REVIEW
TROPIKAVA
BY LILY LEVINE // PHOTOS BY GIOVANNA DECASTRO
>> NEIGHBORHOOD WICKER PARK >> PRICES $$
>> DISHES TO TRY
MOSCOW MUESLI BERRY ACAI BOWL [1] Kandola, Aaron. “Kava Kava: Benefits and Safety Concerns.” Medical News Today. Accessed April 28, 2019. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com. [2] Squarespace. “Menu.” Tropikava: Kava Kafe & Juice Bar. Accessed April 28, 2019. https://www.tropikava.com/menu.
8
bite | spring 2019
Hidden away in a quiet, residential side-street of Wicker Park lies a tropical treasure—Tropikava Kafe and Juice Bar. This is Chicago’s first ever Kava café, which was opened in 2016 by Jeff Ramsey, and it may just be your new favorite addition to drinks and smoothies. Kava comes from the root of the Kava plant, which originated in the South Pacific. The drink, which is mixed with water and coconut milk, has been used in ceremonies and rituals for hundreds of years in places such as Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii, and Vanuatu. The benefits are numerous: it has been cited to help with anti-anxiety and stress reduction, to promote sleep, aid with mental clarity, and create a psychoactive and euphoric feeling[1]. One of the biggest attractions, however, is its ability to induce a buzz without the booze or subsequent hangover. We arrived around 3pm in the afternoon due to the café’s unusual hours—be sure to check the website before going! The interior was decorated with tropical themed décor including wooden tables, plush wicker chairs and couches, bamboo walls with images of the beach, and an abundance of hanging plants. These decorations, combined with the small size of the café, made the environment casual, cozy, and vibrant. We were instantly greeted by our server, who explained the effects of Kava, the four strains they carry, and the reverse tolerance effect. This means the consumer might not feel anything the first time he or she tries it, but the body’s reaction will increase the more times Kava is consumed. She then gave us small servings of the house brew containing almonds, cinnamon, and agave;
it was slightly bitter and mouth-numbing, but overall relatively flavorless. However, this was only meant to be the “appetizer” to our main courses: the Berry Acai Bowl and the Moscow Muesli smoothie. We chose to add the Vanuatuan Kava to both of our orders, which is said to provide a laid back yet “uplifting euphoric energy[2].” The Berry Acai Bowl was made right before our eyes and contained acai, strawberry, raspberry, banana, coconut water, and granola. The acai tasted rich, but was significantly thinner than most conventional acai bases. The granola offered a contrasting crunch, and the pieces of strawberry and banana were ripe, contributing a pleasant freshness. The Moscow Muesli smoothie contained strawberry, raspberry, muesli, and almond milk. Just like the acai bowl, it was not as thick as smoothies I had previously drank, but it was nonetheless satisfyingly sweet with a slightly nutty, oat flavor from the muesli. Both meals were bright in color and aesthetically prepared, and the fruity, tropical flavors completely concealed the taste of the kava. Overall, Tropikava offers a fun and playful environment for your first Kava adventure. While the variety of foods they offer are typical for a juice shop and are not exceptional in taste by any means, the added boost of Kava makes the experience unique and the lengthier trip worth it. Neither of us perceived any considerable sideeffects, but the idea of returning a few more times to try again is an enticing and likely one.