10 Drinks in Tonga You HAVE to Try!

Kava is the national drink of Tonga, made with the ground-up kava root mixed with water. It is a narcotic drink, which is typically only drunk by men in kava circles, also called a kalapu (club) or faikava (to drink kava).

Don't worry; you have to drink quite a lot to feel any effects. For visitors of any gender, it's possible to try kava in some resorts, or some local guesthouses will even take you to an authentic faikava.

For a deeper cultural experience, Ancient Tonga offers the "Tinopai Kava Tour" at their farm in Vaini Village. Journey through the complete kava story from plant to cup while learning about ancient preparation methods and cultural significance. You'll taste around four distinct varieties in the welcoming atmosphere of a traditional fale, discovering the medicinal properties and sacred customs surrounding this revered Pacific root.

You can even try Pacific Brewing Co.'s unique "sparkling kava" at the Reload Bar in Nuku'alofa!

Learn more about this experience and how to participate in our guide, Where to Try Kava in Tonga.

A refreshing drink popular across the South Pacific, ‘otai is a refreshing fruit drink usually accompanying large meals, but can also be found at markets in Tonga.

A common ‘otai recipe is blending water with shredded coconut flesh with watermelon. However, there are other popular renditions of the drink, such as watermelon and pineapple or just mango, pineapple or ambarella fruit (vi).

Traditionally, the drink was made with fekika, a mountain apple, before watermelon was introduced to Tonga.

'Otai is typically made in Tongan homes but can be found for sale at the Tu'i Mata Moana Market at Faua Wharf, Nuku'alofa - learn more in the 5 Best Markets in Tonga.

One of the most recognisable beer brands across the islands of Tonga, Pacific Brewing Co. crafts a range of beers, ginger ales and RTDs.

Maui Pacific Larger and the similarly tasting Tiki Pale Ale are the easiest to find on tap and in bottles in bars, restaurants and resorts across The Kingdom, while Pulotu Coconut Stout is a darker beer with strong coffee and barley components well worth scouting out.

Also available are Hikule'o Ginger Beer, Koai Bourbon & Cola and their latest innovation, Sparkling Kava.

Check out some bars where you can try Tongan beers in the 10 Best Bars in Tonga.

Tupu'anga Coffee is a true farm-to-table experience where coffee is handpicked, roasted and packaged right here in Tonga. Visit their café and roastery in eastern Nuku'alofa just off Umusi Road, where you can taste their freshly roasted coffee and take a complimentary informal tour of their roasting area.

What sets this place apart is their commitment to doing everything in-house. They grow their own taro on their farm and make their signature taro chips right on-site, which they package and sell alongside their coffee.

Their coffee selection covers all the standard espresso-based drinks, plus iced variations with various syrups and milk alternatives.

Tupu'anga also prides itself on ethical trade, paying Tongan Arabica bean farmers a fair price above the worldwide commodity rate and only using local Tongan workers throughout the farming, roasting and packaging process.

The café operates from 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturday, staying closed on Sundays.

Learn more about visiting the café in the 10 Best Cafes in Tonga.

Another fantastic Tongan coffee you can try on the islands is Kingdom Koffie! It’s one of the main coffees sold in cafes, made from coffee beans harvested on a plantation in Vaini on Tongatapu.

Kingdom Koffie is also widely available to buy in bags in gift stores and supermarkets in Tonga - see The Guide to Food Shopping in Tonga to learn more.

You can hardly do fresher than drinking water straight from the coconut! Many cafes, bars and restaurants across the islands sell coconuts (niu) ready to drink with a straw, giving you a true tropical island experience.

Don’t underestimate how much liquid those coconuts hold though; they’re definitely not something you can drink in a hurry!

Not particularly drunk for its taste, nonu juice is said to have all sorts of health benefits. Nonu juice, with juice derived from the noni fruit known for its unappealing smell, is admittedly harsh on the palette.

Nevertheless, Ene’io Naturals at the Ene’io Botanical Garden on Vava’u produces a range of pure nonu juice drinks as a dietary supplement to provide a “mixture of essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements”.

Learn more about the Ene’io Botanical Garden in the 15 Best Foodie Experiences in Tonga.

Being a tropical island nation where tropical fruit is available in abundance, Tonga is a place where cocktails are extremely well-done! You’ll find cocktail menus in just about any bar, restaurant or resort where fresh fruit is usually a keen component of the drink, as well as a bit of alcohol, of course!

Check out The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Tonga for places to try your Pina Colada.

In the same vein as above, the abundance of tropical fruit available on the islands all year round makes Tonga a place where tropical smoothies are done oh so well.

Juicers and smoothies feature on most drinks menus, but a juice bar we can't help but recommend is Moli Green Cafe in Nuku'alofa - find out more in 20 Best Restaurants in Tonga.

Check out some of the fruit grown in Tonga the 10 Exotic Fruits in Tonga You Have to Try!

Available across The Kingdom in glass beer bottles, Maka is sold as the "Friendly Islands Lager". The dirty little secret, however, is that Maka is actually produced in New Zealand by Lion New Zealand.

Nevertheless, the light lager with a cute depiction of Tonga's Ha'amonga 'a Maui (see 10 Best Historical Sites) on the label might just be your best friend after a hot day in the sun.