Kava craze: What it is & where to try it in Iowa

Kava has been consumed for thousands of years, and now you can try it across Iowa. Check out exactly what it is and why you’ll want to seek it out.

Health insurance is so expensive this year, so it’s only natural that folks are turning toward supplements for their health needs. According to UCHealth, some of the most common supplements include magnesium, iron, omega-3s, and collagen, but the jury is still out on whether taking these consistently makes a huge difference. But what about kava, the plant that’s making a big name for itself across the U.S.?

Kava first made the rounds in the U.S. on a wider scale in the ‘90s, but it ultimately fizzled out as a short-lived fad. In recent years, kava has started to take off again and seems to have more legs than it did before. As such, we’re taking a closer look at what exactly it is, what health benefits are associated with it, and where you can try it in Iowa. Hint: Its main benefit may be closer to marijuana than you might’ve thought.

What is kava?

The kava plant is a member of the pepper family. It’s a leafy green plant with a light, yellow-leaning band around its edges from the Pacific Islands, where Indigenous folks have been consuming it in drink form for thousands of years.

Now, you may be wondering how it gets turned into a drink. Consider matcha and how it’s made of green tea leaves that have been pulverized until they can be dispersed in hot water. Kava is similarly used, and it has often been mixed with coconut water for the ultimate tropical treat. In the Pacific Islands, drinking kava is somewhat of a ritual, but its purported health benefits have made it a more casual drink stateside.

What are kava’s benefits?

Kava has one central benefit that keeps people coming back time and time again: easing anxiety. As Dr. Robert D. Ashley explained to UCLA Health, “The root of the kava plant contains 18 different phytochemicals, or plant-based compounds, known as “kavalactones.” These kavalactones signal neurotransmitters in our bodies in specific ways, essentially telling our brains to feel more mellow and less anxious.

This key benefit is why kava bars have been popping up across the U.S. They’re meant to be places where folks can sip kava and relax, whether alone or with friends. Firsthand accounts show that the lower anxiety levels that come from kava tend to make socializing easier, so kava is typically great in group settings.

Is kava safe and legal?

The short answer is yes and yes. Kava is completely legal in all 50 U.S. states, with the Food & Drug Administration classifying it in a 2025 press release as a legal food that “holds a legitimate and established place within the nation’s food landscape” (via Yahoo! Finance). As such, you’re able to enjoy it without risk of legal consequences.

Kava isn’t known to have many downsides. Some consumers have experienced a numb mouth when first drinking it, but this goes away and doesn’t lead to broader issues. There have been scares about kava’s relationship to liver issues in the past, specifically when consumed for long periods of time, according to UCLA Health, but more studies are needed to make any real claims.

Where to try kava in Iowa

1. Kava Kava

Address: 3457 Jackson St, Dubuque, IA 52001

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

If you’re looking for cheap rent in Iowa, Dubuque is one of the cities you should seek out. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that it has Kava Kava to keep its people mellow and happy. Kava Kava serves a variety of drinks, including kava, mocktails, lattes, and teas, so you can amp up your energy or tone it down there. You can even buy coffee beans to take home and brew yourself.

Reviewers of Kava Kava love its drinks and ambiance equally. “Kava has a great vibe, great drinks, and great company. Kid friendly and very relaxing,” one visitor shared on Google, where the establishment has a 4.4-star rating. “Super friendly staff and the atmosphere is very chill. Definitely stop by if you are in the area.”

2. Natural Nectars

Address: 1842 Central Ave, Dubuque, IA 52001

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday: 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday: 1 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

Another Dubuque hotspot for kava, Natural Nectars keeps its guests’ thirsts quenched with a variety of fruity drinks that offer different benefits. Here’s the gist: Visitors can select one of three benefits (energy and mood boost, relief and relaxation, or focus and productivity) referred to as colors, and then they can pick the flavor profile they’d like. For example, the Tart Cherry Twist features cherry limeade and lemonade, and the Legenberry combines notes of blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry. When your drink and “color” come together, you have a drink tailor-made for you.

Like Kava Kava, Natural Nectars is known for its positive environment—it even hosts special events like speed dating. “The atmosphere is incredible! Very opening to [their] community. Very kid friendly,” one visitor wrote in a Google review. “When I don’t want alcohol I go here and nurse my anxiety and depression. Judgement free and strong drinks.” It’s no wonder Natural Nectars has a perfect 5-star Google rating.

3. Kava DSM

Address: 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy #140, Des Moines, IA 50309

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Some of the best coffee shops in Iowa are in Des Moines, and if you’re sleeping on Kava DSM, you’re doing yourself a big disservice. The shop’s website notes that it’s bringing “the best of the tropics” to this Midwestern city, and its menu certainly looks like that’s true. Kava DSM has a full coffee and espresso menu, but it also offers a variety of kava mocktails, including beach-y ones like a Kava Tai (a play on the classic mai tai). Hungry? While you sip on your kava, you can also enjoy waffles, gelato, and smoothie bowls here.

On Google, Kava DSM has 4.2 stars, and reviewers seem to appreciate how welcoming this cafe is. “I loved the look and feel of this place! Right when you walk in it feels so relaxing and calming,” one reviewer shared. Another wrote, “I had kava tea and an açaí bowl here and the vibes are awesome!” Overall, locals and tourists alike seem to enjoy Kava DSM.

4. Noble House Kava

Address: 115 N Main St Suite 15, Fairfield, IA 52556

Hours: Tuesday: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Wednesday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday: 12 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

Fairfield’s Noble House Kava has a lovely 4.8-star rating on Google, and its cozy atmosphere is certainly one big reason why. Its drinks also seem to be authentic, with its menu keeping things rather straightforward. You can order classic kava as well as classic espresso-based drinks and tea infusions. If you want to go a little fancier, you can opt for an Italian soda with oat milk. In any case, you won’t miss, if the reviews are anything to go by.

“The coolest crowd in Fairfield! The bartenders are great, the kava soda is delicious, and the vibes are always top tier,” one reviewer shared on Google. Folks rave about the kava, but even those who don’t partake in it come here to hang out. “I’m not big on kava and enjoy the oat milk lattes they serve. Definitely one of the better lattes in town,” a second reviewer wrote.