In keeping with the mission to assist the “growth of the cacao industry in Hawai’i” the Kona Cacao Association, the non-profit behind the Big Island Chocolate Festival, announces a new award, “Best Hawai’i Cacao” for the winner of the Hawai’i cacao growing and fermentation contest. Any Hawai’i cacao grower who would like to enter the competition can do so with a pound of fermented cacao beans, an entry fee of $20, a photo of themselves near their Hawai’i cacao tree and a brief bio.
Members of the Kona Cacao Association may enter for free. Learn more about membership.
A panel of expert judges will decide the winner, who will be named during the Big Island Chocolate Festival awards presentation 7:30 p.m. Saturday May 9 at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii
Other awards being presented include:
- Best Sweet
- Best Savory
- Best Bonbon
- People’s Choice
- Best “Bean to Bar”
- First, Second and Third Place Culinary Student Competitio
If you are a Hawaiian cacao grower, we encourage you to enter the contest and we will email you more information about where to ship your fermented beans. All entries must be in by May 6, 2015.