Captivated by kava

When Douglas Crawford opened Rooted Socialite on East Michigan Avenue in May 2022, he knew there would be a learning curve for both himself and his customers. The business is one of just a handful of kava bars in Michigan serving the traditional South Pacific beverage made from the rootstock of the kava plant, or Piper methysticum.

“Basically, kava spreads person to person,” Crawford explained. “It’s very elusive for marketing. Instead, somebody has to experience it. They have to tell a friend about it. In some cases, they have to actually bring the friend with them.”

That’s how Crawford was introduced to the drink, sometime between 2016 and 2017. The Lansing native was working in the wine industry in Berkley, California, at the time, and a friend brought him out to a kava shop.

“I was just ridiculously captivated by the atmosphere there. It was very unique, unlike anything I’d ever experienced,” he said.

Rooted Socialite on East Michigan Avenue offers open seating areas in addition to a bar so customers can chat and connect while enjoying their …

Inspired by the experience, Crawford made the decision to head back home and open his own kava shop in Lansing. Channeling the camaraderie he observed in California’s kava scene, he decided his business would emphasize the communal aspect of the drink.

Kava lends itself well to this atmosphere. Consumers often cite experiencing feelings of calmness and relaxation without losing any mental clarity or awareness. For this reason, Crawford estimates that 60% of his clients are either in recovery or at least looking to significantly reduce their alcohol consumption. Others have found the drink to aid in recovering from benzodiazepine dependency.

Crawford sources his kava from Nakava, a wholesaler based in Boca Raton, Florida, that packages dried and ground kava roots from the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

The concoction is what one confirmed regular described as “earthy,” and he nailed it. The immediate effect is a numb, tingly feeling in the mouth. Some may require two, three or more cups to feel anything more than that. For others, one may be more than enough. Interestingly, that individual tolerance doesn’t change, according to Crawford.

There are “guard rails built into the experience,” he said. At some point, consumers will reach a limit where more kava won’t necessarily add to the visceral experience associated with its consumption. When one finds their personal limit, Crawford likes to say they’ll feel “loose, but loosened.”

Rooted Socialite doesn’t strictly sell kava, however, with a number of Japanese-sourced teas, kombuchas, CBD-infused beverages and canned drinks also on the menu. Those offerings are subject to grow in the future, as Crawford said he thinks he’s finally found his stride in terms of knowing what his customers prefer.

“I’ve been fiddling around with different beverages and offerings during the past year, and I finally decided what I want to stock consistently,” he said. “It’s been a year-long experiment finding out what sells and what doesn’t.”

Crawford said he hosts a number of regulars upwards of four times per week. As the only employee, he’s also ready to educate interested newcomers who find their way into the relaxed, communal atmosphere he’s cultivated.

Grab a seat and tell him you’re new, and he’ll bring over a book and a stack of papers explaining the history and health benefits of the plant. Of course, the best way to familiarize yourself with the drink is to order a cup for $6, including tax, and give it the old college try.