Explore fine chocolate and Hawaii-grown cacao at a working farm
2 hrs
Farm tour, chocolate tasting
Explore fine chocolate at a Hawaiian cacao farm and gain a new perspective on how chocolate is sourced and enjoyed.
Farm Tour The first part of our 1.5 hour guided tour includes a trip to our orchard where we’ll teach you everything we know about cacao, including growing the trees, harvesting, fermentation, and the drying of cacao beans.
Chocolate Tasting After the tour of our cacao orchard, we’ll venture up to our covered lanai and tasting area and we’ll open a ripe cacao pod and taste fresh cacao fruit. You’ll enjoy an extensive chocolate tasting with five of our current award-winning product offerings. Similar to a wine tasting, we’ll teach you how to taste chocolate like a connoisseur. You’ll also learn chocolate’s rich history, its health benefits (it’s a superfood!), the entire chocolate making process from roasting to tempering, and finally, we’ll take a close look at the global industry of cacao and chocolate and how it relates to Hawaii.
We end our tour at our downtown store so that you can see our production area and machines, and of course, purchase our products.
Full refund with at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice receive a 50% refund. No-shows receive no refund.
Product ID: AP3SS9
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your tasting start time.
Weather can change quickly. The tasting is under cover, but bring a light jacket and/or hat in case of rain for the short walk between the parking and tasting areas.
The experience is listed for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with availability Monday through Saturday between 2–4pm. Check the online calendar for specific dates and times.
45-3584 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Honokaa, HI 96727
Mike Pollard brings his aerospace engineering background and family farming heritage to creating premium chocolate that visitors consistently call world-class. His farm tours stand out for their intimate, educational approach where you learn directly from the chocolatier himself rather than staff guides. The experience includes walking through the cacao orchard to understand different tree varieties, then heading to the processing facility to see how beans become finished bars. Tasting sessions let you compare multiple chocolate varieties and learn proper tasting techniques to appreciate subtle flavor differences. The tour runs about two hours and requires advance reservation. Most guests find Mike's knowledge impressive and his passion infectious, though a few felt the presentation could be more concise. If you stop by the retail store without booking a tour, expect a small space focused primarily on purchasing chocolate bars rather than demonstrations or interactive elements. The generous tastings during tours give you plenty of opportunity to find your favorite before buying, and many visitors leave with several bars to take home after discovering the quality difference in craft chocolate.
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