4 Sweet, POG-Inspired Treats

Think outside the carton for your next passion-orange-guava fix.

July 27, 2015

Natalie Schack,

Let’s flash back to hanabata days for a second. Vienna sausage on the table, Rugrats on the tube, shrimp chips stowed away in your cubbyhole for snack time—and a carton of POG in your chubby, grubby little paw. Ahh, yes. Life was good.

Things have gotten significantly more complicated since then, but POG itself—a refreshing blend of passion fruit, orange and guava juices—remains simply genius, whether it’s as a mid-flight refresher on an interisland jaunt or the perfect pancake pairing.

Now that we’re all grown up, however, we don’t mind a little adult-worthy twist to this time-old treat. We’ve all leveled up our mimosa game with a POG-meets-Champagne match made in heaven, for instance, and it turns out we’re not the only ones still being inspired by this classic local libation. In the past, local bakeries have dabbled in passion-orange-guava goodness with everything from slushies to macarons to cupcakes in the iconic flavor. Here are a few of our current faves, twists on a childhood classic, that are still interesting enough to satisfy adult taste buds.

Hawaiian Pie Co.

Photos: Natalie Schack

Move quickly for this limited edition Passion Fruit, Orange and Guava flavor, the Hawaiian Pie Co.’s July special. Apparently, these slices have been especially popular with Generation X-ers. Not surprising, considering it’s the owner’s kids who came up with the idea for a POG-flavored pie.

$5.73, The Hawaiian Pie Co., 508 Wai‘akamilo Road, 988-7828

‘Ono Pops

Not only is this layered P to the O to the G paleta from ‘Ono Pops totally Instagramable, it turns out the ultra-sweet allure of this triple threat of flavors is ideal in frozen form. We’d eat a popsicle of any one of these flavors, but throw them all together and we’re in treats heaven.

$3.49 each, Whole Foods, Kāhala Mall, 738-0820

Teapresso Bar

Teapresso’s POG Iced Tea is the answer to your grownup POG-lover’s prayers. Gone is (most) of the sickly sweetness of the nectar-from-the-carton version, instead replaced with a much subtler, milder, tea-tinged taste. We got ours with rainbow jelly for a fun infusion of texture.

$4.49, Teapresso Bar, 1088 Bishop St., 537-5488

Waiola Shave Ice

Perfectly POG-flavored Waiola Shave Ice’s POG option has all the vibrant coloring and sugary sweetness of the original. Pair it with a vanilla ice cream center and condensed milk topping for a creamy-meets-fruity blend that’s the perfect beat-the-summer-heat treat.

$3, Waiola Shave Ice, multiple locations, waiolashaveice.com

Also on our list to try? Via Gelato’s POG sorbet. Keep checking the Via Gelato Instagram for daily menu updates—we know we will.

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