Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Farm - Lahaina Friday - Day 8 Today was a little of everything, starting with a tour of Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Farm. I had misjudged when we should leave to get there and was embarrassed that we were a few minutes late and held up the start of the tour. The tour group had gathered on the second floor in an open air space that looks like it is used for tasting, but all of our tour took place at their estate, which was a 10 minute van ride away. On the ride to the plantation, our guide told us the history of Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Farm. The company was founded by Dr. Gunars Valkirs, a biophysicist who invented the first rapid visual pregnancy test and retired to Maui after selling that company. Raising cacao began more or less as a hobby, but became an obsession and he now leases 50 acres from Kamehameha Schools. The first cacao harvest was in 2019. 100% of the company's net profits go to local Maui charities through the Makana Aloha Foundation. The tour includes a walk through the cacao grove, where the plants are grown in the shade of other plants and there are several varieties of cacao plants. They do not do well in full sun or in strong winds.
The tasting takes place on a raised open deck and consisted of tasting 9 different chocolates. All are made at their factory, though not all of the cacao is grown at their farm, or even on Maui. Those candies made from imported cacao are labeled "Made in Maui" rather than "Grown and made in Maui."
The tour concluded back at the factory and their Retail Store & Café where we purchased chocolates for gifts to take home. They accept cash less payments only. The factory was not operating on Saturday, but the machinery could be viewed though a window.
|
