Andrew Thayer

athayer@pressconnects.com | @Andrew_Thayer

What are the two questions Juris Ahn gets asked most frequently about his new downtown Binghamton establishment Doc Concrescence, Kava, Tea & Elixir Bar and Social Club?

"What does Kava taste like?" and "How will it make me feel?"

The curious beverage spot located in the historical Perry Building— situated on the roundabout in downtown Binghamton – opened in early February as the first kava bar in Broome County.

Kava is a herb used as a calming and euphoriant substance in Polynesian traditions for thousands of years. To prepare kava, the root of the Piper Methysticum plant, a member of the pepper family, is crushed and mixed in a bowl with filtered water. The resulting drink both physically resembles and tastes like mud.

Though Kava is legal for all ages, Doc Concrescence keeps a house rule that people under 18 years of age are not served Kava. Ahn says he wants to avoid any stigma of being the place where kids go to get "messed up."

According to Ahn, the best way to drink kava is to chug it. Served in a shallow bowl as a "shot", each kava drink is meant to be downed quickly, to avoid its earthy taste and the peculiar mouth-numbing sensation that slowly sipping the drink will cause. A single-serving bowl of kava costs between $5 and $7 while a six-serving jars cost between $25 and $35.

Binghamton resident Tyler Loop popped into Doc Con's for his first taste of kava on a recent Friday afternoon.

"It's really good, I actually like the flavor, it's an interesting taste," said Loop after quickly throwing back a bowl of 'Awa Mo'i', a Hawaiin kava.

Kava bars are popping up around the country and can be found in cities such as New York, Ithaca, Portland, Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, where Ahn lived for nearly 25 years.

"Now there is something like three or four kava bars in the Bay Area and my friends who are still there are like, 'It's doing really great, you should have done it way back when,'" said Ahn.

Beyond kava, Doc Con's serves up Ahn's herbal "magical potions" and elixirs meant to cure a variety of ailments, provide a spark of energy, or increase focus. Specialized imported teas are another staple on the menu with future plans for a Doc Concrescence custom coffee brew from L'Aveggio in the works.

Ahn says his vision for Doc Concrescence is to provide a social space "where you can hang out, do your own thing, but do it in a community space that's not alcohol-centric." The approximately 1,500-square-foot space includes a small room that can be rented by the hour by the hour or by the day.

People can also sit inside the former vault of the Chenango Valley Bank, where they can listen to music or read a book.

"We loved the building, I love the history of the building, I love everything about Perry building, this is like the ideal location," said Ahn.

Koji Lum, a professor in the anthropology department at Binghamton University, first gained an appreciation for kava in 2000 while studying malaria on the island of Pentecost, Vanuatu. It is believed that kava was domesticated in Vanuatu and then spread throughout Polynesia. Over the past 17 years he has tried kava on 13 islands in Vanuatu.

"I have to say it's probably the best kava I have had outside of Vanuatu, mainly because it is prepared with food grade amylase to mimic the traditional chewing of southern Vanuatu" said Lum of Ahn's kava.

As an experienced kava drinker, Lum gives two suggestions for first-time kava drinkers or those interested in trying the drink. First, be mindful that kava is a postsynaptic neuron inhibitor, meaning the signals your brain sends to other parts of your body diminish with distance so you may feel completely lucid while your legs are wobbly. While this isn't as much of a concern with moderate kava consumption, a designated driver still might be a good idea if you drink 3-4 bowls.

Secondly, users should be aware that kava, like grapefruit juice, inhibits Cytochrome P450 enzymes, which can change the effective dose of certain medications. According to the National Institutes of Health, although rare, instances of liver poisoning and serious health complications have been known to occur after consuming kava.

As far as having the best time while sipping kava, Lum suggests staying away from bright lights or loud sounds, and enjoying the company of friends.

"I think kava is good for talking with friends and it makes you introspective, it's good for communication," said Lum.

If you go

What: Doc Concrescence Kava, Tea, Elixer Bar & Social Club

When: Sunday-Monday, closed

Tuesday: 2-10 p.m., poetry open mic runs 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday: 2-10 p.m., music open mic runs 8-10 p.m.

Thursday: 2-10 p.m.

Friday: 2-11 p.m., live music runs 7-9 p.m.

Saturday: 1-11 p.m.

Where: 89 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901

More information: Visit drconcrescence.com or call (607) 304-4557.