Fijian Kava Journey: From Farm to the First Bilo 🇫🇯 🌱

(This is an edit from my earlier video “Washing & drying the yaqona kava roots “. Is a direct cut from there)

In this video the boys of Nayarabale Youth Group are returning from the farm with their harvested roots. Whilst the roots are washed, then dried on the wood fired drier, or in the sunlight, and then pounded for drinking, or are sold, and exported as part of the youth group development programme to earn money for the village.

Whilst doing this my namesakes brother, Isikeli, decides we need to be drinking “green kava”… this is freshly grated part of the plant and then mixed and squeezed with water - offering a different taste, and one that certainly has a bit more of a kick!!! Beautiful 👌🏻 Grog dope!

Nayarabale Youth Group
The Nayarabale Youth Group are a 40+ group of young men that have utilised the surrounding land and invested heavily into planting yaqona plants to provide a source of income to themselves, the village and to lead village, church and school projects.
The group was formed in 2015 and now have over 70,000 yaqona plants, and plant a further 25,000 each year. They have also planted 1000 each of yasi plants, pineapples, and taro.
The harvested yaqona is sold locally in Labasa, and also Viti Levu - but now also exported overseas - earning approx $500,00 FJD each year.
From this successful initiative the group have been able to purchase a carrier truck for the village, a Toyota LandCruiser for the youth group enabling easier access to the surrounding farms, and more recently extended the village hall, and built 8 homes for married members who still lived with their parents in the village.
The group also donate approx $45,000 each year to the village and families of children in primary, secondary and tertiary education.

#farming #villagelife #realfiji #yaqona #kava #teamfiji #fijikava #greenkava #islandtraditions

Dedicated to Nayarabale Youth Group 👍🏻