Auckland-based Kava Lounge, Four Shells, has just made grabbing your kava fix easier than ever, launching Aotearoa’s first kava vending machine.
Located conveniently outside their Kava Lounge in Auckland’s CBD, the machines are stocked with premium kava products, including single cultivar Vanuatu kava powders, high-quality Fijian kava, and even beginner-friendly instant kava.
It also has essentials like strainer bags and chase drinks, along with pre-mixed, ready-to-drink kava.
Todd Henry, co-owner of Four Shells alongside his wife ‘Anau, told us how this game-changing idea came to life and why it’s a win for the local kava community here in Aotearoa.
“We have been in business for over five years now and we have always operated in the evenings, the time when kava is consumed in a traditional context, Todd says.
“As we have grown our kava community, and our reputation for selling only the highest quality kava powders, we started receiving more phone calls from people who needed to pick up kava powders outside of our normal business hours.”
Turns out, the inspiration for the vending machine came during a trip to a kava conference in Hawai‘i back in 2022.
While cruising around the North Shore of O‘ahu, he spotted a house decked out in kava signs with vending machines on the porch, sparking the idea to bring that same concept home.
For those new to kava, Four Shells have chucked QR codes on the packaging link to a how-to video making it easy - from seasoned drinkers to newbies - to prepare kava properly.
“For us, we just want our customers to know that we will always have the best quality kava that is always clean and consistent,” Todd says.
“All of our kava is intended to be traditionally prepared using the cold water method that has been used safely for thousands of years in the Pacific Islands.”
For Todd, it’s not just about selling kava, his passion runs deeper, educating people - particularly non-Pacific Islanders - about kava’s cultural significance.
He explains: “While kava is a drink, if we talk about it only as a drink then we are missing the other half of what kava really is: A tool for conversation and social cohesion.”
“We also explain the cultural importance of the plant in the Pacific Islands and how it underpins entire cultures in those places.”
“It's also abstract to many because we always say that you don't drink kava for the taste, but you also don't necessarily drink it for the effects.”
To put it simply: It’s not about partying - it’s about unwinding and connecting with others face-to-face.
We stress that it's something that must be experienced to be understood.
For those hesitant about kava’s famously earthy taste, Todd has a message: “When people say they can't get past the taste of kava I tell them that they must have never felt the effects of kava in their entirety and that I have never met anyone who has felt the kava properly and still complains about the taste.”
“Different kavas do taste different but in general they are all bitter and earthy. Kava is meant to be bitter, just like a tattoo is meant to hurt.”
Todd is also quick to point out that traditional kava products in New Zealand are regulated as food, not drugs.
While misconceptions about kava continue to circulate - from health concerns to stereotypes about its effects - Todd sees there’s still a lot of work in educating that needs to be done.
“It is our mission to combat all of them. Just look at the comments section on any news article that is posted about kava and you will see how much work we have ahead of us.”
However as the interest in kava grows - especially among those looking for an alternative to the likes of alcohol - Todd hopes to expand the vending machine concept across New Zealand.
“People are waking up to the negative effects of alcohol on physical health and community overall. Younger people are coming up in very uncertain times and they are looking for something to engage in that isn't chaotic, but more calm.”
People of all ages are searching to engage in something that's authentic too. Kava is as humble as it gets.
“We expect interest in kava to continue growing, but we just have to cultivate that growth and foster a market of non-traditional kava users that understand how it should be used while showing respect to the plant and the Pacific Island cultures that kava itself represents.”
“If we keep focusing on kava quality and authentic use while avoiding gimmicks or trends, then I think the future of the kava industry in Aotearoa is something to get excited about.”
Whether you’re a kava pro or just giving it a go for the first time, the Four Shells vending machine is making it super easy to dive into kava culture!
