Kona Coffee

The first coffee was planted in Kona by missionary Samuel Ruggles in 1828-29.  These trees were taken from Oahu.  All labor, from planting to picking is done by hand in Kona.  This is what sets Kona Coffee apart from the rest.  Native Hawaiians and Chinese laborers first worked on the coffee plantations in the mid-to-late 1800s. 

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Here’s a complete dinner recipe to try one night!

Appetizer:

Kona Coffee Mushroom Surprise-

12 stuffing mushrooms, hollowed out

2 slices of whole wheat bread

3 fresh organo leaves

1 clove garlic

1 tsp soy sauce with pieces of giner in it

2 tsp instant Kona coffee granules mixed into 2 tsp brewed Kona coffee (thick)

2 oz. cream cheese

mushroom stem pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix bread, oregano, garlic, soy sauce, coffee, cream cheese and mushroom stems in a food processor until well blended.  Fill each mushroom cap with one tsp of stuffing.  Place on a wire rack over water bath.  Back 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  Serve hot or cold.

Entrée:

Kona Gold Coffee Chicken-

2 6 oz. boneless breasts

¾ cup milk

¼ cup coconut syrup

2 tbsp shredded coconut

¼ cup butter

¼ cup flour

¾ cup chicken stock

¼ cup pineapple juice

3 oz. Kona coffee liqueur

Brown chicken breasts until golden brown.  To make cream sauce melt butter, add flour to make a roux.  Heat milk and chicken stock.  Add to roux.  Mix until sauce is smooth.  Add coconut syrup, pineapple juice, shredded coconut and liqueur.  Pour over browned chicken.

Dessert:

Kona Coffee Mayonnaise Cake-

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

4 tbsp cocoa

1 cup cold strong brewed Kona coffee

1 cup sugar

½ tsp salt

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp vanilla

Sift all dry ingredients together.  Add mayonnaise, coffee, and vanilla.  Mix well.  Pour into greased 8” pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Beverage:

All Kona Coffee Poi Cocktail-

1 cup milk

1 cup brewed  Kona coffee

½ tsp vanilla

1 pinch salt

1/8 cup coffee brandy

1/3 cup poi

2 tbsp sugar

1 pinch nutmeg

¼ cup “Hana Bay” rum

Stir milk into poi.  Add coffee and all other ingredients.  Mix in a blender.  Chill.  Serve with or without ice.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. Kona Coffee Cookbook. Island Heritage: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  1997. Pp. 3, 10, 23, 55, 78.