Manoa Chocolate Hawaii - Kailua

I've had chocolate, but I've never had this kind of chocolate. Hershey's isn't exactly gourmet, but these artisans make Godiva seem like crap.

Their chocolate tasting starts with an introduction to different types of cocoa. The different types taste like night and day, ranging from the taste bud shock of the bright and tangy Costa Rican cacao to the heavier, bolder, cherry-tinted Papua New Guinea variety. The Hamakua is Hawaii-born and become impossible creamy and smooth when mixed with milk.

The Breakfast Bar is a simple base, but the crunchy nibs keep it fun. The Hawaiian Sea Salt adds a gritty highlight, and the Goat Milk is surprisingly unique, finishing like chocolate-covered chevre.

The Lavender is the most amazing chocolate I've ever had, a pretty flower that permeates and stays. The Ghost Pepper is not nearly as intimidating as it sounds, but bite into the bar that bites back with caution.

So many chocolate bars, so little time. Yet they do so much more. Their chocolate tea is irresistible, and they even make a brew for beer. I'm hardly new to chocolate, but this was the first time I got to watch the masters work!