Kava House — Restaurant in Savannah

This café serves kratom in beverages without detailed consumer warning labels, instructions for safe use, or requesting a 21+ ID from customers, all of which are required by state law to sell or process kratom.

My friend ordered the “Kratom Tea” not knowing kratom is a psychoactive ingredient and she experienced severe adverse effects: dizziness/nausea, inability to stand, distorted vision, and vomiting for several hours. Luckily she had someone to check on her and help her stay calm. She innocently thought that “Kratom Tea” was just a branding name used by the store and that the fruity drink was a benign tea (like matcha or chai) since most people don’t expect to be drugged when buying tea in a café.

I called the business to speak with a manager. I shared my friend’s experience and our concerns over the misunderstanding due to the lack of disclosure on the products they offer. I was met with dismissive defensiveness and an unwavering insistence that the name of the drink and an employee’s verbal explanation counted as adequate disclosure. My friend was certain she wasn’t told anything about the drink other than it was a tea and that they offered different “flavors” for “mood support” and “energy.” Regardless, a verbal explanation (a sales pitch) isn’t adequate since the law requires consumer warning labels on all packaging and a 21+ ID for a valid reason. Had she seen a warning label, been carded, or even been fully informed on what kratom was she would’ve never ordered it. I wish I’d been with her to let her know.

Kratom is a psychoactive plant that has opioid-like properties, can be addictive, is banned in 6 states, and has lead to some cases of psychosis, overdoses, and deaths. Dosage is widely inconsistent as the strength from plant to plant varies greatly and has little to no regulatory oversight, third party testing, or consumer awareness. According to some observational studies it seems to have positive effects in the treatment of ptsd, depression, pain, and the withdrawal symptoms of other highly addictive drugs, so that’s great! However, the purpose of legalization is responsible and safe distribution and I’ve found no indication that this café is following labeling laws, has COAs (Certificates of Analysis) to ensure their product’s efficacy, or is a member of the AKA (American Kratom Association), which strongly advocates for consumer protections and truth in labeling. There’s not even any mention of or information about kratom on their website. Just a brief hat tip to “nootropic teas” and a picture of their menu.

I’ve personally tried kratom and partaken in multiple hallucinogenics, so I’m no ignorant prude and certainly not against the legal sale of psychoactive substances when that sale includes full disclosure and informed consent. This cafe isn’t partaking in either and doesn’t seem to care about the major holes in their business practices that can and do endanger uninformed customers. Kratom is in fact a potent drug and should be treated as such.

During the call to the cafe it became clear that the conversation was unproductive and that the manager would rather defend negligence than be a responsible distributor, so I hung up and called the DOH instead. Truly unfortunate that it went that way, but you’d have to be a back alley dealer or ON KRATOM to believe selling people a drug without full transparency is totally...

I excitedly noticed this place one evening whilst out walking my dog and made sure to stop in the following day because I haven't come across a Kava bar in over ten years since living down in Melbourne Florida, and my interest was piqued.

The owners were quite friendly and a pleasure to engage in conversation with. The atmosphere is cozy and decorated so that it adds a bit of a "welcome home" aesthetic to it and makes it feel more like you're dropping in to see a friend than you are to shop. There's adequate and comfortable seating throughout as well as patio seating. I can see this as a nice spot to stop and relax outside of with my pup while enjoying a much needed break from life now and then.

The Kava drink that I indulged in was fairly priced and delivered well on the desired effects expected of it. Kava and Kratom are two amazing plants that have helped me get through some of the tougher obstacles of life, and better enjoy the simpler times as well. It's a very welcomed addition to Savannah because it brings a much needed social (and possibly transcendental) outlet for those of us that aren't otherwise interested in the typical bar scene. I highly recommend that you research and give them both (kava and kratom) a try, and I also highly recommend you stop into this establishment and enjoy what they have to offer.

Thank you. I truly hope that you succeed here, and I'll see...

Not everyone walking into your cafe knows what kava or kratom is. Many people assume “Kava” is just the name of your business, not a medicinal herb with psychoactive effects. Same with kratom, which is often mistaken for a flavored tea or juice.

This is a serious safety concern. People with health conditions or on medication could unknowingly consume substances that interact with their prescriptions or worsen health issues just because they thought they were ordering a regular iced tea.

Kratom, in particular, carries real risks. It acts on opioid receptors and can be addictive, cause dependency, and lead to withdrawal symptoms. It has been linked to liver damage, seizures, and even death in some cases. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe.

When your menu lists “Kava Tea” and “Kratom Tea” alongside coffee and ramen, many newcomers assume it’s branding or just a flavor.

Treat this with the same transparency as alcohol, cannabis, or CBD.

This isn’t about shaming what you serve. It’s about informed consent, public health, and respect for potency of the...