Known as yaqona or simply grog in Fiji, kava is a mildly intoxicating drink made from mixing the powdered root of the pepper plant (piper methysticum) with water. Drinking it results in a numb feeling around the mouth, lips and tongue with a sense of relaxation. For many Fijians, kava is a link to their ancestral past and is the Fiji's traditional and national drink. The drink has been scientifically proven to relieve anxiety.