Island Root has been in Melbourne since 2011, and has become a staple of Downtown Melbourne's nightlife. Island Root's primary product offering is kava, a drink produced from the finely ground roots of a pepper tree indigenous to the South Pacific islands such as Vanuatu, Fiji, and even Hawaii. The drink is chilled then served to the customer in a (plastic) coconut half-shell. Traditionally, islanders will hold up their shells and yell, "Boolah!" before drinking. Kava is rarely described as a "sipping drink," and is usually consumed quickly due to the pungent, earthy taste. Island Root Kava Bar is open seven days per a week, starting at 1:00 PM (3:00 PM on Sundays) until the wee hours of the morning. Because kava is a non-alcoholic beverage, the party continues after 2:00 AM.