Van Beverage releases new kava drink

This week saw the first production run of “Lava Cola– Vanuatu Kava Cola” by long term Vanuatu business Vanuatu Beverages Ltd. 

Lava Cola is a Splashe cola drink with a shot of kava extract in each bottle, equivalent to a “wan blo 50”.

Whether you drink kava regularly or you like kava but not the taste, it is ideal to have both on its own or accompanied with a few shells.

General Manager of Vanuatu Beverage, Jean Yves Charbot said: “We are very proud to be producing this pioneering Vanuatu product. It has taken us many months to perfect the right mix but we believe everyone will enjoy the end product”.

In regards to concerns that Lava Cola could detract from nakamal sales, Jean Yvess said: “In no way does this product compete with drinking kava at a nakamal and it will not affect nakamal sales in any way.

In fact it can help boost nakamal turn over, as it is an ideal kale for export after and during kava.”

The kava extract used in Lava Cola is made using patent pending water based extraction technology. The end result being that Lava Cola cracks the long term kava puzzle of making a kava drink that is palatable.

The long term prospects for the Lava Cola bode well for both Vanuatu Beverage and Vanuatu as a whole.

“If the domestic market takes to it, then it is an extra source of income for kava farmers across the country. However if the current level of overseas interest shown develops into export sales of Lava Cola, then it could the catalyst to revolutionize Vanuatu kava exports,” said the developers of the kava extract used in Lava Cola.

They also said “We also want to acknowledge the many centuries of testing and trialing done by ni-Vanuatu use in the development of kava and are currently in talks with MP Ralph Regenvanu to donate a portion of the monies from sales of the kava extract to set up a charity to assist such bodies as the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs.”