Kauai

From Branch to Bar – Chocolate and Coffee on Kauai

Chocoholics, the next meeting is on Kauai.

Just imagine enjoying the delicious taste of chocolate while on the beautiful Garden Island of Kauai. No problem, they sell chocolate everywhere. But did you know that Kauai is home to one of the few places in the United States that actually grow cacao?

The Steelgrass Farm is a locally owned and operated 8-acre tropical plantation in the heart of beautiful Kauai and the only place on Kauai where the cacao trees grow.

They have a fabulous 3-hour tour that takes you through the entire process of creating chocolate “from branch to bar.”

But if you love chocolate like I love chocolate, you must experience the 11 course dark chocolate tasting, which includes a sampling of rare chocolates from all over the world.

If you are simply ready to cut to the chase and don’t care about the agricultural involvement, you can go straight to The Kauai Chocolate Company on Kauai’s West side, where a locally owned and operated business will provide you with whatever decadence made from chocolate you could ever want. My favorites are the chocolates shaped like little pineapples.

Kauai is also home to one of my other favorite things, coffee. The Kauai Coffee Company is the largest coffee plantation in the entire United States. Imagine this on an island the size of Kauai (500 sq miles). They produce some of the best coffee you will ever taste, so please don’t miss the tour when you visit the West Side.

Kauai is full of surprises, even for those of us that live here. Kauai, chocolate and coffee…what more could you want?

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Anne Federici

October 13, 2010

Anything Ilona recommends is good enough for me; she has exceptional taste in anything and everything she does.

Anne Federici

October 13, 2010

Anything Ilona recommends is good enough for me; she has exceptional taste in anything and everything she does.

Barbara Gibbs

October 13, 2010

No wonder I call Kauai my home. Yum!! Chocolate and Coffee!! You are right—what more could I want????

Barbara Gibbs

COFFACHOCAHOLIC!!!!!!!

Barbara Gibbs

October 13, 2010

No wonder I call Kauai my home. Yum!! Chocolate and Coffee!! You are right—what more could I want????

Barbara Gibbs

COFFACHOCAHOLIC!!!!!!!

Tutu Watson

October 13, 2010

on my next trip to Kaua’i, i’ll make sure to stop by and get the chocolate tour as well as the 11-course tasting. of course, i will start my day with Kaua’i’s best…ono coffee. mahalo, Ilona

Tutu Watson

October 13, 2010

on my next trip to Kaua’i, i’ll make sure to stop by and get the chocolate tour as well as the 11-course tasting. of course, i will start my day with Kaua’i’s best…ono coffee. mahalo, Ilona

Lorie Wade

October 13, 2010

I did not know about the chocolate!!!!Kauai is so full of things to do,now I’ll have to add chocolate to my list. Kauai is as close to heaven as you can get. Can’t wait to come back.

Lorie Wade

October 13, 2010

I did not know about the chocolate!!!!Kauai is so full of things to do,now I’ll have to add chocolate to my list. Kauai is as close to heaven as you can get. Can’t wait to come back.

Scott Coffey

October 13, 2010

That’s my girl!….Sweet and habit forming!

Scott Coffey

October 13, 2010

That’s my girl!….Sweet and habit forming!

Laura Conrey

October 13, 2010

Kauai continues to surprise me with her endless treasures. Fresh Chocolate – Yum!

Laura Conrey

October 13, 2010

Kauai continues to surprise me with her endless treasures. Fresh Chocolate – Yum!

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Oh yes,,,Kauai is as sweet as it gets,,,with a bit of a caffine jolt,,,what more could you ask for!!

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Oh yes,,,Kauai is as sweet as it gets,,,with a bit of a caffine jolt,,,what more could you ask for!!

Michael Somers

October 13, 2010

Super tour, really fun people that know their stuff. I enjoyed the tour and had fun putting together an ad for them.

Michael Somers

October 13, 2010

Super tour, really fun people that know their stuff. I enjoyed the tour and had fun putting together an ad for them.

Laurel Bennett

October 13, 2010

Steelgrass Farm also has a professional recording studio!

Laurel Bennett

October 13, 2010

Steelgrass Farm also has a professional recording studio!

joyce yamase

October 13, 2010

i have recently heard about this wonderful treasure on kauai. Have to take some time and have a tour.

joyce yamase

October 13, 2010

i have recently heard about this wonderful treasure on kauai. Have to take some time and have a tour.

Kathy Offley

October 13, 2010

Something I have been wanting to take the time to do! Will have to plan a tour soon!!!! We are so lucky to be on Kauai where there are so many wonderful things to do!

Kathy Offley

October 13, 2010

Something I have been wanting to take the time to do! Will have to plan a tour soon!!!! We are so lucky to be on Kauai where there are so many wonderful things to do!

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Yes Kathy,,,we must do this Chocolate Tour,,,what are we waiting for??

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Yes Kathy,,,we must do this Chocolate Tour,,,what are we waiting for??

Linda Boote

October 13, 2010

I love chocolate! I want to try this chocolate from Kauai. Do you mail to Maui?

Linda Boote

October 13, 2010

I love chocolate! I want to try this chocolate from Kauai. Do you mail to Maui?

Betsy Larkin

October 13, 2010

Wow, Ilona, thanks for the great ideas! Richard and I will be sure to add these chocolate and coffee stops to our Thanksgiving trip to Kauai! Can’t wait to touch down in Lihue, and get back to Paradise!

Betsy Larkin

October 13, 2010

Wow, Ilona, thanks for the great ideas! Richard and I will be sure to add these chocolate and coffee stops to our Thanksgiving trip to Kauai! Can’t wait to touch down in Lihue, and get back to Paradise!

Lucy Adams

October 13, 2010

I love your blogs because you share something new or remind me why kauai is so special. Thanks. Lucy

Lucy Adams

October 13, 2010

I love your blogs because you share something new or remind me why kauai is so special. Thanks. Lucy

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Oh yes,,,we must all have chocolate and having chocolate and coffee on Kauai,,,oh my goodness,,,does it get any better than this?? We should all schedule a tour on the same day,,,and wipe them out!! Want to??

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Oh yes,,,we must all have chocolate and having chocolate and coffee on Kauai,,,oh my goodness,,,does it get any better than this?? We should all schedule a tour on the same day,,,and wipe them out!! Want to??

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Great Betsy,,,lets drink coffee and eat chocolate and then stay up all night!! Sounds like fun! See you soon,
Ilona

Ilona Coffey

October 13, 2010

Great Betsy,,,lets drink coffee and eat chocolate and then stay up all night!! Sounds like fun! See you soon,
Ilona

Andrea Williams

October 13, 2010

Wow, Ilona! Kauai & its very own Chocolate & Coffee too – YUMMO!!! Doesn’t get much better than that now, does it? Can’t wait to take the tours & consume a number of the goodies I saw on their websites that look outrageous. Thanks for sharing this wonderful info, Ilona!

Andrea Williams

October 13, 2010

Wow, Ilona! Kauai & its very own Chocolate & Coffee too – YUMMO!!! Doesn’t get much better than that now, does it? Can’t wait to take the tours & consume a number of the goodies I saw on their websites that look outrageous. Thanks for sharing this wonderful info, Ilona!

Andy Degeus

October 13, 2010

Sounds like great places to check out Ilona

Andy Degeus

October 13, 2010

Sounds like great places to check out Ilona

Helena Cooney

October 13, 2010

OK you guys don’t go without me!

Helena Cooney

October 13, 2010

OK you guys don’t go without me!

Carole Kahn

October 13, 2010

Here in Massachusetts, with the cold brisk air blowing the autumnal leaves across the yard, the vision of Kaua’i draws me back to it’s beckoning shores. Watching the sunrise with a cup of Kaua’i java…..dolphins dancing in the waves…..and now chocolate! Time to return to the garden isle.

Carole Kahn

October 13, 2010

Here in Massachusetts, with the cold brisk air blowing the autumnal leaves across the yard, the vision of Kaua’i draws me back to it’s beckoning shores. Watching the sunrise with a cup of Kaua’i java…..dolphins dancing in the waves…..and now chocolate! Time to return to the garden isle.

Chris

October 14, 2010

This is very informative article to me. I was aware of Kaua’i coffee, the best out there. But didn’t know their chocolate crops exsisted. Nice article.

Chris

October 14, 2010

This is very informative article to me. I was aware of Kaua’i coffee, the best out there. But didn’t know their chocolate crops exsisted. Nice article.

Lorna Hoff

October 14, 2010

Loved the information–learned a few more things to pass on to my guests–Thanks for sharing Ilona.

Lorna

Lorna Hoff

October 14, 2010

Loved the information–learned a few more things to pass on to my guests–Thanks for sharing Ilona.

Lorna

Dan Danenberg

October 14, 2010

Scott & Ilona
Chocolate & Coffee
Now these make a great combination!!!
Aloha,
Dan

Dan Danenberg

October 14, 2010

Scott & Ilona
Chocolate & Coffee
Now these make a great combination!!!
Aloha,
Dan

Verlene Dawson

October 14, 2010

I didn’t know about the chocolate plants, sound like a fun tour.

Verlene Dawson

October 14, 2010

I didn’t know about the chocolate plants, sound like a fun tour.

Rosemary Smythe

October 14, 2010

My husband is hooked on coffee and chocolate. Kauai Coffee Company is his favorite habit and his mother’s too!

Rosemary Smythe

October 14, 2010

My husband is hooked on coffee and chocolate. Kauai Coffee Company is his favorite habit and his mother’s too!

Sonya H

October 14, 2010

How much better could life get. Just add some wine!

Sonya H

October 14, 2010

How much better could life get. Just add some wine!

Ilona Coffey

October 14, 2010

Great idea Sonya,, a nice Cabernet and some Kauai Chocolate!!

Ilona Coffey

October 14, 2010

Great idea Sonya,, a nice Cabernet and some Kauai Chocolate!!

Patsy Sevison

October 15, 2010

Great…I look forward to checking this out.
Mahalo, Ilona!!

Patsy Sevison

October 15, 2010

Great…I look forward to checking this out.
Mahalo, Ilona!!

Ilona Coffey

October 15, 2010

Hey Patsy,,,come on over,,and we will go eat, drink and be hyper!!

Ilona Coffey

October 15, 2010

Hey Patsy,,,come on over,,and we will go eat, drink and be hyper!!

Dave Boote

October 15, 2010

Who would have known about chocolate in Hawaii without you.

Dave Boote

October 15, 2010

Who would have known about chocolate in Hawaii without you.

Mark Collett

October 18, 2010

I knew there was a reason we had to come back!

Mark Collett

October 18, 2010

I knew there was a reason we had to come back!

Ilona Coffey

October 18, 2010

Mark and Michelle,,,once again it is my pleasure to provided you with a reason to return to Kauai!!

Heather DeGeus

October 18, 2010

DANG! What am I doing here in fricking foggy chilly So. Cal when I could be over there with you nibbling Kauai grown chocolate? Didn’t know about the plantation tours. Will have to tell our house-pet sitters about it. And I must meet Sonya H…as she suggested adding the wine to the mix! They’re growing the grapes up on the way to Kokee! Hey, talk about sustainable agriculture! That’ll about sustain me! No need to ever leave Kauai! Hey, we could do the tour after tennis one Thurs?

Ilona Coffey

October 18, 2010

Mark and Michelle,,,once again it is my pleasure to provided you with a reason to return to Kauai!!

Heather DeGeus

October 18, 2010

DANG! What am I doing here in fricking foggy chilly So. Cal when I could be over there with you nibbling Kauai grown chocolate? Didn’t know about the plantation tours. Will have to tell our house-pet sitters about it. And I must meet Sonya H…as she suggested adding the wine to the mix! They’re growing the grapes up on the way to Kokee! Hey, talk about sustainable agriculture! That’ll about sustain me! No need to ever leave Kauai! Hey, we could do the tour after tennis one Thurs?

Pavel Opletal

October 23, 2010

I love chocolate and coffee, maybe I should move. 🙂

Pavel Opletal

October 23, 2010

I love chocolate and coffee, maybe I should move. 🙂

IIlona Coffey

October 24, 2010

Aloha Pavel, yes I think this is a great idea! Are you
still in Beautiful Prague? Also another special place
on the planet !

IIlona Coffey

October 24, 2010

Aloha Pavel, yes I think this is a great idea! Are you
still in Beautiful Prague? Also another special place
on the planet !

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