drinking kava daily. Doing so, you’ll build a strong reverse tolerance which means you’ll need less kava to feel the effects. For thousands of years people have gathered and consumed kava to no ill effects.

To get to know your limits, we recommend starting slow with kava. Just like anything good, it’s possible to over-consume and feel adverse effects like nausea. We never recommend overconsumption of kava. 

Be sure to check if prescriptions are contradictory to our specific herbs.