Manoa – Ko’Olaupoko 70% Dark

Description

This is definitely the first chocolate in our range called Ko’Olaupoko. But that’s what you get when you start selling chocolate from Hawaii, they said to us simple Beekenaren (a village near Nijmegen, on the German border – not in Brabant, that’s Gelderland, and yes, that matters. Brabant is also nice, don’t get me wrong, and close by, and if you go to the beautiful side of Malden and Molenhoek you’ll be there in no time, just cross the Maas.

But, Hawaii. That’s where Manoa makes chocolate, and that with cocoa that also comes from Hawaii. From different places of course and as you could already guess (hopefully) the cocoa for this bar comes from the Ko’olaupoko region.

Mano says about it: “Koʻolaupoko represents a windward region of O’ahu stretching from Waimanalo to Kualoa. Ben Field of Mapele Fields collects cocoa beans from small-holder farms across the Ko’olaupoko region. They are then centrally fermented and dried at his farm in Kahaluʻu.

Field’s is a Hawaii nursery man born and raised in Kahaluʻu Valley. For years he has encouraged neighbors and friends to plant cacao trees across the Koʻolaupoko region. In 2017 his business Mapele Fields launched new services for start-up cacao farmers where they supply everything from grafted seedlings to planting, harvesting, and fermentation support.

His hard work has paid off. Between his own Kahalu’u farm, and the cacao he processes for others, he’s Mānoa Chocolate’s second largest supplier of fine Hawaiian cacao.”

Flavor notes described by the makers: honeysuckle, graham cracker, cherry.

Ingredients: cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter.

Allergy note: Made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, and soy. Contents 2 ounces.

Pairing suggestions from Manoa: red wine, Oregon pinot noir, beer: lager. Liquor: tequila blanco.