Bula is a Fijian word with many uses
It is a greeting, but also can mean "life" or "to live". Fijians use it in place of "cheers" before drinking kava. So bula, everyone, and welcome to the Bula Kava House online store, where we sell some of the freshest kava root available to the U.S. market. Please visit our FAQs page or contact us if you have any questions.
The Kava Experience
Kava or kava-kava (Piper methysticum) is consumed for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes throughout the islands of the South Pacific. A shrub that thrives in loose, well-drained soils where plenty of air can reach the roots, kava plants are typically harvested at 3-4 years of age. Pacific Islanders have consumed kava root tea for over 3,000 years. We invite you to experience the tradition for yourself.
Judd’s Story
In 2007, my work as a scuba instructor brought me to the Big Island of Hawaii, where my coworkers constantly touted the product and environment provided at what was simply known as "The Kava Bar". I had no idea what kava or a kava bar was at the time but it wasn't long before I tagged along to check it out. What I found was a small, mostly outdoor establishment built with hardwoods with seating for no more than 15 people. At wooden community tables everyone drank from coconut shells filled with a murky liquid.
After two or three more shells I noticed that my mind was at ease and my muscles, after a long day of lifting scuba tanks, had relaxed to a very mushy state. The feeling was a bit like being slightly drunk without the loss of mental cognition that accompanies excessive alcohol use. I then knew that this is why my co-workers spent so much time at The Kava Bar.
Portland Oregon's First Official Kava Bar
To make a long story short, I immediately knew that a kava bar would be a fantastic addition to my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Look, I like a good beer as much as the next guy but it's nice to have options. Kava makes for a safe alternative to alcohol and other intoxicants, and I figured a Pacific Northwest kava bar would be a great place to come socialize or use something that has been used medicinally to treat pain, insomnia, and anxiety for thousands of years.
Shop Online
Now, with our online store, you don't need to live in Portland to enjoy what thousands of happy visitors to our kava bar already have. We provide the highest quality variety of ground kava root products, fresh from Vanuatu and other islands in the South Pacific. Our growers and suppliers grow and harvest great kava kava. We have it tested independently to ensure quality and accuracy in our labeling.
~Judd Rench
Proprietor, Bula Kava House