Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - 65% Dark Chocolate 60% and Dark Milk Chocolate Blood Orange - Mar. 31, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Blood Orange 65% (square) - Good +
2.) Dark Milk Chocolate Blood Orange 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Blood Orange 65% and Dark Milk Chocolate Blood Orange 60% (squares) were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

The company offers chocolates made with cacao from Ecuador, and cacao grown locally in Hawaii.

These two individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of an attractively packaged large assortment box featuring both Dark Chocolates and Dark Milk Chocolates--most with flavor infusions. 

Dark Chocolate Blood Orange 65% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy smooth dark chocolate square included: relatively bold but well balanced dark chocolate-y chocolate infused with citrus (blood orange) flavoring.

Dark Milk Chocolate Blood Orange 60% (square) 

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark milk 60% chocolate included satisfying dark milk chocolate with citrus (orange) infused flavor. The milk added a creamy texture and helped balance and mellow the flavoring.

Normally I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, but the Dark Milk Chocolate version won out by a narrow margin this time.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors. Dark Milk Chocolate also contained Milk.

Allergen-related information: Dark Milk Chocolate contains Milk.   

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - 65% Dark and 60% Dark Milk Peppermint (squares) - Mar. 30, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% (square) - Good +
2.) Dark Milk Peppermint 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% and Dark Milk Chocolate Peppermint 60% (squares) were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

The company offers chocolates made with cacao from Ecuador, and cacao grown locally in Hawaii. And they have a retail store and cafe that looks like it would be fun to visit.

These two individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of a large, thoughtfully designed assortment box featuring both Dark Chocolates and Dark Milk Chocolates--most with flavor infusions. 

Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy smooth dark chocolate square included: relatively bold but balanced chocolate-y chocolate infused with robust peppermint flavoring.

Dark Milk Peppermint 60% (square) 

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark milk 60% chocolate included satisfying dark milk chocolate with a mint (peppermint) flavoring. The milk added a creamy texture and helped buffer the "natural flavoring" a bit.

Normally I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, but the milk in the Dark Milk Chocolate won out this time.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors. Dark Milk Chocolate also contained Milk.

Allergen-related information: Dark Milk Chocolate contains Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - 65% Dark Chocolate Mango & 60% Dark Milk Mango (squares) - Mar. 29, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Mango 65% Cacao (square) - Good + 
Dark Milk Chocolate Mango 60% Cacao (square) - Good +
Weight for 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares/ 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48-pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's individually-wrapped Dark Mango and Dark Milk Mango squares were from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Dark Chocolate Mango square

Aroma notes for the smooth-textured, Dark Chocolate 65% cacao square included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, light cream and faint fruit.

Flavor notes included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, bright tropical fruit (mango flavoring) with a slight bitterness in the finish. (I'm not sure if the bitterness was caused by the mango "natural flavors" added or whether it was from the cacao. It's not been present with other flavors tried so far in this assortment box.)

Dark Milk Mango square

Aroma and flavor notes included for the 60% Dark Milk Chocolate included: smooth, creamy milk chocolate, tropical fruit (mango) flavoring. The slight bitterness in the finish that was present in the 65% dark version was slightly muted by the milk in this square.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors. (The Dark Milk square also contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: The Dark Milk square contained Milk. "Soy, nut and gluten free"   

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Maui Mokka Coffee (dark, dark milk squares and milk chocolate bar) - Mar. 28, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate 2% Maui Mokka(R) Coffee 63% (square) - Good ++ 
Dark Milk Chocolate 2% Maui Mokka (R) Coffee 58% Cacao (square) - Good ++
Weight for 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares/ 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48-pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Milk Chocolate Maui Mokka Cappuccino 55% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 bar 
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's two-individually-wrapped chocolate squares: 1.) Dark Chocolate (square) and 2.) dark milk chocolate (square); and one full-sized Milk Chocolate Cappuccino (bar) were from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Dark Chocolate Mokka Coffee 63% (square)

Aroma notes for this 63% cacao dark square included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate with warm spice and coffee

Smooth, soft, very slightly gummy chewy that quickly resolved into creamy dark chocolate with relatively low acidity (chocolate and coffee) and bitterness. 

Flavor notes included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, faint coffee, warm spice, and almost undetectable sweet herbal. There was also some faint sweet coffee/mocha in the finish.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Coffee

Allergen-related information: "Soy, nut and gluten free"  

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Coffee 58% (square)

This 58% dark milk square with 2% Maui Mokka Coffee square had very similar warm aroma and flavor notes as the Dark chocolate version, but with a creamier (milk) taste and texture.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Coffee 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk "Soy, nut and gluten free"

Milk Chocolate Maui Coffee 55% (bar)

This 55% Cacao bar had a rich, luxurious milk chocolate aroma, texture and flavor -- with subtle, freshly-made, mocha latte/cappuccino notes.

I enjoyed the gentle complexity and warm flavors in all three of these Maui-made chocolates. 

I liked the higher percentage dark square best because the dark chocolate and flavors were clearer. Milk chocolate lovers will appreciate the luxe, creamy, milky cappuccino-like flavors and textures in the dark milk (square) and the even milkier 55% milk chocolate (bar) featured today.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Milk, Coffee

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate & Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass (squares) - Mar. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 for Assorted Dark and Dark Milk 48-piece (16 flavor) box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's individually-wrapped, Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% and Dark Milk Lemongrass 60% chocolate (squares) was made in Maui by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador (bar)

These two lemongrass infused chocolate squares were part of a larger, 48-piece (dark chocolate and dark milk chocolate) assortment box. Each chocolate square was individually-wrapped.

Aroma and flavor notes for the dark chocolate 65% lemongrass-infused squares included: citrus, (herbal lemonade), lemongrass and relatively robust but smooth, almost creamy dark chocolate. 

The 60% dark milk version was creamier and sweeter; and the milk muted some chocolate and lemongrass flavors. (Think rich, creamy gelato.) Milk chocolate fans will enjoy this creamier taste and texture.

I enjoyed the crisper, purer flavors in the darker (65% cacao) version. 

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, (Dark Milk square contained Milk), Natural Flavors.

Allergen-related information: Today's Dark Milk square contained Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Ecuador (bar) - Mar. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (bar) - Good ++
3.) Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++

Weight of 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) for 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total 48-piece box
Weight of bar: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories (estimate) in 1 bar (140 calories) + 2 squares (56 calories (estimate))
Cost: $6.75 (sale) for 1 bar + cost of two squares in a larger $58.50 48-piece assortment box

Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao and Dark Milk Maui Guava (squares and bar) were manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

These chocolates were made in Hawaii using cacao grown in Ecuador* and Hawaiian guava essence. 

Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% (square and bar)

Aroma and flavor notes for the Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao Square included: smooth dark chocolate and fruity, almost floral tropical fruit (red/pink guava and strawberry guava jam). The guava was an extracted fruit essence--completely incorporated into the chocolates (rather than pieces of identifiable guava fruit).

Interestingly, the smaller (individually-wrapped) dark guava 65% square had more guava flavor than the full-sized dark guava 65% bar version. The bar had more pure dark chocolate (less guava); and the smaller, individually-wrapped square had more guava fruit flavors.

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate, tropical fruit (guava, berries, and guavaberries) with balanced chocolate and tart-sweet fruit flavors (ranging from guava to guavaberry, pineapple and mild herb/spice (faint eucalyptus, warm black pepper, allspice).

Overall, I liked the 1.) authentic and relatively complex guava flavors in the squares best; 2.) smooth, balanced dark flavors that weren't boring or overly sweet. (The very slightly sweeter dark milk 60% version was a true dark milk.) 

I usually don't care for "natural flavors," but today's guava flavors were an exception.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors  (The Dark Milk 60% square contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy (lecithin). "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.  

*The cacao was grown on a family-owned cacao farm (Costa Esmeraldas) in a northwest coastal province in Ecuador. 

Hana Gold - 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) - Mar. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint earth, hops); coffee; and very faint black olive.

Texture: soft, very briefly slightly gummy, then pleasantly creamy once melted. 

Flavor notes included: slightly earthy dark chocolate and coffee (crunchy bits of coffee bean).

The moderately complex flavors were a bit bold and earthy, but also well balanced. I liked the slightly  darker/bolder (yet also smooth) flavors in this three-ingredient bar, as well as the creamy texture that developed over the first few seconds and continued into the finish.

Ingredients: Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar, Hana grown coffee.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy."