Where to Taste Hawaiian Chocolate

A sensual experience awaits chocolate lovers in Hawaii, the only U.S. state that grows cacao commercially.

On the major islands, farm and factory tours give visitors the rare opportunity to trace the bean-to-bar process, then taste the ambrosial results. As an alternative, chocolate fans can savor sweets at annual Hawaii festivals where the delicious confection takes center stage. 

Here are a few educational, entertaining and enticing options for discovering the many delights of Hawaii-made chocolate.

Garden Island Chocolate, Kauai
Dark chocolate connoisseurs lick their lips at this north Kauai plantation masterminded by Koa Kahili. Specializing in treats made with no less than 85% cacao, the Kilauea-based attraction touts single-varietal, single-estate and single-origin Hawaiian chocolate.

Tours feature a walk around the farm’s 5 acres, teeming with exotic produce, some of which is used to embellish its products. 

But it’s the extensive tasting that really takes the cake. As guests snack on 20 types of chocolate, Kahili encourages them to share their thoughts on the different flavors, smells and textures at hand. 

www.gardenislandchocolate.com

Hana Gold, Maui
Set on the slopes of Haleakala volcano, Hana Gold boasts a combination of rich soil and tropical weather that’s perfect for cultivating cacao. Owners Robert and Francine Frost handcraft chocolate that’s a true Maui product, and the quality is apparent in each bite.

Guests of the 10-acre plantation learn about the entire chocolate-making routine, from planting trees; to harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting and grinding beans; to pouring the luscious amber liquid into molds.

Along with pure chocolate, clients can nibble on Hana Gold goodies that incorporate local ingredients such as Maui coffee, macadamia nuts and ginger.

www.hanagoldmaui.com

Lydgate Farms, Kauai
This family-run, east-Kauai farm presents a three-hour tour that covers all the chocolate-making bases.

As visitors are led around the 46-acre spread, they stop to try bites of seasonal fruits, see how vanilla is grown, learn how honey is made and marvel at the estate’s flowering trees and plants. In the chocolate orchard, clients peer into open pods to witness cacao beans at their source.

The fun continues during a tasting of various bars, with group participation and plenty of creative conversation. Guests come away with newfound appreciation for the intricacies of chocolate’s many textures, aromas, flavors and health benefits.

www.lydgatefarms.com

Manoa Chocolate, Oahu 
At this windward Oahu gem, Dylan Butterbaugh uses cacao from local farms whenever possible, but he also sources the best beans available from other parts of the world.

Tour guests get a firsthand look at his fascinating onsite production setup, and they gain enlightening insights into the roasting, cracking, winnowing, grinding and tempering processes. 

Afterward, visitors line up along a counter to sip cacao tea. At the same time, a chocolate sommelier leads them through a tasting, with bars of 60%, 70% and 85% cacao as well as bars seasoned with island ingredients such as Molokai salt and Maui lavender.

www.manoachocolate.com

Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, Hawaii Island
Bob and Pam Cooper were the first people to grow and make single-origin, 100% Hawaiian cacao chocolate. Today, they share their sweet success story at their property on the side of Hualalai volcano in Kona.

During a stroll through the orchard, Bob regales folks with tips: for instance, how to assess the cacao pods before handpicking them; why the beans need to be fermented for a week; and how they’re dried in the sun.

At tour’s end, guests dig into sumptuous samples. Chances are good that they’ll buy some souvenirs, including the Coopers’ signature chocolates shaped like plumeria flowers.

www.ohcf.us

Yearly Festivals
Hawaii celebrates all things cacao during two tantalizing annual events.

The Big Island Chocolate Festival, a fundraiser for local nonprofits and cacao farmers, features seminars, demonstrations, a student chef competition, a cacao bean taste-off and a dazzling evening gala. The 2020 edition runs from May 1-2 at Westin Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

Taste of Chocolate, one of Maui Film Festival’s most popular events, takes place in an outdoor venue at Four Seasons Resort Maui. Last year’s tasting stations served fantasies come true including chocolate mini-souffles, dark chocolate mousse cones and molten milk chocolate shots. Held each June, it’s a mood enhancer from start to finish.

www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com
www.mauifilmfestival.com