Tiki drinks are known to be fun and festive, but they also have an amazing history.

When people hear the word "Tiki", they usually think of carved wooden statues with a scowl. These carvings were first discovered in Polynesia, and are an integral part of South Pacific mythology, culture and history. Of course we won't be able to cover the whole story and layers to it in this post, so let’s look back at some of the highlights in the history of Tiki drinks!

Tiki Culture and Art

It's amazing how many legends there are surrounding Tiki culture, which might be because there are so many island cultures that pay tribute to Tiki Gods. The four major Hawaiian Tiki Gods are Ku the God of War, Lono the God of Fertility and Peace, Kane the God of Light and Life, and Kanaloa the God of the Sea.

Tiki carving is one of the oldest art forms known to man. Each island culture introduced another variation to the carving technique, making every original Tiki carving unique.

Some still believe in the power of the Tiki, and the statues all have different purposes. Some are meant to be used in ceremonies similar to voodoo, some with threatening expressions are used to scare away evil spirits, and others with friendlier expressions are used in healing services, or to bring good luck.

How TIki made its way into bars

A man named Donn Beach opened the first Tiki bar in Hollywood, California, in 1934. He was inspired by the Polynesian culture that he had experienced while traveling in the South Pacific. The restaurant featured everything from exotic drinks to flaming torches and Cantonese cuisine. In the bar, he mixed rum with fresh fruits to recreate the flavours he experienced.

In the early 1940s Victor Bergeron created the chain "Trader Vic". The restaurants were inspired by Donn Beach in the interior style and food, and the returning soldiers from WWII were familiar with the cuisine and decor, which helped its popularity. Trader Vic is said to be the creator of the Mai Tai, although he was probably pretty heavily inspired by Donn Beach.

The 1970s saw a decline in Tiki bars as disco became all the hype, but it wasn't gone for long. Tiki became popular in the 80s again thanks to a combination: the curiosity of the younger generation towards Tiki culture, and the nostalgia from the middle aged who remembered their parents hosting the popularly themed parties.

Today we still find Tiki bars around the world, where Rum-based drinks like the Mai Tai and Zombie still flow freely and the Tiki Gods maintain their scowling disposition.

Which Tiki cocktail is your favourite?