MAKALEHA Shop
The cacao grove on Blair Estate with the Makaleha Mountains rising behind it
100% Kauaʻi Drinking Cacao

Makaleha Cacao

to lift the eyes in wonder
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Makaleha Cacao 8 oz bag label
Ceremonial grade · Single estate

One ingredient from one farm

Our cacao grows at the foot of the Makaleha Mountains, whose name means to lift the eyes in wonder. It comes from one farm, the Blair Estate river farm on Kauaʻi: hand picked, fermented in small batches, gently roasted and stone ground where it grows.

Single estate
Single ingredient: cacao
Minimally processed
Hand grown and crafted on Kauaʻi
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Sizes

Choose your bag

Each cup takes about 2 Tbsp.

8 oz
$34
about 15 cups 1 lb
$60
about 30 cups · online only
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How to prepare

A cup of Makaleha

Blend 2–3 Tbsp with 6–8 oz hot (not boiling) water or milk until frothy and silky. Sweeten or spice to taste with Blair Estate honey, cinnamon or a pinch of salt.

Iced cacao

Blend 2 Tbsp with a splash of hot water, then pour over ice and coconut milk.

Yogurt bowls

Sprinkle over yogurt or açaí with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey.

Storage

Store cool. If it clumps, freeze briefly and shake.

From our farm to your mug

The Kauaʻi Mocha

  • 2 Tbsp Makaleha Cacao
  • 8 oz hot Blair Estate coffee, brewed a little strong
  • 1–2 tsp honey or sugar
  • 3–4 oz steamed milk or coconut milk
  1. Stir the cacao and honey with a splash of hot coffee into a smooth paste.
  2. Pour in the rest of the coffee and stir well.
  3. Top with steamed milk and a pinch of cinnamon or salt.

For iced, make the paste with hot coffee, then pour over ice with cold milk.

Grown on Blair Estate

From the foot of the mountains it's named for

Makaleha comes from maka, eye, and leha, to look up. It is the name of the mountains that rise behind our farm on Kauaʻi's east side, about 3,200 feet of green ridges with Waiʻaleʻale beyond.

Les and Gigi Drent planted their first acre of coffee below the mountain in 2001. On the river farm we planted our first hundred cacao trees, Trinitario and Criollo, in 2015, and 500 more in 2020.

Every pod is picked by hand. We ferment each batch on the farm and track its temperature through every stage, then dry the beans, roast them gently and stone grind them here. Nothing is added.

Les, Gigi and family
Cacao rows beside the stream, seen from straight above
Cacao rows beside the stream on the river farm
Same farm, same mug

Pair it with Blair Estate coffee and honey

Hand picked Arabica Typica and wildflower honey from the same farm. Add them to your order and make the Kauaʻi Mocha at home.

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