" Pipper methysticum " is a plant from the Pacific region with an active principle. It is a schrub which grows in the Pacific islands and mostly in Vanuatu.

For centuries, kava has been regarded as a cultural symbol. From earliest times in the country, kava’s consumption took place only in custom gatherings. It is still the country’s traditional beverage.

When James Cook found it in 1781, he described it as an " intoxicating pepper ".

The drink was prepared from the freshly-cut root, crushed and masticated by young girls. And it was finally added to water in a big dish. The resulting mixture was drunk as a sign of respect towards the gods, the chiefs, friends and guests. 

Nowadays, there are still some places in Vanuatu or in some tribes in Papua New Guinea which have kept the traditional way to prepare kava.

Today kava is prepared more hygienically : the root is crushed in a motar with a pestle.

 Kava, a medical plant and its relaxing effects

 The root -rhizome- is employed for the preparation of the traditional beverage.

 It is a plant with relaxing, sleep-unducing and anxiolitics properties, whose essential principle is the kavapyrone.

 These same dried roots are used for the extraction of the resin of the kava, in which there are many chemical components :