- Fiji Kava Trading, a subsidiary of Fiji Kava (FIJ), receives approval for its first commercial import of its drinking kava to Australia
- In 2022, the company will begin marketing its drinking kava in Australia through its FijiKava Instant Kava and Taki Mai Traditional Grind brands
- Coles confirmed a first order of FijiKava instant Kava to be stocked on shelves from January, in select locations
- Further, Trade Minister Dan Tehan’s office has revealed that from December 1, companies will be able to apply to import drinking kava to Australia
- Fiji Kava is up 6.49 per cent on the market with shares trading at 8.2 cents
Fiji Kava Trading, a subsidiary of Fiji Kava (FIJ), has received approval for its first commercial import of its drinking kava to Australia.
In 2022, the company will begin marketing its drinking kava in Australia through its FijiKava Instant Kava and Taki Mai Traditional Grind brands.
FIJ said Coles has confirmed the first order of FijiKava instant Kava to be stocked on shelves from January, in select locations.
Further, Trade Minister Dan Tehan’s office has revealed that from December 1, companies will be able to apply to import drinking kava to Australia.
Fiji Kava’s products aim to promote sleep, calm nerves and relax the mind and body.
These products contain kava, a drug made from the ground roots of the Piper methysticum, which is a plant from the pepper family and is native to the South Pacific.
Traditionally, the root is crushed, ground or powdered and soaked in water to be drunk as tea. The tea is then often consumed socially as part of traditional ceremonies and cultural practices throughout the Pacific Islands.
In small doses, kava can help relax muscles and induce feelings of wellbeing and sleepiness. However, long-term use can lead to a range of problems such as weight loss, malnutrition and indifference, according to Better Health Victoria.
CEO Anthony Noble said the company have seen strong pre-sales in Australia.
“With both our FijiKava Instant Kava and Taki Mai Traditional Grind brands we will have products that can align to multiple consumer needs and use occasions aligning strongly with traditional and ceremonial use,” Mr Noble said.
“Interestingly, the Government’s own documentation released in the recent consultations estimated the volume of kava being imported to Australia in 2007, the year prior to the ban, was around 70 metric tonnes per year.
“Given that the number of Australians with South pacific heritage has more than doubled since then this indicates that the expected demand for Noble Fijian Kava in Australia could be very significant indeed.”
Fiji Kava was up 6.49 per cent on the market, with shares trading at 8.2 cents at 11:35 am AEDT.