All You Should Know About Tanoa – The Kava Bowl

From a single piece of durable and attractive vesi wood to the serving of kava, the kava bowl also popularly known as Tanoa has a deep-rooted significance in kava drinking.

It is the bowl that holds the liquid that represents the meaning behind each ceremony or ritual. Kava making would not be as important without Tanoa – The Kava Bowl. Although anyone can drink kava from any type of vessel, the bowl is just as necessary as the actual kava root used to form the liquid stored in the bowl.

What is a kava bowl?

In Fiji and Samoa, the kava bowl is called a Tanoa. Also referred to as Yaqona bowl, many others from parts of Oceania call them Laulau but they’re all used for the same thing; mixing and drinking kava. Smaller size kava bowls are also popular as a handicraft items. The ones used as a food bowl is called Kumete.  

The bowls vary in size from twelve to thirty inches, standing on short cylindrical legs varying in number from four to twenty-four. They’re shallow, rarely exceeding 6 inches deep and the value of the tanoa is based on the number of legs and the class of wood used. The wood usually used is obtained from an Intsia Bijuga tree also known as Vesi (Fijian) or Ifilele (Samoan) and is a hard-grained timber of a reddish-brown colour. A piece of timber roughly the diameter of the bowl to be made is selected and by patient hacking and cutting, the wood is reduced to the desired shape.

In Fiji, kava bowls are usually round in shape and in Samoa; you can find both round and oval kava bowls. Samoan Tanoas are often decorated with Samoan-styled carvings that have been blackened to make them stand out.

The natives tend to prefer kava bowls without carvings and decorations. The native islanders capitalised and began producing colourful, decorated bowls to sell to tourists when they realised the tourists wanted more ornate versions.

History of kava bowl

In earlier times, the cutting and shaping were done with the aid of stone tools and a pigs’tusk was utilised in the scraping. The desired smoothness was acquired by constant rubbing with a kind of pumice stone and when the bowl was completed, it was soaked in freshwater for a considerable time to remove the woody smell.

Older kava bowls in Fiji were formed out of clay or from stone. These tanoas were decorated with shells and a natural fibre cord used to hang the bowl when not in use. The growth in tourist and overseas buyer interest in kava bowls led to the style of the kava bowl evolving further with partial or full carvings. While these were bought to prepare and drink kava, the bowls have grown in popularity as decorative and gift items.

True, authentic wooden kava bowl from Fiji or Samoa may seem costly. There are alternate bowls made of cheaper wood or even metal or plastic bowls that could be used to make and drink kava. However, there is something special about using a dedicated traditional well-finished wooden bowl to mix your kava. It is an appreciation of the kava drinking ritual and makes the whole process more enjoyable.

Using the kava bowl

The Tanoa adds significant value to the process of drinking and sharing kava. Small factors may change among cultures, like the name of it or how many legs it has but various cultures within the Pacific Islands have similar respect for the kava bowl.

Tanoa is used to prepare and drink kava also known as yaqona, the traditional national drink of Fiji. It’s a sedative drink made from the roots of the kava plant, crushed into powder and mixed with water. It represents the resolutions of problems, seeking peace to restore goodwill among all and is consumed sitting in a circle with the bowl in front of the leader. The tools used in processing and drinking the kava are just as important in the culture of kava itself. The kava used in Fijian culture and celebrations is of the greatest quality and each attendee will drink kava, typically using a coconut shell to scoop the kava from a Fijian Tanoa.

The Tanoa can be given as a home gift in a popular size of twenty inches, or it can be used for decorations with bowls as small as three inches. They’re also used as fruit bowls or as cake stands at weddings and birthdays and even sewn into traditional costumes.

Ceremonies

Kava is popular at important ceremonies and events such as funerals, weddings and birthdays or to celebrate and welcome a visiting tribe. Fun, laughter and smiles are integral to most kava ceremonies. It is a true indicator of Pacific Island culture and is traditionally known as a drink that brings people together socially and for good outcomes.

Kava ceremonies can last few hours or even go on for days. There is a spiritual element to such ceremonies. For example, the completion of the kava ceremony during a wedding marks the two groups having united as one, with a shared purpose.

The essence is the sharing of the kava from the communal kava bowl among the men and women participating in the ritual. It’s the connection and the gathering of a group where everyone wants to feel happy and sociable.

Kava bowls are also a great gift item during ceremonies. In Tongan weddings, the groom’s family present kava bowls to the bride’s family and the bowl size is typically 10”, 11” or 12”.  

Care and Handling

To avoid fading the finish and colour of your tanoa, it’s best to avoid exposure to direct sunlight or heat. Overexposure to sunlight or heat can cause the wood to crack. Never use harsh chemicals on your Tanoa, simply wipe gently using a damp cloth or dust with a clean natural bristle brush.

The Tanoa can be used for mixing kava or any similar purpose. Before use, the Tanoa should be fully immersed in water for a week and then thoroughly dried. The water should be changed daily till the water remains clear. This helps to clean the Tanoa and prevent the wood from cracking.

We hope you enjoyed reading the above information we put together regarding kava bowl/ tanoa. The kava bowls sold in New Zealand by Beani Farms are made of the original Fijian vesi wood that is stronger than teak. Whatever your need;  be it to drink kava, home décor, gifting, use at ceremonies, use as fruit or food bowl; we have a range of sizes from 3 inch to 30 inches to suit your requirements.