×
×
homepage logo

Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate offers free and discounted chocolate tastings for kama‘aina

By Staff | Jul 16, 2020

Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate’s Retail Store and Factory is open at 78 Ulupono St., Suite 1, in Lahaina.

LAHAINA – Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (MKEC) has reopened with a sweet opportunity for Hawaii residents. The chocolate company is enticing kama’aina and their families to enjoy free and half-off deals for in-person tastings at its retail store in Lahaina.

“Getting people to taste the chocolate is our number one priority,” said CEO and full-time West Maui resident Dr. Gunars Valkirs.

“One bite and I know they will realize it’s world-class chocolate, made right here on Maui, and they’ll want to buy it and support us as a local small business.”

Treat your taste buds and deepen your understanding of Ku’ia Estate’s Made in Maui farm-to-bar process through the following options:

The 13-Flavor Tasting includes five-gram pieces of Ku’ia Estate’s single-origin chocolates using cacao sourced from a single-family estate in Ecuador, and Ku’ia Estate’s 2020 Limited Release single-origin chocolate using cacao that is 100 percent grown on its 50-acre Lahaina farm.

Cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple, with all proceeds benefiting Maui Food Bank. In addition, the chocolate factory is an official Maui Food Bank donation site.

A Ten-Flavor Tasting is available for $5 per person for kama’aina (normally $10), and the tasting fee will be credited toward the purchase of chocolate or merchandise in the onsite retail store.

The Five-Flavor Tasting is complimentary (normally $5) for kama’aina.

MKEC has also launched Virtual Tastings. These interactive live sessions bring the chocolate experience to guests in the comfort of their own home. For a complete virtual tasting experience, guests are encouraged to purchase chocolate at mauichocolate.com, then register for a free virtual tasting in which chocolate experts will guide participants through the various flavor profiles. Chocolate purchase is not required to participate in the virtual tasting.

For more information, go to mauichocolate.com or visit the Retail Store and Factory at 78 Ulupono St., Suite 1, in Lahaina. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (844) 844-5842 (KUIA) for details.

MKEC is Hawaii’s largest farm-to-bar chocolate factory that is fully powered by the sun.

MKEC was founded in 2015 by former biotech entrepreneur Valkirs with the goal of growing and making some of the world’s finest chocolate right here on Maui, and then returning 100 percent of net profits in cooperation with its wholesale corporate partners to Maui charities and the nonprofit community.

MKEC’s retail store offers a viewing window into the factory, and videos on large screens allow guests to see the farm and harvesting process.