Guests at Kava Ceremony

The welcome kava ceremony is a nightly offering at Mango Bay Resort where new guests get the chance to sample the local drink – yaqona (pronounced yahng-go-na) which is derived from the pepper root tree. Yaqona, or kava as it is more commonly referred to, is prepared by pounding the root and mixing it with water to produce a brownish, sometimes bitter brew which can then be consumed.

Guests are seated in a semi circle on a hand woven mat with kava being offered to them in a half coconut shell named a bilo (pronounced bee-low).

The kava ceremony is a relaxed social gathering that allows guests to get to know the staff and to learn about their Fijian customs and traditions.