Visit Hokkaido: Royce' Cacao & Chocolate Town

Our family loves chocolate so it was a no brainer that a visit to Royce' Cacao & Chocolate Town would be on our itinerary, especially since they offer a Chocolate Workshop where you can make your own custom bar!

On our way to the Royce chocolate journey!

We started our self guided tour at the Cacao Farm Zone.

There are interactive exhibits to showcase cacao cultivation, harvesting, and shipping.

In the Factory Tour Zone Play Area, there are many interactive games to show the production process.

The kids had fun challenging each other.

This is what we came for!

You can choose to make a milk chocolate, white chocolate or half and half bar.

Lauren and her custom bar.

The bars are then sent through the chiller for a 10 minute cool down.

Afterwards, we took some time to browse the gift shop and enjoy Royce' Farm to Bar chocolate soft serve. 

They have lots of great pastries available in the store. Lauren's hand for scale!

The chocolate town is open from 10am to 5pm with the last entry at 3pm. You can purchase advance timed entry tickets up to 2 months in advance here. Adults (ages 16 and over) are 1,200 yen each, children ages 4 to 15 are 500 yen each, and children under age 3 are free. Tickets may be cancelled up to 1 hour before booked admission time. Admission does not include the ticket for the Chocolate Workshop. On the day of your visit, you can purchase tickets (1700 yen each) from the ticket machine in front of the workshop venue after you enter.

To get to Royce from Sapporo station, take the JR Gakuen Toshi line to Royce' Town Station (about 30 minutes). From there, a shuttle bus will take you to the facility or you can walk (about 7 minutes).

Royce' Cacao & Chocolate Town

1-1 ROYCE' Town,Tobetsu, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido 061-3770

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Lonohana ONOMEA Chocolate Droplets

Disclosure: some links are referral

I ordered some Lonohana ONOMEA Milk Chocolate Droplets on Farm Link just so I could bake cookies! I made Salted Chocolate Chip + Droplet Cookies . . . the Droplets offered an indulgent bite of chocolate bliss!

You can also eat the Droplets straight out of the bag like candy if you're not in the mood to bake.

For the cookies, I used this recipe from Joy Food Sunshine, and just did some minor tweaks (I dropped 2 T balls of dough and added the Droplets; I baked for 13 minutes at 50 degrees Fahrenheit; sprinkled flaky sea salt at the end. I'm sure you could use your favorite cookie recipe and add in the Droplets!

Get the Chocolate Droplets and more at Farm Link!

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Visit Kailua-Kona: Puna Chocolate Company

On our last visit to Kailua-Kona, we stopped at Puna Chocolate Company for Frozen Hot Chocolate, so we decided to get some again on our recent visit. 

The Frozen Hot Chocolate was not as festive as the last time (with sprinkles, etc.), but the kids still loved it.

We also bought a bunch of chocolate drink mixes for gifts.  

Puna Chocolate Company also offers light bites, desserts, and cocktails, in addition to their array of chocolate confections.  

There is ample seating inside (downstairs and upstairs - all ages welcome upstairs in the morning, 21+ in the afternoon), as well as a couple of tables outdoors.

Puna Chocolate Company
74-5606 Pawai Pl
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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Mother's Day Specials at Choco le'a

Mother's Day Special Set

Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you are still searching for the perfect gift, Choco le'a has got you covered. Hawaii Mom Blog was delighted to be gifted this Mother's Day Special Set (retail of $76.99) which includes: their NEW Strawberry Matcha Crunch a le'a (exclusive to this set and not sold separately); one Dark Chocolate Covered Animal Crackers; one Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Chocolate Truffle; and one 9 piece of Mom's Favorite Flavors Truffle Box (Hokkaido Yubari Melon, Hojicha, Lychee, Salted Caramel & Almond, Triple Chocolate, Fudge, Orange Creamsicle, Vietnamese Coffee, Lavender).

This gift set is luxurious, decadent, and enough to share with the entire family - although I am setting aside the box of truffles to enjoy slowly. My favorite so far has been the dark chocolate covered animal crackers! As a big fan of dark chocolate, I love this sweet and crunchy treat. 

9pc Mom's Favorite Flavors Truffle Box

NEW Strawberry Matcha Crunch a le'a

Choco le'a is located in Manoa and is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm (closed Sunday & Monday). You can also easily shop online here: https://www.chocolea.com/shop

Thank you Choco le'a! 

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Choco le'a: April Specials

Thank you to our sponsor for the complimentary products!

Choco leʻa is one of my favorite small local businesses on Oahu. Not only do they make high quality and unique chocolate products, but every time I've visited the shop, it's been such a pleasant experience. 

The shop is located in Manoa, a block from Manoa Marketplace. 

Inside you'll find all of their chocolate offering neatly displayed.

In March 2024, they debuted soft cream....

Japanese soft cream, to be exact, made with Hokkaido milk powder! Choose between Choco leʻa Chocolate, Hokkaido Cream Vanilla, and swirl. If you want to take this up a notch, ask for their  housemade chocolate cut up (sauce).  It's so refreshing, creamy and delicious!

But the main reason for my coming here today was to pick up a bag of chocolates to share with you all. Ready for it?!

Here it is, the specials for the month of April!

April Specials 

 

Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookie

3 PC Truffle Box

Solid 72% Dark Chocolate Bar

Dark Chocolate Melts

Dark Chocolate Nut Mix

Oreo Cream Cheese Cake Pop

Here's a closer look at each item:

Chocolate melts - dark chocolate ganache pieces, dusted in fine cocoa powder. These are really rich!!

Oreo Cake Pop (with chocolate melts bottom right)

Shortbread Cookie - this is a collaboration with Hokulani Bakeshop, another small locally owned biz!)

3PC truffle box - Macallan 12, Orange Creamsicle, and Melina - all yummy!

72% Dark Chocolate Bar - according to their website, this is soy-free, dairy-free, and packed with health benefits! 

Dark Chocolate Nut Mix - salty pistachios, soft pecans, and crunch almonds - more health benefits! Those who like the sweet and salty combo will love this one!

You can buy the April Specials Bundle for $59.99 which includes one of each item. You can also purchase the items separately. 

With Administrative Professionals' Day coming up on April 24, 2024, purchase the bundle for the hard-working, deserving APs in your life, or buy it to thank yourself - you deserve it! :)

Current Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

Shipping to the neighbor islands and continental U.S. is available.

Visit their website for more information. 

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Choco leʻa
2909 Lowrey Avenue

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Visit Big Island: Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. Factory

If you love chocolate as much as I do, be sure to check out the Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. Factory when on the Big Island!  Having recently opened in Honoka`a, the factory store is an extension of the Kahi Ola Mau farm, where the owners grow the cacao and do tours.  

At the factory store is where the production of the chocolate takes place.  Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. is a true bean-to-bar entity, producing award-winning chocolate from their own cacao, in addition to various local cacao growers, as well as utilizing cacao from other countries.  They even incorporate spirits into some of the bars!

Visit the factory, and you'll get to sample the 9 varieties of chocolate they produce on a regular basis.

I am a milk chocolate person, so I was thrilled that they just launched a Milk Chocolate Bar.  It's so creamy and indulgent.  But their dark chocolate bars are great too.  Many that I've had from other brands are just too bitter, but Honoka‘a Chocolate Co.'s dark bars are just so smooth!

With each sample, we could taste the varying nuances, and a handy chart helps to distinguish the flavor notes.

True, quality chocolate offers a depth of flavors, and Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. crafts premium, quality chocolate.

Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. ships for just $10 FedEx, and also offers a subscription box which includes specialty bars.

Honoka‘a Chocolate Co. Factory Store

45-3587 Mamane St

Honoka‘a, HI 96727

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Last Chance for Choco le'a Mother's Day Special

Take a Break Bundle

Hawaii Mom Blog was gifted a beautifully wrapped Mother's Day Special from our friends at Choco le'a. You still have time to pick one up (link here) before Mother's Day this Sunday! The carefully thought out gift includes 7 items, 5 of which are exclusive to the bundle. The best part is that this bundle isn't just for moms. Choco le'a advises to give someone (or yourself) a sweet break this Mother's Day / Teacher or Nurse Appreciation / Graduation / For anyone who needs to "Take a Break" special this Mental Health Awareness month!

Here's what's inside!

4pc Tea Truffle Box (Earl Grey, Jasmine, Oolong, Chamomile)

4pc Coffee Truffle Box (Vanilla Latte, Dark Chocolate Espresso, 

Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk, & Caramel Mocha)

Bundle Exclusive: 2pc Plantation Tea Truffle Box 

(New locally made plantation iced tea ganache enrobed in signature dark chocolate)

Also included are Bundle Exclusives: Dark Chocolate Golden Jewel Bear (hollow, but heavy!), 

Coupon For a Trip To The Chocolate Shop for a 2pc Dark Chocolate Covered Oreos, Ali`i Coffee Company's Custom Freshly Ground Coffee Bag, and Hawaiian Tea Chest's Nanea Tea Bag (for stress & anxiety).  

I absolutely love every item in this bundle and I am especially excited to try the chocolate bear! I think it will be perfectly paired with the Ali'i coffee and I will be enjoying both on Mother's Day. I have already hidden the truffles under the broccoli in the refrigerator, but pretty much everyone in the house knows not to eat Mom's Choco le'a truffles. A big mahalo to Choco le'a and wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day! 

Choco le`a

2909 Lowrey Ave Honolulu, HI

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