Donkey Balls - Tiny Balls - chocolate covered Macnuts - May 12, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Donkey Balls

Tiny Balls - Chocolate Covered Macnuts

Good + 

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226.8 g.) in total package

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving

Cost: $6.99 (estimate) paid for 1 package

Purchased from: (retail shop in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

Aloha and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Tiny Balls Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts (Macnuts) were packaged by KRM Distributors, LLC (Kailua-Kona, HI). 

The "Keoki's Donkey" retail store on the Big Island of Hawaii offered a variety of packaged coffees, chocolate-covered nuts with risque names, and other items (honey, teas) with local ties. The chocolates featured an image of a cartoon donkey named Keoki wearing a Hawiian shirt.

The aroma for these round balls included chocolate-y, nutty and malty notes. A subtle hint of vanilla in the milk chocolate added a faint, warm hot cocoa note.

At the core of each ball lay a whole, softly crunchy, macadamia nut. The nut center was generously enrobed in a smooth, relatively firm--and what, happily, tasted like a slightly higher percent cacao--milk chocolate coating. 

These were labeled "tiny balls" but were still generously sized. The bigger balls (other Donkey Ball flavors) almost required one to take a bite first, unless you wanted to feel you were taking on a "jawbreaker" (very large, round and hard candy).

This was a fun novelty chocolate from Hawaii, made with a relatively short list of ingredients (without preservatives or artificial ingredients).

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, milk, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin-an emulsifier, vanilla), Macnuts.

Allergen-related information: Contained milk, nuts (macadamia nuts) and soy (lecithin). (No further information on package.)

Note: These chocolate-covered nuts were expired; but had been stored in a cool, dark place.

Donkey Bites - Blueberries - Sept. 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

KRM Distributors LLC
Donkey Bites - Dingle Berries (Blueberries)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.95 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Donkey Balls store, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Berry Theme Week.

I found these chocolates -- adorned with a Hawaiian shirt-wearing cartoon donkey -- in a Donkey Balls store in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. These, and other chocolates I purchased on the same trip, were being sold via KRM Distributors.

The distributor of Donkey Balls (a popular chocolate line from Hawaii), also offered Donkey Bites. Today's featured Bites, or Dingle Berries, were blueberry flavored. Whole blueberries in milk/white chocolate, with a confectioners glaze polish. They were sweet, berry-flavored candies, with a hint of sweet milk chocolate flavor.

Donkey Balls - Dark Strawberries, Sept. 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Donkey Balls
(Packaged by KRM Distribution LLC)
Dingle Berries - Whole Strawberries Smothered in Dark Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: 175 calories (estimate) for 5 pieces
Cost: $6.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: Store in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I can always count on a new chocolate in the Donkey Balls product line-up. This Hawaii-based brand started with several chocolate covered macadamia nut items and has expanded to other chocolate-covered nuts and berries, such as today's Dingle Berries -- strawberries covered in glossy dark chocolate.

Whole fresh strawberries partially dipped in melted chocolate can brighten up a lot of dessert plates. But, if its the wrong time of year for fresh berries, and you want something on the irreverent side, check out what Donkey Balls has in season.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Berry Theme Week.

Donkey Balls - Almonds - Aug. 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Donkey Balls
Donkey Blitz - Chocolate Covered Almonds
Good - Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (112 g.) in total package
Calories: 600 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: shop in Kailua-Kona, HI

What is a Donkey Ball you may ask? Donkey Balls (made and sold in Hawaii) are generally large and round chocolate spheres with whole macadamia nuts residing in the centers. But, today's "Donkey Blitz"bag from the Big Island were bite-sized chocolate covered almonds.

Keoki the Donkey is a cartoon character that appears on Donkey Balls chocolate mac nut packaging. He seems to be the source of two quotes that appear below him: "Nuts to you and chocolate too" and "Chocolate people sure are smart." Yes, Keoki, they certainly are. Smart enough to know that chocolate and almonds are a winning combination.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Milk Chocolate Tiny Balls - March 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

KRM Distributors, LLC
Milk Chocolate Tiny Balls - Donkey Balls
Good - Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate) for 4 balls / 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 4 balls
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: Donkey Balls store, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

You can't visit the Big Island of Hawaii without catching a glimpse of Donkey Balls. Sold in several stores, bags of these chocolate covered macadamia nuts were adorned with pictures of Keoki, the Hawaiian shirt clad cartoon donkey.

Donkey Balls can be immersed in 20 layers of chocolate, resulting in a softer, rich chocolate version of a large, round candy jaw-breaker.

Today's "Tiny Balls" were smaller than standard size Donkey Balls, and were covered with milk chocolate. (Donkey Balls were also available in at least a dozen other flavor variations, some with dark chocolate.) Made with fewer layers than their larger siblings, these tinier balls allowed easier access to crunchy macadamia nut centers.

I enjoyed a hint of malt flavor note in these diminutive Donkey Balls, and the relatively dark, rich milk chocolate -- happily, a higher quality of cacao than I've found in some other whimsical offerings, or tourist-friendly travel shops. And, who wouldn't want to take home an item that flattered potential buyers with this statement: "Chocolate People Sure Are Smart!"

Hawaiian Umami Nuts - Feb. 26, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Have a Ball Chocolate Factory

1.) Numb Nuts - Hot Buffalo
Good
Weight: 0.10 oz. (2.8 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 15 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Have a Ball Chocolate Factory, Kealakekua, HI

2.) Numb Nuts - Wassssssabi
Good +
Weight: 0.10 oz. (2.8 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 15 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Have a Ball Chocolate Factory, Kealakekua, HI

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Umami or Bacon Theme Week, and this afternoon I focused on a range of umami-rich nut and spicy seasoning combinations from the Kona, Hawaii area.

The first two items came from the Have a Ball Chocolate Factory (that also carries coffee, Donkey Balls, Boar Balls, Monkey Balls, and, well you get the picture). I was excited about this company's dark chocolate covered peanuts with wasabi. Part of a "Numb Nuts" spicy chocolate covered nut line, today's two Numb Nuts packages were adorned with a crazed-looking squirrel, holding a flaming nut.

I enjoyed the wasabi and peanut flavors. However, after the first bite, I realized these contained wheat flour, something I can't eat.

So I moved on to the second flavor of Numb Nuts that I purchased: Hot Buffalo -- dark chocolate covered peanuts with Buffalo sauce. These were off-the-chart spicy hot. I suggest taking a small bite first. (Note: Warning sticker on the front of the package read: "Up to 350,000 Scoville Units.") Translation: very hot.

Four Seasons Inspired Bar Nuts

The Four Seasons in Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii is worth a visit. The offerings (including specially made bread) on their gluten free menu were the best I've ever tasted. With this recent visit in mind, I loved finding a recipe purported to be for the bar nuts at this resort.

I made my own version of this recipe with smoked macadamia nuts, and coated these (as well as pecans, cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.) with butter, brown sugar, cajun seasoning, salt, smoked cumin, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.

Probably unwise to mess with a wonderful bar nut recipe like this, but if you're feeling creative:
Add a pinch of Hawaiian cacao nibs for a bittersweet accent. Or, for an umami-rich topping, try shreds of seaweed (nori) with brown sugar (from Annie Chun).

ChocolateBet: July 4, 2011

Chocolates of the Day:


Keoki's Chocolate Factory
Donkey Balls
1.) Dirty Balls - Dark Chocolate - Cocoa Powder - Good +
2.) Orange Cream - Milk Chocolate - Good + - Very Good
3.) Frosted Ass - Dark Chocolate - Good +
4.) Salty Balls - Dark Chocolate and Hawaiian Salt - Good +

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week.

This morning I ate a red, white and blue breakfast (strawberry, honey and blueberry yogurt, and fruit), in honor of Independence Day (4th of July) in the United States. I'm also looking forward to making some BBQ, and dropping in on a chili cook-off later today.

Last Friday, July 1, was Canada Day, and I needed to buy a chocolate + animal related item in the Montreal airport in Canada on my way back home from a trip. The only item I could find that fit this bill in the airport was a tin of Canadian Chocolate Covered Almonds (aka moose droppings). My apologies to Canada for this.

So, in fairness, today is Fourth of July, in the U.S.; and I have... Donkey Balls, with macadamia nuts, from Hawaii. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing in chocolate and in life in general.

ChocolateBet: November 10, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces/balls
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Frosted Blue Balls - Milk Chocolate Covered with Blue Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.6 oz./4 oz. (114 grams) in total package
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces/balls
Cost: $5.95 for package of six balls
Purchased from: Lava Java Coffee, in Kehei, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

These Donkey Balls from Hawaii were cute; and blue chocolate is kind of fun.

ChocolateBet: November 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece/ball
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Dark Chocolate - Flaky Balls - Toasted Coconut
Very Good; these are fun; picture a chocolate jaw-breaker w/ a macadamia nut in the middle
Wt.: ~ .8 oz./8 oz. (227 grams) in total package
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.95 for total package
Purchased from: Lava Java Coffee, in Kehei, on the island of Maui; in Hawaii

I've had fun sharing these "Donkey Balls" with toasted flakes of coconut from Hawaii. This evening, we all had a ball before a Mexican food feast and a movie. It was all good.

Pictured above right is empty package/resealable bag.

ChocolateBet: November 6, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Milk Chocolate Chinese Balls ("Rolled in Li Hing Mai Powder")
Very Good - although you have to open wide to fit these into your mouth
Wt.: ~.8 oz. for 1/4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: ~ 120 cals. in one ball/piece
Cost: $5.95 for total package
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Maui, Hawaii

ChocolateBet: September 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece/ball
Surfin' Ass Coffee/Keoki Chocolate Factory
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls, Half Ass ("20 Layers of Milk, 20 Layers of Dark")
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ .8 oz. / 8 ounces (227 grams) in total package of ~ 10 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.95 for total package/bag
Purchased from: Lava Java (Coffee Roasters), in Kehei, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

This (1/2 milk and 1/2 dark) chocolate flavor was good, although I liked the all-dark chocolate flavor a bit better.

These Donkey Ball chocolates came in several flavors; I bought one package of almost every flavor I could see/find to try. So, two flavors down, about 4-5 more flavors left to try I think. Thanks again to Lava Java for shipping a box of these back home. My suitcase was already bulging at that point. But I didn't want to leave Hawaii without bringing some of these home. While I wasn't able to ask anyone at Surfin' Ass/Keoki's about how they came to create Donkey Balls, I get the feeling they had fun along the way.

The packaging contains the customer-flattering statement "Chocolate People Sure Are Smart!" OK, now I don't feel so foolish about buying chocolate donkey balls.

ChocolateBet: September 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Surfin' Ass Coffee/Keoki's Big Island
Dark Chocolate Donkey Balls
Very Good+
Weight: ~1.32 oz. for 2 pieces /4 oz. (114 grams) total package
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $5.95 total package
Purchased from: Lava Java*, in Kihei, Maui; Hawaii

We discovered these Donkey Balls after seeing a banner hanging outside Lava Java*, while vacationing on the island of Maui (Hawaii). These chocolates came in many different flavors, some with humorous names. Most were large (almost jawbreaker sized orbs) with a macadamia nut in the middle; some had a coffee bean in the middle.

The dark chocolate coating was rich, smooth and delicious; but it was a bit difficult to bite into. Better to be patient; but you could also (carefully) cut one in half with a knife I suppose.

*In the true spirit of Hawaiian entrepreneurship, Lava Java was selling coffee, chocolates, cigars -- and also Internet access. Thank you to Dan who helped ship an order of various flavors of Donkey Balls back to California.