Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I purchase 21 Degrees Estate chocolate, honey or retail items?

Currently, these items are in limited quantity and can only be purchased on property at our farm store following tours and other events. We have also created an online store that you can visit HERE.

What is the address for 21 Degrees Estate?

We are located at 47-546d Mapele Place, Kaneohe, Hawaii, 96744. 
Please note we are only open for tours and events reserved in advance.

What are the hours of operation?

We are only open for tours and events reserved in advance.

What is cacao? What types are grown in Hawaii?

Cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can consume, which means it is raw and much less processed than cocoa powder or chocolate bars. Cacao is thought to be the highest source of antioxidants of all foods and the highest source of magnesium of all foods. It has been used throughout many cultures for years for health purposes and even used as a high trade commodity.

The cacao fruit tree, also known as Theobroma Cacao, which in Greek means “Food of the Gods”, produces cacao pods which are cracked open to release cacao beans. From there, cacao beans can be processed a few different ways.

The old classification system of criollo, forastero, and trinitario is no longer appropriate, but Hawaii grows all types of cacao. While we do have some pure criollo trees; most seedling trees are unique combinations having parentage from 3 to 10 of the newly recognized cacao types.

Who are Hawaii's cacao growers?

There are many “mom and pop” cacao growers in Hawaii who may grow anywhere from 2-20 trees on their property. But statewide, there are currently 5 large-scale growers and a handful of medium-sized growers.

How big do chocolate trees get, and how long do they live?

Cacao trees can live for fifty years and grow to 50 feet. As with most fruit orchards, trees are pruned to a manageable height to make harvesting easier.

What are cacao’s health benefits?

Cacao is considered a super food. In its raw state, chocolate has more than 300 nutritional compounds and is one of the richest sources of antioxidants of any food on the planet! Minimally processed raw chocolate contains many vital vitamins and minerals such as:

• Magnesium, and other essential minerals such as calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, and manganese
• Polyphenols, antioxidant-rich flavonoids
• Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, C, E
• Essential heart-healthy fat: oleic acid a monounsaturated fat
• Protein
• Fiber

The nutrients found in raw chocolate have been linked to a number of health benefits and has been known to:

Why don't fresh cacao seeds taste like chocolate?

Fresh seeds contain the chemical precursors that will eventually become edible chocolate, but they first need to undergo fermentation in order to develop the complex flavor we call chocolate.

What does single-origin cacao mean?

Generally, it means cacao from a single origin, but it can also mean from an island, county, or even a country. 21 Degrees Estate Cacao is single-origin and enjoys a singularly unique flavor profile to any other cacao in the world—even in comparison to cacao grown only 10 miles away where there is a different terroir and microclimate.

What is cacao butter?

Cacao butter is the naturally occurring vegetable oil inside each cacao bean, which makes up more than 50% of bean weight. In the finest chocolates, extra cocoa butter is added to create a creamier-tasting product. Composed mainly of stearic and oleic acids, cocoa butter has a beneficial effect on human cholesterol levels. Unlike most saturated fatty acids, stearic acid does not raise blood cholesterol. Oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat, also doesn't raise cholesterol levels, and may even reduce them. To make cocoa butter, hydraulic presses squeeze the oil out of cacao nibs. Cocoa butter is a valuable ingredient in cosmetics, particularly skin creams, and because it is expensive, many mass-market chocolate brands substitute a synthetic industrial chemical called polyglycerol polyricinoleate (abbreviated as PGPR) in place of the real thing.
Cacao butter is removed from the bean during production and the remaining part of the fruit is used to produce raw cacao powder.

What are cacao nibs?

Cacao nibs are simply cacao beans that have been chopped up into edible pieces, much like chocolate chips without the added sugars and fats. Cacao nibs contain all of the fiber, fat, and nutrients that the cacao bean does. Cacao nibs are the raw ingredients of chocolate.

What makes Hawaii-grown chocolate special or unique?

Hawaii is the only state to grow cacao. Therefore chocolate made from Hawaii-grown cacao is the only American chocolate. But don’t take our word for it…Hawaii chocolate makers continue to bring home top awards from Chocolate Industry festivals and competitions held all over the world!

Can anybody call their product "Hawaiian chocolate"? What are the guidelines for authentic “Hawaiian/Hawaii-grown chocolate"?

The geographic regions designated are: Hawaii is the state of Hawaii, Hawaii Island is the island of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu are the same named islands. Only chocolate made from cacao grown on one of these islands can use the name of the island in the identity statement, for example, Hawaii Island chocolate means made only from Hawaii Island-grown cacao, Kauai chocolate means made from only Kauai-grown cacao and so on.

Chocolate makers may make chocolate from cacao from other non-Hawaii origins mixed with cacao grown within the state. But the use of any geographic region name is prohibited except for Hawaii. Any Hawaii and non-Hawaii chocolate mixture must contain no less that 51% cacao grown within the state. The identity statement must state the percentage of Hawaii cacao in the chocolate and use the phrase “Hawaii Cacao Blend Chocolate made with or contains” and must state the exact percentage of Hawaii Cacao. For example, this identity statement is correct “Honolulu Chocolate Company, Hawaii Cacao Blend Chocolate made with 60% Hawaii cacao. The phrase “Maui Cacao Blend Chocolate made with 51% Maui cacao” in prohibited. Only Hawaii, the state name, is permitted on cacao blend chocolate made of Hawaii and non-Hawaii origin cacao.

The percentage is calculated by dividing the weight of Hawaii-grown cacao divided by the weight of the Hawaii cacao plus the weight of the non-Hawaii cacao in the chocolate. The weight of additional ingredients such as sugar, vanilla, fruit, nuts, cocoa butter is not used to determine the Hawaii cacao percentage.

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