What’s New with Four Local Chocolate Companies on O‘ahu
Special chocolate truffles for Valentine’s Day, a new location in the works and more.
Choco Le‘a
Photo: Courtesy of Choco Le‘a
There’s still time to preorder special Valentine’s Day boxes from Mānoa chocolatier Choco Le‘a, which all feature custom pink peony packaging. Choose the $24.99 nine-piece (with flavors that include strawberry Nutella, orange marmalade, virgin Lava Flow and more) or the 18-piece box (merlot, sangria, mimosa, liliko‘i habanero) for $42.99. A package of Red Vines hand-dipped in dark chocolate is also available for $4.49.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHOCO LE‘A
Orders should be placed two business days in advance (you can even order by sending a direct message to @chocoleahawaii on Instagram) but are also available for walk-ins. If you’d rather create your own box (or if you missed the big day), the shop will be open extended hours all month long: 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Choco Le‘a also sells Bradley and Lily cards to complete the package.
2909 Lowrey Ave., (808) 371-2234, chocolea.com
SEE ALSO: The Everything Guide to Local Chocolate
Madre Chocolate
Photo: AARON K. YOSHINO
Less than a year after closing its Kailua shop to consolidate operations downtown, Madre Chocolate also closed its Pauahi Street shop late last year. But fear not, chocolate-lovers—you can still find Madre Chocolate products at Whole Foods Market, Down to Earth, R. Field, online at madrechocolate.com and in person at the Kapi‘olani Community College Farmers Market. (And hopefully at a new spot downtown soon, according to owner Nat Bletter.) Not sure which bar is best for your valentine? The coconut milk and caramelized ginger bar earned Madre its third Good Food Award from the national Good Food Foundation last month.
Mānoa Chocolate
On Valentine’s Day, the first 24 people to buy a six-bar gift box ($48) in person from the Kailua shop will receive a complimentary rose. The bar flavors include breakfast (dark milk chocolate with roasted cacao nibs and Kona coffee beans), goat milk, lavender, salt, milk and a seasonal bar (right now, you can choose among bars made with cacao from Tanzania, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic).
315 Uluniu St., Suite 203, Kailua, (808) 262-6789, manoachocolate.com
Padovani’s Chocolates
Though Padovani’s heart-shaped boxes look more traditional, the chocolates inside are anything but. Choose your design for $59.50 and fill it with 14 truffles, ranging from Pirie mango ganache to cinnamon pistachio to alcoholic options (almost 40 flavors are available). If you really want to go big, you can get the Moulin Rouge box with 29 pieces for $130. Non-valentine boxes are also available starting at $15.
(808) 536-4567, padovanichocolates.com
SEE ALSO: Philippe Padovani Makes Magic With Chocolate
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