Issue No. 48: Chocolate in Hawaii

Published 6:30 am Monday, February 14, 2022

By Staff Reports

Chocolate is a delectable treat loved by many. To learn more about how this sweet indulgence is made, we traveled to the beautiful island of Kauai to visit to Lydgate Farms, a cacao farm that sits above the town of Kapaa.

Did you know that Hawaii is the only U.S. state with commercial cacao plantations? While there is quite a lot of chocolate produced domestically, most of it is made from imported cocoa beans. With the advantage of Kauai’s highly-developed soils and fertile growing conditions, Lydgate grows high-quality cacao to produce some of the richest and finest craft chocolate.

Chocolate labeling can be confusing, with terms like “fair trade,” “direct trade” and “bean-to-bar.” We explain what these designations mean and also take you through how chocolate does get from bean to bar. Plus, Hawaiian chef Brandon Baptiste gives us three amazing recipes. His tip? The better the quality of chocolate, the better the flavor and quality of the result.

Finally, we offer our suggestions for chocolate brands that are not only highly delicious but ethically-made and earth-friendly, too.