Kauai gems: Monkeypod Jam, Kauai Nut Roasters, Anahola Granola

For me, Kauai gems stole the show at the Made in Hawaii Festival this past weekend. A few of my favorite things from the Garden Isle:

– Monkeypod Jam: I'm a sucker for a pretty label, and Monkeypod Jam had one of the best designed brands in the fest. This new company uses Kauai-grown ingredients to create winning flavors like apple banana foster jam and mountain apple pepper jelly. The banana foster jam is a luscious blend of tart and sweet and spiked with cinnamon. I spent the weekend eating it on toast; others recommend a dollop of it on Greek yogurt. The mountain apple pepper jelly has a sweet heat—it'd be terrific pared with cheese, or for a spicy peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Monkeypod Jam is not yet available in Oahu stores, but a selection of products are available online: monkeypodjam.com

– Kauai Nut Roasters: New to the fest, but it has been glazing nuts with ridiculously addictive flavors since 2004. If you walk by its Hanalei store, you won't miss the rich, candy smells of roasting nuts. I have a hard time putting down the Coconut Kona Coffee Pecans and Macadamia Nuts, Pineapple Li Hing Almonds, and Holy Cacao, a blend of nuts, cacao nibs and butterscotch.
Available at R. Fields and Foodland Farms Aina Haina. kauainutroasters.com

– Anahola Granola: A stranger at the fest was so excited by his discovery of Anahola Granola, he had to share it with me. The same taste that made him generous turns me selfish: I bought a bag of the Tropical Granola, with chunks of dried papaya and pineapple mixed with honeyed granola, and kept it all to myself.
Available at Whole Foods, Foodland, and Costco. anaholagranola.com