The Tiki Craze

Tiki culture used to be a thing of the past, but it's making a comeback. Tiki bars, tiki torches and tiki mugs are all coming back in style. There's nothing cooler than the feeling of being transported to a tropical island while you sip on your favourite drink from a Tiki Mug. 

Tiki culture is a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States.

Tiki culture is a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States and then, to a lesser degree, around the world. The style of Tiki culture is based on Pacific islander cultures from Melanesia and Micronesia - Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti and Samoa. It began as a pop art movement in California design studios in the 1930s that evolved into interior architecture for commercial use by 1950.

Tikis were originally carved out of wood by natives of Oceania or Hawaii as religious or ceremonial figures. By the time they were appropriated by Westerners for their own artistic purposes during the 1930s, most tikis had long since lost their original function as idols—but they still retained something of their spiritual essence because they had been made by native handiwork rather than factory manufacture.

Tiki culture is represented by artificial tropical environments and tiki artifacts, such as tiki bars, tiki huts, tiki torches, tiki statues, rattan furniture, colored lights, mosaic tiles and bamboo.

Tiki bars are lounges or restaurants that serve a variety of exotic cocktails in ornate ceramic mugs. The first such bar was the Don the Beachcomber restaurant in California in 1934. Polynesian Pop became a popular design style in the 1950s thanks to its use at Disneyland's Adventureland section and throughout Florida's Walt Disney World Resort. 

The idea of a Polynesian-themed restaurant was put into practice for the first time at the historic Don the Beachcomber restaurant located near Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Donn Beach opened his eponymous establishment on September 23, 1934, and it's said to be where he invented such classic tiki cocktails as the Suffering Bastard and Zombie.

It was also here that he invented his signature drink: a potent concoction made from rum, lime juice and grapefruit juice—which would eventually become known as Mai Tai.

Whether you live in a tropical paradise or not, there are plenty of ways to transport your guests to the islands.

Whether you live in a tropical paradise or not, there are plenty of ways to transport your guests to the islands.

The first step is to prepare a playlist of island-inspired music. Think about what your guests would be listening to out at sea and on a beach. Try listening to some reggae, calypso and steel drum music from the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

Tiki was a lot more than just decorations, though.

• Tiki was a lot more than just decorations, though.
• As mentioned above, in the early '40s people were drinking the best cocktails they had ever tasted. They were made with fresh ingredients and served by friendly bartenders who knew how to make them with care. This set the stage for what would become a worldwide tiki craze that would last until modern times.

Food and Drink, of course, was essential to tiki.

Food, of course, was essential to tiki. The menus were heavy on Pacific Rim cuisine with a healthy dose of American classics. Hawaiian flavors like pineapple and macadamia nuts were paired with more familiar ingredients like crabmeat or corn in a variety of dishes.

Tiki restaurants were not fast food places—the whole point was for you to linger over your meal and enjoy the ambiance. This meant that in addition to being tasty and exotic, the food had to be easy to eat while still looking appealing on the plate (a challenge even for our modern day chefs).Don't talk yourself out of trying some tiki cocktails!

For many years, tiki drinks were the domain of bartenders and their patrons.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, tiki culture was just beginning to take hold in America.

This included a fascination with Polynesian culture, which was reflected in clothing and food as well as in drink recipes.

Tiki drinks first became popular at Don the Beachcomber's restaurant chain in California (the original location is now open again).

The idea was simple: Create exotic-sounding cocktails that people would want to order again and again.

Tiki mugs are collectible!

Tiki mugs are fun and collectible. Most people will drink out of them, but some collectors care about the shape, size and design of their tiki mug. Some people even have collections for specific types of mugs; for example, there are many different kinds of zombie-themed tiki mugs.

Tiki is back and it's cooler than ever.

The Tiki Craze is back and better than ever!

I'm not sure if you remember the Tiki craze of the 50s, 60s and 70s. It was a time when people were looking for something fun to do on their days off from work. They wanted an escape from everyday life, so they'd go to these tropical themed bars and restaurants to enjoy some cocktails with umbrellas in them while listening to music from faraway places. They wanted a little bit of paradise in their lives.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to add some fun, creativity and exotica into your life, or if you just want to see what all the fuss is about, there are plenty of ways to bring tiki culture into your home. From tropical décor and accessories to music, food and drinks; from torches and plants to mugs and sculptures—all these things can help turn your house into a slice of paradise.

Tiki World Australia proudly offers a great range of Tiki Mugs and Tiki Glasses. We are looking at expanding our range to include other Tiki Bar products over the coming months so please check back regularly. 

If you are looking for Tiki Mugs Australia then this is the place to find them. 

www.tikiworld.com.au