American kava growing pioneer Matt Masifilo is out with another potentially controversial product – this time, it’s his new American ‘tanoa’, which he said should be available in the Fiji market by the end of the year.
Made out of plastic material, the American tanoa is designed to be more durable than the original wooden ‘tanoa’ produced exclusively in the Pacific.
“It will be sold in Fiji by the end of the year and it will be a tanoa every Fijian can afford. Affordable and durable, estimated cost, only $F60, 500g in weight and holds seven litres of kava,” said Mr Masifilo, an American of Tongan ancestry who remembers drinking kava from a bucket.
“Growing up, I drank kava out of a bucket because no one can afford a tanoa.
“Only way to drink out of a tanoa was to drink kava at the church with elders.
“Now, everyone can afford to drink kava out of an American style tanoa.”
When asked about potentially invoking the wrath of the traditional artisans of the ‘tanoa’ in the Pacific, Mr Masifilo argued there “are very few left though.”
“This only makes their work more valuable because it creates awareness for thetanoa. 99 per cent of Amercian kava drinkers don’t know what a tanoa is. This also helps lessen deforestation in Fiji.”
The new American tanoa comes in various colours and colour flavours.
