If you've never tried kava before, the taste question is a fair one. Kava has a reputation. Traditional kava - the kind served in a wooden bowl at a ceremony in Fiji or Tonga - is earthy, thick, slightly muddy, and an acquired taste that takes most people several sessions to appreciate.
Melo is not that.
But understanding where kava's flavor comes from, why traditional kava tastes the way it does, and how Melo solved the problem is worth knowing before you crack open your first can.
What does traditional kava taste like?
Traditional kava is made by grinding or pounding dried kava root into a powder, mixing it with water, and straining the resulting liquid through cloth or fiber. The drink is earthy, slightly bitter, and faintly numbing on the tongue. The numbing sensation comes from the kavalactones themselves.
The taste is often described as:
- Earthy - like drinking something that came directly from the ground
- Slightly peppery - a mild spice note from the kavalactones
- Faintly bitter - not intensely so, but present
- Mildly numbing - particularly on the lips and tongue
It's not unpleasant once you know what to expect. But it's definitely an acquired taste. Pacific Island communities have been drinking it for thousands of years, which gives some perspective on how acquirable that taste is. New kava drinkers in the West, however, often struggle with it on first encounter.
What does kava smell like?
Traditional kava has a distinctive earthy, slightly vegetal smell - similar to how a root vegetable smells when freshly cut, or how a forest floor smells after rain. It's not an offensive smell but it's unmistakably plant-forward and not what most people would describe as inviting.
The smell comes from the root itself. The kavalactones and the organic compounds in the kava plant combine to produce an aroma that is earthy and slightly herbal. Some people describe a faint peppery note alongside the earthiness.
For first-timers encountering traditional kava at a kava bar or ceremony, the smell is often the first signal that this is something genuinely different from anything they've had before.
How Melo solved the taste problem
This was one of the founding challenges of Melo. The kava experience is genuinely valuable - calm and social ease in minutes, zero calories, zero hangover. But the traditional taste was a genuine barrier to mainstream adoption.
The solution was extraction and formulation rather than masking. Rather than trying to cover up the earthy kava taste with strong artificial flavors, Melo's process extracts the kavalactone profile from noble kava root, preserving what matters for the effect, while removing the compounds responsible for the earthy, bitter taste.
The result is a kava extract neutral enough in flavor to combine genuinely well with natural fruit flavors, producing a sparkling drink that actually tastes good. Not "good for a kava drink". Actually good.
What does Melo taste like?
The honest answer is that it depends on the flavor, and none of them taste like kava in the traditional sense.
Tahitian Lime
Crisp, bright, and clean with a citrus-forward profile that drinks like a sparkling margarita. There's a tartness from the lime that balances with a mild sweetness and the effervescence of the sparkling water. No earthiness. No bitterness.
First sip reaction from most people: "This tastes like a margarita." Usually followed by: "Wait, where's the alcohol?"
Banana Cream
Smooth, tropical, and mellow. This is the flavor that surprises people most. It's not aggressively banana, not artificial, and not sweet in the way most banana-flavored drinks are. It's rounded and easy-drinking with a slight creaminess that makes it feel indulgent without being heavy.
First sip reaction from most people: "I didn't expect to like this as much as I do." Banana Cream is Melo's cult favorite for a reason.
Passionfruit Orange Guava
Bold, fruity, and tropical. This is Melo's most popular flavor and the easiest sell for first-timers. The combination of passionfruit, orange, and guava produces something bright and complex that lands immediately. There's depth to it without being difficult.
First sip reaction from most people: "Oh, that's really good." This is the flavor that most often converts skeptics.
What about the lip tingling?
First-timers sometimes notice a mild tingling or slight numbness on the lips shortly after drinking Melo. That is the kavalactones, the same compounds behind the calm, and it fades within a few minutes. Pacific Island communities who drink traditional kava regularly know it as a sign the kava is potent.
If anything about how you feel concerns you, stop and speak to a healthcare professional. Otherwise, by the second or third can you'll recognise it as the precursor to the calm that follows.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
For more on what to expect from your first time, read: What Does Kava Feel Like? A First-Timer's Honest Guide
Does Melo smell like kava?
No. The extraction process that removes the earthy taste also removes most of the earthy kava smell. Melo smells like the fruit on the can - lime, banana, or tropical fruit - not like the root.
Tips for your first Melo
Serve it cold. Melo is best straight from the fridge or over ice. The temperature amplifies the freshness of the flavor and the carbonation. Room temperature Melo is noticeably flatter in both senses.
Don't expect it to taste like kava. If you've tried traditional kava and you're bracing for the same thing, relax. It's a completely different experience.
Start with Passionfruit Orange Guava or Tahitian Lime if you want the most immediately accessible flavor. Start with Banana Cream if you want the one that most often becomes people's favorite.
Give it 15 minutes after your first can before deciding how you feel about the effect. The taste impression is immediate. The kava impression takes a little longer.
Not sure which flavor to start with?
Read: Which Melo Flavor Should You Try First?
Or try all three with the Mixed Pack - one of each flavor, the lowest-commitment way to find your go-to.
Ready to try it?
Three flavors. From $19.99 for a 4-pack. Free shipping over $25.
Drink differently.
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