Kava

A tour of the Pacific region took a woozy turn for one Australian politician after he downed a cup of a traditional drink in one hit.

Now, it is more widely available, but it is still made by pounding the root on a special stone and mixing it with water and hibiscus sap, before serving it in a coconut shell. But McCormack soon realised the potent, Pohnpei-specific kava was a different beast altogether. “I haven’t slept like that in my entire parliamentary career. [Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/16/i-went-cross-eyed-australias-former-deputy-pm-taken-to-hospital-after-drinking-entire-bowl-of-kava) that he went “cross-eyed” after drinking it and slept for 14 hours following his visit to the hospital. [Pohnpei](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/least-visited-countries-travel/index.html) in the Federated States of [Micronesia](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/micronesia-atolls/index.html) to celebrate 35 years of bilateral relations while touring the Pacific in a delegation, when he was offered sakau – a type of Micronesian kava – as a ceremonial drink. [Australian](https://www.cnn.com/world/australia) politician after he downed a cup of a traditional drink in one hit.

Australia's former Deputy PM Michael McCormack was taken to hospital after he drank or rather gulped an entire bowl of Kava, during a diplomatic tour of ...

It’s known for being one of the stronger Kavas and it is generally recommended that one should sip it because there is very little water added to the roots when making the drink. According to Pohnpeian folklore, Sakau is supposed to be a gift from the gods and is usually served in a coconut shell, the state symbol of Pohnpei. He claimed he went 'çross-eyed' and slept for 14 hours thereafter, according to a report in the Guardian.

Nationals MP and former deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has wound up in hospital after getting a little too adventurous with a drink in the Pacific ...

It had a peppery essence and I was OK for 10 to 15 minutes and then I thought, ‘Ooooh, OK’,” he told the Guardian. In a bid to show my respect to local traditions I drank the whole bowl of Sakau. Feeling much better now and it’s been a great chance to connect with our Pacific family in FSM.

Michael McCormack was on a diplomatic tour of Micronesia when he was offered a shell of sakau, a type of kava, a traditional drink made from the root of a ...

He was taken to hospital for dehydration and was released with a clean bill of health. “They made it in front of us, squeezing the juice out of these massive tree roots, just absolutely squeezing it. I really did.

"I was OK for 10 to 15 minutes and then I thought, 'Ooooh, OK'"

It had a peppery essence and I was OK for 10 to 15 minutes and then I thought, ‘Ooooh, OK’,” he told the Guardian. “I haven’t slept like that in my entire parliamentary career. I really did. The Nationals MP was offered a bowl of Kava, but couldn't stomach the traditional drink. I went cross-eyed. He was helped to his car and taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has described going "cross-eyed" after drinking kava in Vanuatu and the Federated...

Like a drunken feeling." It's like a sedative. The Nationals frontbencher was taken to a medical clinic in Pohnpei in Micronesia after downing a ceremonial shell of local kava known as "sakau" on Wednesday.

When in Rome do as the Romans do — but not in the Pacific, where ex-deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has come off second best after an encounter with ...

Mr McCormack said he was trying to be respectful but in future he would just take a sip at kava-drinking rituals “as Penny sensibly did”. He returned to Australia on Friday, telling reporters he went “cross-eyed” and threw up after finishing the sakau, which he said was stronger than the Vanuatu kava he consumed the day before. The Nationals frontbencher was taken to a medical clinic in Pohnpei in Micronesia after downing a ceremonial shell of local kava, known as “sakau”, on Wednesday.

Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has described going "cross-eyed" after drinking kava in Vanuatu and the Federated...

Like a drunken feeling." It's like a sedative. The Nationals frontbencher was taken to a medical clinic in Pohnpei in Micronesia after downing a ceremonial shell of local kava known as "sakau" on Wednesday.