Have you always wanted to see how chocolates, cookies, and other sweet treats come to life? If so, you definitely need to take a trip to Big Island Candies. Their flagship store sits in the heart of Hilo, giving you a front row view of all the action. As you gaze in wonder through the glass walls, you’ll get to see all the fine ingredients that go into each creation plus the awe-inspiring techniques used to handcraft every last one.
All the while, the rich scent of buttery goodness wafts through the air with chocolate decadence right on its heels. Within minutes of taking in all the wonderful sights and scents, you’ll be ready to shop your heart out for sweet treats galore. Fortunately, that’s just what this candy shop is all about. They have all their most popular creations up for sale solo and in assortments, including their signature shortbread.
You can get a full box of their decadent Pineapple Shortbread, for example, or go with their assorted dipped shortbread combo instead. They even regularly roll out limited runs of imaginative flavors for special occasions, like their Almond Shortbread Combo Box for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Anywhere from eight to 40 cookies come in a box, depending on which flavors you want.
Although their shortbread is plenty good enough reason to come by all on its own, they have many other incredible offerings as well. Ultra-moist brownies, rich manju, and classic chocolates are just a few of the options you have at your disposal. They even have local favorites, like Milk Chocolate Covered Animal Crackers, that promise to bring you back to simpler times in an instant.
If you cannot decide what to get, set your sights on their sampler boxes. Each one comes filled with a selection of their most popular treats, so you can dabble in their wares before choosing your top options. They make excellent gifts, too! Just be ready for the urge to come back for more of your favorite in no time flat.
Most popular items include:
Pineapple Manju
For pure tropical decadence in a buttery wrapping, get the Pineapple Manju. Available in packs of eight, this amazing treat starts with a sweet and tart pineapple filling made using fresh ingredients. Then, they wrap it all up in an ultra-light buttery crust to remember.
Milk Chocolate Dipped Ika
If you love sweet and salty snacks, try the Milk Chocolate Dipped Ika. They create this treat by dipping dried, shredded cuttlefish in rich milk chocolate. The unlikely pairing goes together beautifully, resulting in a salty, cacao flavor combo with the perfect amount of chew.
Mika Macadamia Blossom Honey
The Mike Macadamia Blossom Honey takes you on a flavor journey made possible by the hard work of local honeybees. As the bees pollinate all the macadamia nut trees on the island, they produce a slightly nutty, wholly delicious honey. Using that honey, the chocolatiers create a phenomenal creamy filling and then dip it in chocolate to finish it off right.
If you still need more of their treats after returning home, you’re in luck! Just go to their website to put in your order. You can load up on all their baked treats, chocolates, and more, plus even grab a few extras for friends and family. They ship nationwide by UPS, so your items arrive fresh and ready to devour. Mainland shipments only happen Monday through Wednesday to keep your items from sitting over the weekend.
Insider Tips:
-Want to see all the magic happen? Plan your trip for the morning because they stop baking by early afternoon.
-If you need to skip the sugar, you don’t have to go without their famous shortbread. Just ask about their sugar-free varieties instead.