Kava has taken a new taste – quite literally with the launch of a new product called ‘Taki Mai’.

Produced by South Pacific Elixirs based in Australia, kava is processed into a flavoured drink, bottled and sold.

The new drink and the Levuka based factory were launched by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday.

Bainimarama says this opens a new era of opportunity for kava farmers on the island, and hopefully the rest of Fiji.

He says Fiji has struggled to export kava to overseas markets because Europe’s demand for kava created a boom and people forgot about quality control.

South Pacific Elixirs will target the United States, Australia and other countries.