I first discovered Kava while exploring various small restaurants in St. Petersburg Florida. As a pharmacist with a keen interest in herbal medicine by trade, seeing various establishments referred to as “Kava Bars’ piqued my interest. What I then didn’t realize was that St. Petersburg is the Kava Capital of the United States! One evening I finally stopped into one establishment and decided to try it out. 

The first thing that struck me was the pungent taste of the drink. As I prefer to drink my coffee black, I know an acquired taste when I find one – and this definitely qualified! Regardless, I tolerated the taste, finding the tingle and local numbing effect to be rather pleasant. It had been a particularly rough week, but after a couple drinks I was astounded to find my stress was gone – replaced by a gentle wave of energy and a relaxed demeanor. Within a short period I had made several new friends and had learned much about what this stuff was. The rich history, tradition, and power behind Kava impacted me significantly, and I knew I had to share my findings with friends and family. After a year or so of some travel, I was surprised to learn how few people had heard of Kava or knew what it was. Thus the concept for KavaKwik – a Kava beverage quick to make and delightful to taste – was born. 

Much of the original recipes and manufacturing procedures were dreamt up in my own kitchen in the hopes that I could create a Kava product that everyone could enjoy. It’s been quite an adventure to see that dream to come to fruition, and it’s my hope that every sip of KavaKwik dissolves away your worries and stress, while invoking that same sense of wonder and belonging for something that you are passionate about. 

Thank you for trying – and Bula!

 -Matt